Page 63 of Rule 2: Never Join a Christmas Dating Show

He is graceful and kind on the ice, observant and quick.

I lean forward.

Sometimes, I think he notices me in the stands. Sometimes, I think his eyes go to mine, and he smiles.

It’s probably my imagination. He’s so far away, and he is just looking in the general direction of the cameras because he is a good man.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Askirmish occurs, and Luke falls to the ground. I frown, confused.

“What happened?” My stomach churns, acid spilling through it, even though I know what happened. I saw what happened.

He got hit.

“He’ll be fine. You’ll see.” Flora frowns. “Probably.”

But of course, it’s a big deal.

He’s injured.

There’s nothing more terrible. Nothing more horrible.

Why isn’t he getting up? He needs to get up.

But he doesn’t.

In the end, medics rush toward him. And finally, after ten anguishing seconds, he moves.

Oh, God.

“He’s fine,” I say. “He’s going to be fine.”

Flora gives me a sympathetic look. “Yeah, he’s going to be fine.”

He doesn’t remain on the ice though, and he doesn’t join his line on the bench. My fingers tremble, and I clasp my hands together. The world blurs and spins.

Please let him be okay. Please let him be okay. Please let him be okay.

Flora frowns, then leans toward me, whispering in my ear. “The cameras are probably getting your reaction.”

My stomach tumbles. “What do you mean?”

“I think he likes you too. Why don’t you see if you can check on him?”

I stiffen. Our conversation has veered from the inappropriate to the absolutely inappropriate. Flora is a contestant. And she’s talking about us like...

I should tell her she has it all wrong. But all I can think is that I want to visit him.

“I’m not a family member.”

“Are any of his family members here?”

I shake my head.

“You can say it’s a show thing,” Flora says, giving a casual gesture.

“Why would you think I want to see him?” My voice is clipped.