Page 92 of Rule 2: Never Join a Christmas Dating Show

I give him another kiss, then help him dress.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Sebastian

This is definitely a bad idea.

Luke’s townhouse looms in front of me. It’s only a short walk from where the filming is taking place, and though the girls are confined to the house apart from when they do dates around Boston, the crew members are not limited in their location. I hope none of them spot me. Spotting me gazing up at Luke’s townhouse in a lovelorn manner befitting of actors in Shakespearean tragedies.

Not that I’m lovelorn, of course.

I mean, I’m not in love.

I’m just...lorn. Like-lorn. Good-acquaintance-lorn.

Still, it would probably look strange if I spend too long examine the facade of the house, as pleasant as it is, as most Back Bay nineteenth-century townhouses are.

It’s that thought that compels me to hurry forward and not to simply gaze cow-eyed at Luke’s townhouse.

This is fine. I’m going to film Luke discussing his romantic options, then I’m going to hook up with someone. Never mind that the person I’m hooking up with is Luke. Never mind that I’m not a hookup person at the best of times, and my story might make Ella, Mateo, and Aisha all raise their eyebrows.

I’m in a new city. It’s possible I would use an app. I mean, that is something people do. And I’m a person. So everything totally makes sense.

I ring the doorbell, and I’m soon buzzed inside.

I hurry up the flights of steps, until I see Luke at the door.

God, the man is gorgeous. His eyes soften when they land on me, but then his gaze darts to his right, and his demeanor grows stiffer, not unlike when Ella feeds him words to say during the Mr. Right show, and he becomes a cross between a weather forecaster and a child presenting a book report on a book he didn’t read.

Troy must be home.

“Ah, Sebastian. It is nice to see you. I was sorry to hear your cameras broke down and our conversation was lost. Please come inside.”

“Hello Luke,” I say.

“Hi Sebastian!” Troy pokes his head at me. “Sorry to hear about your camera break down incident.”

“It’s okay,” I say. “These things happen.”

“You should tell the studio to buy you better equipment.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

I step inside the apartment. Luke steps away from me at a speed that befits his athletic persona but isn’t the most flattering. I find myself face to face with Troy instead who looks vaguely apologetic.

“So, this is our place,” Troy says. “Where do you want to film?”

“Um...”

“I’ll give you a tour,” Troy says brightly.

“Cool.” I follow Troy, Luke behind.

“So, this is where Luke lives. Maybe you want to film it?”

Luke stiffens, but something in my gaze must make him calm.

Troy’s eyes move from Luke to me. “You’re a great communicator, Sebastian. It’s like you can communicate without talking.”