The town of Cupid didn’t disappoint. There were lights and hearts everywhere. It had even gotten warm enough that the fountain could run for one of our most popular days of the year.
Valentine’s Day.
Jess nudged my arm as I stared out the front window. “Come on. You can’t miss the sleigh ride.”
I gave her a smile, but my heart wasn’t in it. I hadn’t heard from Dallas since yesterday afternoon. I knew he was busy with his sister’s reception party plans, but it was Valentine’s Day. I’d thought that maybe this year, for the first time, I wouldn’t be alone on Valentine’s Day.
But that just didn’t seem to be in the cards.
“Come on,” Jess said, taking my arm. “Enjoy the sleigh ride and the cocoa, and then you can call him. I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear from you.”
“If he isn’t celebrating Valentine’s Day with someone else.”
She pulled my hat out of my pocket and put it in my hand. “He wouldn’t do that, would he?”
“No.” I tugged on my hat. “I’m just moping because he’s not here. I…”
She looked up. “What?”
“I guess I just wish I had told him something before he left.”
“Like how you love him?”
My eyes widened. “How did you know?”
“Because I can see it on your face. You’re so in love with him. And it was only a matter of time. I mean, come on—we live in Cupid. We all get our happily ever after, even if it doesn’t come when we expect it.”
She was right. I’d seen it time after time. Sometimes it took days and sometimes it took years but it always happened. Come to Cupid and find your true love.
But it still didn’t feel like it had happened for me because Dallas wasn’t here.
Jess pulled me out the door so fast I hardly had time to react. “Wait. Hold on,” I told her, grabbing her hand.
She spun back around to look at me.
“You’re right. I love him, and even if he doesn’t feel the same way, I need to tell him.”
Her eyes went wide. “Like…right now?”
“Yes.”
“But no—wait, we have the sleigh ride and cocoa. It’s tradition.”
I grimaced. I knew that. But this felt like something that couldn’t wait.
I pulled out my phone to check and see if he’d texted or there were any messages I missed. Nothing.
Jess pulled on my arm. “Look, there are the horses. And everyone’s already lined up. Just the sleigh ride at least, okay? And then if you want to call him, I’ll take care of the cocoa.”
I gave in, knowing how much I’d miss the sleigh ride if I didn’t go.
I stuffed my phone back in my pocket and followed her down to the line of people waiting to get on their sleighs.
Jess waved her arm. “Oh, there’s Charlie. I’m going to say hi real quick!”
“But—”
“I’ll be back.”
She dashed off before I could say anything else. I just shook my head. Jess had to say hi to everyone. But if she didn’t hurry, she was going to miss our ride.
Three more horses and sleighs pulled up. Ours was on the end. I lifted onto my toes to try to find Jess in the crowd. Her head had disappeared.
And then I saw her getting into a sleigh at the front of the line. What was she doing? I thought we were going to ride together.
I turned back to the sleigh I was supposed to get into, ready to apologize to the next person in line when I heard a voice in my ear.
“May I join you?”
I whipped to the side, already knowing Dallas was there before I saw him. I’d recognize his voice anywhere. He grinned and stepped up onto the sleigh before holding his hand out to me.
“I couldn’t miss this,” he said, still smiling down at me.
“I’m so glad you’re here.”
I set my hand in his, catching a quick glimpse of Jess peering back at me from the front, her smile wide.
“Did Jess know you were coming?” I asked as we sat.
He nodded, pulling the blanket over our legs. “I called earlier today and told her I would try to get here as fast as possible. I wanted to make it for the sleigh ride.”
“You did.” The exhilaration that raced through me right now made the whole night worth it.
I leaned in to kiss him, losing myself when his mouth touched mine. It was like coming home again, right where I belonged.
“Lewis,” he whispered, lips brushing mine. He reached up to touch my cheek.
I was oblivious to the world around me. In this moment, all I could see was him. All I could feel was my heart coming alive at the idea of him sitting beside me.
“I missed you,” he continued, “and I couldn’t not be here for Valentine’s Day.”
“What about your sister’s reception?”
“It’s not until this weekend. But I had to come. I had to be with you tonight,” he said.
I clung to his hand, emotion swamping me. “Thank you for coming back, even if it’s just for tonight.”
“Actually, I was going to ask if you wanted to come to the reception with me. Dess would love to meet you.”
“Really?” That sounded a lot more permanent than just a visit for tonight. It sounded like he was in this as much as me.
It made no sense not to tell him how I was feeling. Right now.
“I love you,” I blurted. Then I laughed and averted my gaze. “I’m sorry. I just—I should have told you before you left, and I didn’t want to wait anymore. I want you to know how I feel.”
He took my chin gently and turned my face back so he could see my eyes. So I could see him when he told me the best thing I’d ever heard in my life.
“I love you, too,” he said. “So much.”
Then he kissed me. It was the perfect Valentine’s Day, taking a sleigh ride through a town I’d loved my whole life, and falling in love with the person I knew I was meant to be with.
“I guess you were right,” Dallas said, taking my hand.
“I like the sound of that. What was I right about?”
“This town. I didn’t believe it when I came here, but it happened. I fell in love.”
I smiled at him. “It is its own kind of magic, right?”
“It is. And I have everything I want right here in this sleigh. I love you, Lewis.”
I squeezed his hand. “I love you, too.”