I'm already liking the Valentine's Day Festival way more than I liked the Halloween one. A couple months after getting together with Kent, I'm still a giant ball of sappy emotions from everything from the heart shaped streamers, to the punch and the kissing booth in the town square, speaks to my soul. I love love.

Even though Kent and I are couple now, we still go to the festival with Jen, Rosie and Frank. Or at least we were supposed to, Frank has decided not to make an appearance. More specifically, he's promised us that there is no amount of money we could have paid him to get him to go.

We wander around the square, eating heart-shaped chocolates on a stick and, once again, I'm on the lookout for my family. My parents aren’t here this time around, choosing to use the opportunity when most of us were out of the house to have a date night of their own, going to a restaurant together in the next town over. Reece is here with her now second Fairview boyfriend. This one, Tom, has lasted for three weeks already. From the way she talks about him, I'm a little surprised it hasn't ended already. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was holding out until after the Valentine's Day festivities. Both she and Reilly are here with a big group of friends.

Rhiannon, who broke up with Derrick after he bailed from coming to see her for New Year's Eve, is staying home to enjoy having the house to herself. Though I’m at least a little tempted to call and check in… just to make sure she’s really there.

"Have I mentioned how much I love your hair?" Kent asks. All four of us somehow convinced our mother to let us re-dye our hair a little earlier than planned, so we would have everything looking it's best for Valentine's Day.

As a result, Kent has mentioned it, multiple times. Instead of going with the pink streak I'd once imagined, I actually ended up going a little bolder. The top of my haircut is still its natural color, but the entire lower half is a deep and vibrant purple. Reece has now gone almost fully blond, and Rhiannon has toned down her red look but just a little. This time round, Reilly decided to mix it up and add in a few highlights to her own look. Somehow, people still confuse us for one another.

"Stop it, I'm blushing."

"You really are." Rosie points out. "You make it seem like he barely ever complements you. Kent, that is not how you treat a lady. You should be telling Reagan every day that she is the prettiest girl ever."

Now I am blushing, so hard my face must be bright red. Rosie is completely teasing both of us. It was only last week that we managed to tone things down enough that she stopped giving us a hard time, especially when we were constantly complimenting one another. Even I can admit that we were getting a little ridiculous. "Actually, I have good news. Completely unrelated to how attractive I find Reagan."

"Oh yeah?" I ask, giving Kent's hand a squeeze of gratitude for the distraction.

"Well, my mom went to high school with Mrs. Bishop, the lady who runs the animal shelter. If Reece is still looking to get in for volunteering, I can talk to her."

It takes me a second to figure out what he's saying. "Really? That’s amazing!" If I can do anything to help Reece find something to get her feet planted here in Fairview, I'm open to the idea.

"My mom gets that she owes your family a bit of a favor."

"Why? Because she showed up on our doorstep on her first day in town looking for new story?"

"Unfortunately, no. I think it's because she's planning to do more of the same in the future." Kent grimaces.

I want to ask what he means, but before I can, I see my sisters and their friends appear from around the corner. They’re both easy to spot, even within a crowd of nearly a dozen people. It’s like I have an extra sense when it comes to them.

Soon enough, our group merges with theirs, and I’m one of three nearly identical people in a crowd. At the first opportunity, I pull Reece aside.

"Were you still interested in volunteering at the animal shelter?" I ask.

"Not an option." Reece answers, her smiling falling away instantly. "Maybe, by the time we’re seniors I’ll make enough of an impression around here to try again. But probably not."

"What if I had an in? Or specifically, Kent does. Would you be interested then?"

"Ummm… yes. I would be interested! Forever grateful too. Have I mentioned that Kent is my new favorite person?"

"Hey!" Tom says from behind her, pulling her backwards for a kiss. Reece rolls her eyes. Yeah, right. She’s loving the attention.

If nothing else, it’s nice to see Reece really start to find herself again. Things didn’t go how she’d hoped at first, but I’m starting to suspect that next year will be when she really shines.

As everyone else goes off for more food, I finally have my first chance of the day to be even somewhat alone with Kent. My boyfriend.

Crazy.

His fingers are tangled in mine as he pulls me closer to him, until my body is pressed right up against his. At first, I feel a little weird, knowing the whole town can see us, but Kent only places a kick kiss on my forehead before taking a step back.

As we separate, I take in the busy town around me. Just like Halloween, it feels like everyone is here at the same time, even though this is probably only a fraction of the town’s population.

"Psst," Kent whispers in my ear, sending a shiver running through me. "What’s on your mind?"

"I was just thinking… I’m glad we moved in Fairview. I actually kind of like it here."

Kent leans forward and gives me another quick kiss, this time on my lips. "I’m glad you’re here too." he says as we separate.

Yup, I’m definitely going to love living here.

* * *