“Logan has become an important part of my life, and while I’m sure I’m frustrating and prickly at times, I want to be my best self when I am with him.” I look up at Logan, my heart swelling with affection. “Logan, if my design is beautiful, it’s because you inspired it within me.”
The room falls silent. I can feel the weight of everyone’s gazes as they hold their breath to see what Logan will do or say, but it doesn’t make me want to run and hide. Instead, I feel a sense of peace, of rightness in this moment of vulnerability.
Logan’s green eyes are shining with emotion as he squeezes my hands in gratitude. Before I can second-guess myself, he tugs me to him, wraps his arms around me, and kisses me. For a heartbeat, I’m frozen with surprise. Then I respond, skating my arms around his neck. He spins me and dips me, which makes me smile and break the kiss. I hold his cheeks so he won’t lean back and kiss him again.
“Merry Christmas,” I breathe against his lips.
“Merr-hmm Mh-stm-dmdm,” he says back.
I giggle, and he spins us both backup and kisses my cheek.
The crowd’s cheers grow louder, filling the ballroom with joy. As Logan sets me back on my feet, I’m aware of nothing but the warmth of his embrace and the love shining in his eyes.
We turn to face the crowd, hands clasped and smiling widely. The applause washes over us. In this moment, I feel a profound sense of accomplishment. Not only did I figure out how to make friends and fall in love, I’ve let a whole town into my heart.
As we stand there, basking in the glow of victory and newfound love, I catch sight of Gladys near the back of the room. She’s beaming at me, her curls shimmering in the chandelier light. She gives me a wink and a thumbs-up. I glance at Mrs. Pennington, who is making a heart sign with her hands and smiling. When I look back, Gladys is gone.
She must have slipped out the door when I wasn’t looking. She’s like the wind, that one—I could never hold her down.
The rest of the evening passes in a blur of congratulations and well-wishes. Logan never leaves my side, his hand a constant, reassuring presence in mine.
As the night winds down and guests begin to leave, Logan and I find ourselves alone in front of my tree. The ballroom is quieter now, the soft glow of the Christmas lights creating an intimate atmosphere.
“I’m so proud of you, Bailey,” Logan says softly, his hand cupping my cheek. “Not just for winning, but for how much you’ve grown. You’ve come so far from that quiet lady who wouldn’t say two words to me on the first day.”
I lean into his touch, marveling at how natural it feels to be close to him. “I couldn’t have done it without you,” I reply. “You helped me see that I have value.”
Logan smiles, his green eyes twinkling. “We make a pretty good team, don’t we?”
“The best,” I agree. I lean in and kiss him quickly.
As we stand there, surrounded by the magic of Christmas and the warmth of newfound love, I feel a sense of peace and belonging I’ve never experienced before. The competition may be over, but I know this is just the beginning of a new chapter in my life. With Logan by my side and the support of the entire town behind us, I’m ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead. Because now I know that true strength doesn’t come from isolation, but from the harmony we create when we open our hearts to others.
This Christmas has truly been a season of miracles, of growth, and of love. And I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Twenty-One
BAILEY
The crisp winter air nips at my cheeks as I climb aboard the gleaming red fire truck, my arms laden with brightly wrapped gifts. The scent of pine wafts from the packages, mingling with the metallic tang of the truck and the faint aroma of smoke that seems to cling permanently to the firefighters’ uniforms. Half the crew climbs into the truck. It’s a tight fit, but they’ve given me the front seat so I can be close to Logan.
I wrinkle my nose. “Did you spritz these packages with your pine spray?” I ask Logan.
He smells his hands. “It must be in my skin. I can’t seem to get rid of it.”
I giggle. “If it wasn’t so weird, it would be a superpower.”
“His only superpower is convincing you to date him,” Axel says as he climbs into the back seat.
I laugh. “Wanna borrow some of that to work on Olivia?” I tease, testing the waters.
Axel clamps his jaw shut and looks out the window.Ooo. Not quite what I was expecting, but even better.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” I wink at him and turn around in my seat. “Hey Axel,” I call out, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. “Still sore about losing the Ice Tug-of-War?”
Axel rolls his eyes good-naturedly. “Hey now, Carter. Don’t get cocky. We’ll get you next year.”
The truck erupts in laughter, and I feel a warmth in my chest that has nothing to do with the heater. This camaraderie, this sense of belonging, it’s something I’ve never experienced before, and I find myself reveling in it.
