Page 65 of Rule 2: Never Join a Christmas Dating Show

“It’s not serious, is it?” I point at my head.

“The pain? You’re going to be fine, Luke. I promise. You just need a lot of rest. I can’t authorize your flight back. Flying might not be good for you right now.”

“Need...Sebastian.”

She nods. “I’ve notified the WAG group to tell him to come down.”

“He doesn’t know his way around hockey arenas. He’ll get lost.”

She smiles, and her eyes soften. “I think I see him now, Luke.”

I frown at her, because I can’t see anyone, but she does some sort of hand gesture, and Sebastian appears before me.

His blue eyes are round with worry, and I think maybe he’s trembling, but maybe my head is making everything jumpy.

“I’m okay,” I promise him. “I’m going to be fine.”

“G-good.”

Shit.

I made him worried. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked him to come here. Maybe that made him more worried.

He still trembles, like an autumn leaf who knows it’s going to be ripped from the tree it’s adored and has spent its life in, only to fall onto the asphalt, be driven in by cars, before it’s finally swept into a garbage bag and set on fire.

I grasp onto his hand, clutching it within mine. “I’m fine.”

His eyes round, then his lips swerve upward. They glisten, and I wonder if he has ChapStick on. Sebastian probably knows what to wear when it’s cold and dry. He knows how to look perfect.

“I’m glad,” Sebastian says.

I run a finger along his palm. It’s smaller than mine and far softer. “Soft.”

“Yeah?” He grins at me, and his eyes float upward, as if he’s seeing me and something even nicer, something that makes him smile.

Dr. Novak smiles. “I see you two have become good friends.”

Sebastian’s face pales, and he shakes his head.

I frown. I liked his first expression better.

Sebastian drops his hand, pulling it away from him. It’s probably good not to insist I hold onto him, but I frown, like I’ve been wearing my favorite sweater, and someone has taken it off me against my will.

“Luke was probably wondering where I was because of the show,” Sebastian says in that composed TV voice. “He is exceedingly dedicated. We at Falcon Productions are so thrilled to be working with him. It is a real pleasure. I am, um, honored I can help him toward his path to find true love.”

“Well. I’m glad you made it,” Dr. Novak says.

“Is he going to be okay?” Sebastian asks Dr. Novak.

“He’ll be fine.”

“That’s great. Magnificent . He’ll be able to play again?”

“There shouldn’t be any issues.”

Relief spreads over his face, and he grins at me again, before his face goes all solemn, like a man accidentally smiling at a funeral. Pink stains his cheeks. “We at Falcon Productions would like to impart our utmost relief and good wishes.”

“But he’s not completely healed,” Dr. Novak says.