Page 102 of Must Love Christmas

But after another ten minutes, Garen had to do something, if only to ease his own mind and allow him to focus on his event responsibilities.

He went into the rink and found his coach. “Oliver, would you do me a favor?”

“For sure,” Oliver said without taking his eyes off his skip as she got into the hack. “What’s up?”

“This might sound silly, but would you find an excuse to go into the workout room and see if Simon’s okay?”

Oliver jerked his head around. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, as far as I know. If he thinks I’m checking up on him, he’ll be insulted. But I’m going a bit daft just now wondering if he’s all right.”

“Why wouldn’t he be? There’s nothing in the workout room that can injure him.”

“I know, but…he could fall?”

“Onto the nice soft mat,” Oliver said.

“But what if he couldn’t get back up on his own?”

“Then he’d call out for you. You’d hear him from the warm room if he—”

“Could you please just humor me and have a wee peek?”

“Okay, okay.” He headed toward the warm room door with Garen on his heels. “I don’t mind doing this. I just think you’re being overprotective.”

“But it’s cute, right? Not creepy?”

Oliver opened the door and held it for him. “Honestly, it’s a little of both.”

* * *

“Hey, sorry to interrupt.”

In the workout room mirror, Simon saw Oliver enter behind him and head for a white cupboard to his right.

“No worries.” Simon continued his supported squats, holding onto the bar in front of him with both hands.

“Just trying to find a…” Oliver rummaged through the cupboard, shelf by shelf. “Luca said they’d be in here,” he murmured.

“What are you looking for?”

“Just a…whatchamacallit for the…um, curling. Shit, where are they?” He peeked at Simon. “How are you doing, by the way? Need anything?”

Simon sighed. “Did Garen send you in here to check up on me?”

“What? No. I’m looking for the…um…” He shut the cupboard door. “Am I that bad an actor?”

“You were overselling it a bit.”

Oliver put his hands in the pockets of his jacket. “It’s kinda sweet he’s so concerned.”

“It’s also annoying and demoralizing.”

“Yeah, I can imagine.” He sidestepped toward the dressing room door. “I’ll let him know you’re doing great—assuming you are.”

“I am.” Simon rose from his last squat and wiped his sleeve over his sweaty forehead. “I feel better after moving about a bit.”

“Awesome.” Oliver gave him a thumbs-up. “Now I need to go beat Luca—I mean, watch my team beat Luca’s team.”

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