I turn and spy Micah and Kiera standing near the hot chocolate stand. She’s wearing a jean jacket that makes her look super cute, and her dark hair looks great with that pink streak in it. She laughs at something Micah says.
“Cricket?” River follows my gaze. “Oh, there’s Micah and Kiera.”
“Yeah,” I say quickly, but my voice comes out higher than normal.
Watching Micah with Kiera feels like someone issqueezing my heart with a fist. He’s looking at her the way I’ve always wanted him to look at me, like she’s the most adorable person in the world.
Kiera turns and nods. She waves at us from across the way, then she and Micah start walking over. Micah has that easy smile on his face, the one that makes my knees weak. Kiera looks perfectly put together, like she never has bad hair days or outfit crises.
Micah’s gaze travels over me, and I wonder what he’s thinking. I can’t read his expression.
“Having fun?” Micah asks.
“It’s great,” River says, grinning. “I love the hometown feel of this. It’s like a Hallmark movie. How about you two?”
“We’re having fun.” Kiera slides her hands into her jacket pockets. “That snowman float is impressive. I’m pretty sure it has more personality than half the people I go to school with.”
River laughs. “I’m not sure if that says more about the float or about the high schoolers.”
“The high schoolers, definitely.” Kiera’s grin widens.
“I take it you’re not loving school here.” River raises his eyebrows.
“It’s more fun than a root canal,” Kiera says.
River winces then chuckles. “Ouch. I’m sorry. I had tutors, so I never got the high school experience. I thought it would be fun, but sounds like it’s torture for you.”
“It’s fine.” Kiera waves away her words. She looks around at the lights. “This celebration is fun, though. I love how everyone suddenly becomes best friends when there’s hot chocolate and doughnuts involved. It’s like Christmas magic hopped up on sugar.”
River laughs again then nudges Micah. “She’s funny. Keep this one.”
We chat for another minute before they start theceremony. The mayor counts down from ten, and when he hits zero, the massive evergreen erupts in thousands of twinkling lights. The crowd cheers, and someone starts singing “Silent Night.”
The experience brings in a special Christmas feeling. I peer over at Micah because I know he has a hard time around this season. His parents passed away in January, and he’s told me that Christmas is bittersweet since it was the last of the time he had with his parents alive. He’s staring at the tree, his jaw tight. He was just seven years old when they passed.
After the ceremony, Micah and Kiera say goodbye, and most of the crowd starts to disperse. Families with young children head home, and teenagers migrate toward the diner on the corner. River and I walk slowly around the square, and I get the feeling that, like me, he isn’t ready to leave yet.
“The fountain looks pretty at night,” River says as we approach it.
He’s right. The old stone fountain is illuminated by lights that slowly change color, and the water catches the light as it falls. It’s the kind of romantic setting you see in movies.
I look up at River. He’s a sweet guy. He’s attentive, kindhearted, and a gentleman. And he’s my knight in shining cargo shorts. He really is perfect for me.
I take a deep breath. “Do you remember what I told you about the legend?”
River looks at me, and in the dim light, I can’t quite read his expression. “Do you believe in stuff like that?”
“Maybe.” The words come out before I can stop them. “I mean, what if… what if we tried it?”
Nerves assault me. I’m basically asking him to kiss me. And I want him to… right? Or maybe I’m simply tired of feeling like I’m stuck, unable to move forward because I’m too hung up on someone who will never see me the way I want him to.
“Cricket…” River’s voice is gentle.
“I know I freaked out on you the other night,” I say quickly. “But I keep thinking… maybe I’m ready. I mean, I am ready. I want to.”
River is quiet for a long moment. Then he says, “If that’s what you want.”
“Yes.” It is what I want. I think. I need to want it.
