Page 140 of A Dance of Sugarplums and Power Plays

She smiles warmly. “Hi, I’m Aster.”

“Claire. And this is my Everett…I mean, this is Everett, my fiancé.”

“It’s nice to meet you both. I’m starting a monthly bookclub,” she says, reaching out her hand with the small flyer she’s holding. “Lolly and Cami, who are in the back passing out the refreshments, are both a part of it, and Ginger, the owner of the store, of course. We’d love for you to join if you like to read.”

My mouth parts, and my eyes blink as I stand there, unmoving. She gestures her hand again.

“She loves to read,” Everett says, nudging me with his elbow. “Right, babe?”

“Oh…yeah,” I say, taking the flyer from her outstretched hand.

“Amazing,” she chimes. “Our first meeting will be in January, and we’re readingA New Leafby Samm Wilde.It was my pick, but if you join you can bring suggestions for the next one. Anyway, all the information is on the flyer.”

“Okay. Yeah, I should be able to make it.”

“Good. See you around,” she says, smiling as she moves away from us and over to another woman around our age perusing the game shelves.

“See ya.” Pressure begins to build behind my eyes, and I do my best to swallow down the emotions flooding my brain.

“Well, would you look at that?” Everett smirks as his eyes find mine. “Wait, what’s wrong?”

“I just didn’t think we’d ever see them again, and I’ve been trying to rack my brain since we walked in on how I could befriend any of them and it not be weird, and then she just appeared with a book club, and I don’t know…it feels a little too good to be true.”

He chuckles and pulls me into a hug. “Don’t overthink it. I have a feeling this is a good thing. Maybe you did see Stella, and this is her engagement gift to us.”

I smile. “Does that mean we have to invite her to the wedding?”

His whole chest moves as he laughs. “I hope not. The last thing we need is her meeting Andi.”

“Oh, my god. Could you imagine? She’d have a hey day.”

He presses his lips to the top of my head, and I take a deep breath.

“I love you,” I say.

“I love you too, Sugar.”

“So, now that there is a book club, do you still want to get the girls a gift?”

“Of course I do. I was thinking they each need at least three more.”

Pulling away, I watch as he begins to search the shelves for more presents for my soon-to-be nieces. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of him wanting to spoil those two little girls who mean so much to both of us.

His hazel eyes find mine. “You two coming?” he asks.

I nod and smile, joining him near one of the shelves. Mac falls to the floor at our feet, and my whole body relaxes as his arm wraps around my back, and I settle against him.

It’s amazing how wonderful life can be when you give into the magic and find someone who feels like home. Someone who knocks you off your feet when you least expect it. Someone who likes thethings you like simply because you like them. Someone who would go to the depths of every realm just to be with you.

And being loved by Everett, and loving him, feels like all of those things. It’s warm and all encompassing and wonderful. And how lucky am I to have found this kind of love—with the help of a little magic.