The roaring muffler drew the attention of everyone making their way into school the day after Christmas break. Mom and Dad were skeptical, but had allowed Jacob to drive me and Andrew. Andrew had protested, but my parents didn’t care. Andrew was on house arrest as far as they were concerned. Plus, next week he was meeting with the judge to confess what had really happened.

Jacob parked, and Andrew nodded to us both and got out.

I was sitting in the front seat with butterflies rushing through my body.

A warm hand engulfed mine. “You okay?” Jacob asked.

I turned and gave him an uneasy smile. “I think so. I’m just nervous. There’s a lot of girls at school who are not going to be happy when you show up with me.”

He leaned over and pressed his lips against mine. “Who cares? I don’t.” He nuzzled my neck. “I’ve got you, and that’s all that matters.”

I took a deep breath, wishing that his words would comfort me, but they didn’t. Girls were mean. And if they saw me as moving in on their territory, I was a goner.

He grabbed my backpack and pulled open his door. “Besides, they’ll have to face me if I hear anyone talk bad about you.”

After he rounded the hood of his car, he fell into step with me. Both of our backpacks were slung over his shoulder as he grabbed my hand and led me to the front doors.

I could feel everyone’s stares as we walked past kids in the hall. There were a few whispers and a few students clapping Jacob on the back and welcoming him back.

When we got to his locker, he spun the dial a few times and pulled the door open. After shuffling his books around from his backpack, he straightened. When he saw my expression, his brow furrowed.

“Are you seriously worried?” he asked.

I shrugged. “What if everything only happened because of the magic of Christmas. What if, in the real world, you don’t like me?”

He studied me and then scoffed. Suddenly, his hands were around my waist, and he pressed me against the locker.

“Ava Rogers, that’s not going to happen.” He leaned closer to me and brushed his lips against mine. “You are the best thing to ever happen to me, and I will never let you go.” He steadied his gaze as he leaned his forehead against mine. “I love you,” he whispered.

My toes tingled at his confession. I wrapped my arms around his neck and crushed my lips to his. When we came up for air, I met his gaze again. “Good. Because I’m not going anywhere. I love you, too.”

His arms wrapped around me, and spun me around. Passing students protested—I may have almost kicked a few of them, but I didn’t care.

Once he set me down, he tucked my hair behind my ear. “Look up,” he said.

I peeked up toward the ceiling.

“There’s nothing there,” I said.

He grinned. “Exactly. No mistletoe needed.” He pressed his lips against mine and then leaned forward. “The magic of Christmas is me and you.” He pulled back, wrapped his hand around mine, and guided me down the hallway.

“Now, let’s get you to your class before you’re tardy and I start hearing again about how I’m a bad influence on you.”

I rolled my eyes and fell into step with him. I wrapped my free hand around our entwined ones and sighed.

This was perfect.