He's standing close, and the only thing running through my head is how easy it would be to rise up on my toes and kiss him. My eyes drop to his mouth, and I catch the slight hitch in his breath. One kiss. Just one, before we have to be around other people. Before I have to share him with—
Voices drift through my front door. The carolers. Right. Because apparently the universe has decided I don't get to make out with him in my entryway.
"You're serious about this?" I ask again to be sure.
He waves the song sheets. "Let's do this."
The carolers round the corner, a cheerful parade of winter coats and holiday spirit. Mayor Margaret, bundled in layers of knitwear, leads the group. Behind her, Dottie practically drags Greg along, his expression hovering between long-suffering and secretly pleased. Then comes a cluster of high school choir students in various stages of teenage enthusiasm. Ethan and Vinnie bring up the rear, so lost in each other they nearly walk into a lamppost.
"Perfect timing!" Margaret calls out. "Ivy, dear—oh!" Her eyes widen at seeing Caleb. "Well, thisisa pleasant surprise."
"Save yourself while you can, son." But Greg's eyes are warm, and the way he squeezes Dottie's hand betrays his act.
"Don't scare him off before he's had a chance to serenade the crowd," Dottie teases.
The students cluster around as we head down Main Street, their energy infectious. Caleb knows every word—he's just spectacularly awful at hitting any actual note. His enthusiasm makes up for itthough, especially when we hit ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’, and he breaks out what I can only assume is interpretive dance.
"Do you think he knows he looks like he’s having a stroke?" One of the kids whispers.
Caleb's ears turn red, but he grins and sings louder. I stretch up on my toes, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "You're doing amazing. But maybe keep your day job?"
"Rude." He pokes my side but pulls me closer.
"Greg!" Dottie's voice carries over the chorus. "I can't hear you!"
"I am singing," he mutters, but dutifully raises his volume from barely-there to almost-audible.
"Caleb!" Margaret calls. "Come lead us in 'Last Christmas'—you've got the enthusiasm for it."
The look of pure panic he shoots me belongs in a sitcom, but I smile sweetly and give him two thumbs up.
"Traitor," he mouths, letting Margaret pull him to the front.
"I haven't seen him this happy in ages," Dottie murmurs. "Or this willing to make a fool of himself for someone."
"He's different," I say softly. "But the same too, you know?"
"Sometimes people need to leave to learn what it means to stay." She squeezes my arm. "And sometimes they come back better for it."
We finish the route at the town square, and Margaret turns to address the group. "Well," she manages, fighting a smile, "that was certainly memorable."
"Thanks for having us," Caleb replies. "Really unlocked my full Mariah Carey potential."
"More like a dying cat," Vinnie calls out, then yelps when Ethan pokes her in the side.
"Be nice," he murmurs, but he's grinning too.
"Actually," Caleb turns to me, "that was only part one."
"There's more?"
He takesmy hand. "Follow me?"
The town square has transformed into a winter wonderland. Fairy lights twinkle in every tree, their glow reflecting off the ice rink that's appeared since this morning. Holiday music drifts from hidden speakers, and the scent of hot chocolate wafts from the nearby vendor cart.
"Ice skating?" My voice comes out embarrassingly breathless.
"Unless you're scared?" His dimples flash in challenge.
