Page 54 of Rule 2: Never Join a Christmas Dating Show

Sebastian’s eyes round with worry, and it occurs to me that maybe this might get talked about.

Great.

First I was not being interesting enough on the show, and now I’ve vastly exceeded that.

“It was fine!” I say quickly. “No hard feelings at all.”

“You’re not angry at Axel?” Willow asks.

“Why would I be angry at Axel?” I frown. “Axel is a great guy. Funny and excellent at hockey.” I nod multiple times to emphasize that point. “No hard feelings at all.”

“But that has to break bro code,” Flora says, though she doesn’t seem as incredulous as the others.

I shrug. “Um, I guess? But Axel told me he’d thought we’d already broken up, so it didn’t matter.”

“Why would he think that?” Willow darts her gaze around, as if to ascertain whether others are equally confused.

“I guess I didn’t talk about her very much?” Guilt moves through me, but I’m not sure how I did anything wrong.

Sebastian clears his throat, and his face is darker than before. “Cut.”

Ella’s eyebrows lurch upward. “Cut? Are you crazy? That was the first interesting thing in this show!”

“I’m sure Luke did not mean to disclose those private things. He’s tired.”

“You want me to send him for a nap?” Ella asks, angrier than I’ve ever seen her.

“Maybe,” Sebastian says.

I rise. “I do not need a nap.”

Everyone looks at me, and my face flames. Okay, maybe that wasn’t my most mature statement. “Sorry. It’s two pm. I’m fine.”

“I’m trying to help you,” Sebastian says.

“I don’t need your help.” I scowl and I’m aware I’m being sullen, but I don’t care. “Maybe you should have paid more attention earlier.”

Ella’s jaw drops, but Flora looks smug for some reason. Flora whispers something in Willow’s ear, and now they’re both staring at me, as if I’m a funny health meme or something.

Dahlia’s gaze ping pongs between Flora and Willow, then she leans over them. They’re all whispering together, then Dahlia puts her hand over her mouth, and giggles.

Weird. Very weird.

I turn my attention to Sebastian, because face it, his opinion matters the most to me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Sebastian

Ella and Mateo are so not going to let this go, and my stomach sinks. Ella and Mateo have the enthusiasm of 1980s home video workout instructors about to launch into the last round of step exercise.

“This is gold!” Ella exclaims.

“Uh-huh.” Mateo taps on his phone. He shoves a picture of a burly man in a blue jersey at me. “This is his teammate who stole his girlfriend.”

“Luke said not to go after him.”

“Luke told that story in front of cameras that are recording.”