Page 26 of Holiday Hook Up

Stop it. You have no right to be jealous over something that happened in high school, and Rachel is your best friend. She and Adam were happy once upon a time.

Adam tapped her shoulder. “You should join us. My treat.”

Bethany glanced at Rachel who tilted her head. Her expression clearly read, “Do and I’ll spike your gingerbread latte.”

Rachel was not going to approve Bethany’s crashing her romantic plan to stroll down memory lane with Adam. She nodded in the direction of the pizzeria. “You two should go. I have leftovers at home, anyway, that I really should eat up. I’ll see you later.”

Rachel brightened at Bethany’s excuse, interlocking her fingers with Adam. “We’ll see you tomorrow, Bethany.”

Adam said good-bye, and Bethany sighed in defeat. Rachel was off to re-create her first date with Adam and then ask him to do the spell. If her hunch was right and Rachel snuck a kiss in there before he did it, it could be catastrophic.

“Where is a Christmas miracle when you need one?” she asked out loud, looking up at the clear dark sky. There would be no miracles tonight. There weren’t any leftovers in her refrigerator either. She’d swing by the Star Lite and order a burger to go.

Spinning around, a large body crashed into her, causing her to hit the cold ice. Her right knee was the first to make impact and now radiated in pain.

“Bethany, I’m so sorry. I was going too fast.” Evan bent down to assist. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“I’ll go get some help.”

She closed her eyes, wishing she was anywhere but here. Could this night get any worse?

“Bethany.”

That masculine voice wasn’t Evan’s.

“Are you hurt?”

Her eyelids opened to see that Adam had skated back over and dropped to her side. He’d come back to check on her. Her Christmas miracle.

“I’m okay. Really. Evan startled me more than anything.” She pointed to her knee. “I doubt there’s any damage, probably just scraped.”

“Well, let me help you off the ice.” He stood and offered his hand, but when she tried to stand, she flinched.

“LB, you are hurt.”

“It’s fine.” She rubbed her knee with her free hand. “I’m just going to have a bad bruise.”

“Why don’t I drive you home? Let’s get you out of those skates and into my truck.” He waved Evan over to help him.

She glanced over at the edge of the rink. Rachel was at the edge with a concerned expression on her face. “What about your date?”

“Rachel will understand.” He leaned in. “You’re probably doing me a favor.”

“I am?” She wanted to ask him to elaborate, but Evan came over full of apologies. Instead, she draped one arm over Adam and one over Evan, her knee throbbing as they led her off the ice.

Why did her Christmas miracle have to flippin’ hurt?

---