Page 72 of It's Mother-Pucking Christmas!

“No, it was Timmy,” I said urgently. “He was he was talking to a bookie. Those guys are bad news, Dakota. You need to talk to him and tell him not to place any bets. The house always wins. People lose a lot of money with those guys.”

Dakota clutched her drink

“I can go talk to him with you if you want. I know how important your family is,” I offered. “I just thought you should know.”

Dakota gave a heart-wrenching sob into her drink. “I know,” she said, forcing the words out.

“Tell your parents,” I begged. “Don’t let him start giving them money. They’re predatory. They talk people into taking out payday loans, then the hole gets bigger and bigger.”

“It’s too late. He’s already in the hole,” she warbled.

“Dakota, what?” Gracie was shocked. “Oh no. We need to call Aunt Babs and Uncle Mark and set Timmy straight. This sound horrible and serious.”

I nodded. “I’ve seen them beating people up who don’t pay up. Rick says they take fingers.”

Dakota had her arms around her torso. She looked like she was going to pass out. I wrapped an arm around her to comfort her.

“Dakota, how much did Timmy lose?” Gracie demanded. “Maybe we can just pay off his debts for him.”

She shook her head. “It’s too much money,” she sobbed.

“How much? I have money,” I offered.

“God, Ryder, stop! Stop being so fucking nice!” Dakota shrieked.

“Dakota, he’s trying to be helpful,” Gracie chided. “None of this is Ryder’s fault. Why are you screaming at him?”

“I know.” Dakota sobbed as I rubbed her back. “But the only thing that will help is if he loses the next game.”

“What?” I jerked my hand away.

Dakota rubbed at her puffy eyes. “The Icebreakers have to lose,” she said sorrowfully. “They have to lose bad. Then Timmy can make the money back.”

“Ryder’s not going to lose, Dakota.” Gracie said, taking Dakota’s drink. “I think that’s enough of that.” She set the glass aside. “Ryder is the hottest player out there. I’m not a hockey fan, but even I know that. He’s everywhere right now, and he’s not throwing the game.”

“I know.” Dakota gasped. “That’s why I tricked him.”

“What?” I said sharply. “Tricked me how?”

“None of this was real, Ryder,” Dakota admitted while Gracie looked on in horror. “I got with you to distract you, to make you like me, then I was going to break up with you right before the Frosthawks match.”

“But you didn’t…”

“I know, and Timmy lost even more money.”

“Okay,” I said, nodding. “Okay, so this relationship started off under false pretenses, but you realized as you got to know me that you do actually love me.”

Dakota slowly shook her head. “I’m so sorry I hurt you. I had to.”

“So you… you don’t like me at all? Even a little bit?” There was an edge of desperation in my voice. “People have worse starts to a relationship. It’s okay, Dakota, I forgive you. He’s family. That’s what you do for family. I just want to be with you, Dakota, please. Just say you love me. Everything’s okay if we’re together.”

“Stop it. Stop being soyou.” She sobbed. “I don’t love you. I never did. I didn’t even like you. You’re weird.”

I was gutted.

This was worse than being kicked out of a foster home I’d really thought I’d made a connection with, worse than all the other times combined of the other breakups I’d had. Worse than never getting presents on Christmas and finding out Santa wasn’t real when he didn’t bring me anything at the cat-hoarder farmhouse.

Not only did she not like me, she’d never cared at all. It had all been fake, had all been in my head.

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