"We'll get them next year," Caleb mutters beside me. "Though we might need to start training now."
"Hey," Vinnie bounces over. "We're heading to the hot chocolate stand. Want to join us?"
I start to nod, but Caleb's hand settles at my waist.
"You guys go ahead. I've got a surprise for Ivy."
"A surprise?" I turn to face him, but his expression gives nothing away.
"Come on." He holds out his hand, and my fingers find his automatically.
The December air stings my lungs when we get outside. Snow gives way under our boots with a brittle crunch, and something that sounds like sleigh bells carries on the wind.
"Shut your eyes," he murmurs, amusement curling through his voice.
"Caleb—"
"Just trust me."
I obey, letting him lead me a few careful steps. When we stop, his breath grazes my ear, warm against the cold air.
"Alright. Look."
I blink my eyes open and gasp. Bathed in the soft glow spilling from the town hall, a sleigh stands waiting—deep red with gleaming gold trim, and wrapped in strands of twinkling fairy bulbs. Twofamiliar horses from Nelson Farm paw gently at the snow-dusted ground, their harnesses jingling faintly.
"How did you—" I step closer. "Clover and Maple?"
"Yeah." Caleb rocks on his heels, an adorable tension threading through his voice. "Turns out Austin's not completely terrible. Once I admitted I maybe, possibly,slightlyoverreacted about the whole lifting-you-up-to-pet-horses thing."
"Slightly?" I can't help grinning.
"In my defense, he was plotting to get my girl on a horse. In front of him. With his hands all . . ." He makes a vague gesture that somehow perfectly captures Austin's former flirting attempts.
"Your girl?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Are you going to be smug about it, or are you going to get in?" But he's grinning as he helps me into the sleigh, making sure the blankets are tucked securely around me before climbing in beside me.
The horses start moving with gentle grace and Caleb handles the reins with surprising confidence. When I give him a questioning look, he laughs.
"These guys are more cooperative than that demon-spawn Satan at Thistlewood." At my raised eyebrow, he adds, "Comet. Whatever. That horse had murder in his eyes and you know it."
We glide through the streets of Hallow's End, every house glowing with Christmas lights. The air thickens with snowflakes, turning the streetlights into blurred halos. I snuggle closer to Caleb's side, and his arm wraps around me.
"This is perfect," I whisper as snowflakes land on his eyelashes.
He guides the sleigh down a quieter street, where the houses compete for the most elaborate light display.
"Hey." His voice softens, drawing my eyes to his. "Can I tell yousomething?"
"Always."
"Remember that assembly freshman year? When I stuck gum in your hair?"
"You mean when you ruined my favorite scrunchie and I had to cut six inches?"
"I never told you why I did it." His thumb traces patterns on my palm. "You were sitting there, all perfect in your vintage dress, with those crystal necklaces, writing in that diary you used to carry everywhere. And I just . . . I needed you to notice me. Even if it meant being a complete asshole about it."
"So naturally, you went with gum?"
