Page 60 of The Shift Between Us (Covewood #2)

Chapter Thirty

Olivia

S nowflakes drift lazily from the sky, catching in my hair and melting on the collar of my coat.

Downtown Covewood is extra festive this year.

Christmas decorations line every street from my house to Main Street.

Every light post, tree, and building is wrapped with twinkling lights.

Every window is glowing gold. Every storefront is trimmed with garland and red velvet bows.

Poinsettias are planted in the flowerpots that sit next to each small business’s door. Christmas music is blasting from the speakers around us, mixing with the sound of laughter and boots crunching over fresh snow. Everyone has a cup of hot chocolate in their hands, thanks to The Groovy Bean.

The scent of pine and something sweet hangs in the air, giving me warm and familiar vibes. There’s a glow to everything. The kind that doesn’t just come from the lights, but the kind that settles in your chest and makes you feel like something good is always waiting around the corner.

Children run past me, scarves trailing behind them like ribbons. A couple shares a kiss beneath a mistletoe arch. The sense of community is irreplaceable. Being in the middle of it all leaves me feeling full because this is the place I get to call home.

Standing along the crowded sidewalk, Raine and I patiently wait for the parade to start. She has her camera strapped around her neck, busily snapping photographs, and I grab her arm and tug her to me for a quick selfie to send to Luke.

We’re here and waiting way too long for you .

Luke

Good things come to those who have patience, Cupcake.

Before I can type a reply, I hear the starting sounds of the parade, and my heart begins to pump with excitement. That second cup of hot chocolate might have been a poor decision with how jittery I already am, but let's be honest here—one cup is never enough.

The first float in the parade is Lake Connection’s Boutique.

I see, like every year, that they’ve used the same float, which is a boat that’s set on top of a trailer.

Its exterior is painted green with red pinstriping, and in the middle sits a large, decorated Christmas tree.

Beside the tree are four mannequins dressed in holiday-themed clothing that is sold at their store.

Raine’s excited squeal is drowned out by the clicking of her camera as she snaps photo after photo of the float.

I almost forgot that this is her first parade in ten years, and she’s getting to experience this float for the first time.

Her smile and energy is infectious, and as the next two floats pass by, I’m watching her instead.

She turns and points her camera my way, but instead of taking a photograph, she removes the camera from her face and studies me for a moment. “What is it?” she questions.

“I’m just really glad to have you here. ”

Her expression softens as she wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me into a side hug.

“Me too,” she replies, placing her head onto my shoulder for only a second before she catches sight of Honey and Tasty’s float making its way down the line. “Oh, I love this one!”

Finally, someone did something different this year.

I study the giant beehive, admiring the hard work Holly, the owner, put into her float this year.

She’s dressed in a bee costume and is tossing her homemade honey hard candies into the crowd.

I run out to the street, snatching up a few pieces for Raine and me and smile brightly as I see what the next float is.

“Is that—” Raine starts to say, but her breath hitches at the sight of Ryland’s business’s float coming around the corner. Raine chuckles as she frantically waves at her future husband and his crew. I let out a loud hoot before laughing hysterically at their float.

Ryland wanted their float to be a surprise for Raine this year.

He had asked Annabelle what they should build, and she requested a giant pink reindeer made out of wood.

Annabelle is sitting on the back of the reindeer and waving like the little princess she is.

Ryland stands next to her, dressed up as Santa Claus, and beams proudly at her.

Beside him are his two helper elves, Zane and Ashton.

“This is the best thing ever!” I shout, clapping my hands together and laughing as Zane dances awkwardly to the music.

I reach up and catch one of the candy canes he’s tossing into the crowd.

Zane really does make the best elf. Ashton, however, looks completely uncomfortable in his very snug elf costume.

Zane uses a candy cane to tap the bell on Ashton’s hat, and he shakes his head, possibly contemplating his life choices at this moment.

Our vision is so blurry with happy tears that we almost miss the police float making its way toward us. “Finally!” I squeal, wiping my eyes with the backs of my gloves.

My nose scrunches in confusion once I hear the song they’re blasting, because it’s not a Christmas song. The closer it moves toward us, the clearer the song becomes. My jaw drops as I see Luke singing along to “Back at One” by Brian McKnight.

A laugh escapes me as I remember the bet Luke and I made on our drive to Indiana as I see him wearing the magnificent suede leather fringe pants, the still-too-big, black pearlescent diamond embroidered shirt, a white cowboy hat, and white boots.

He’s singing the lyrics, his eyes searching the crowd.

I’m so distracted by the fringe that I almost miss the moment his eyes lock with mine.

My face aches from how big I’m smiling right now.

The lyrics hit me right in the heart as he continues singing them, getting his message across, and I love this crazy man of mine.

He hops off the float, his microphone still in his hand, and a spotlight I hadn’t noticed before lands on both of us.

The crowd of people makes a path for him to get to me until, finally, Luke is standing in front of me.

He finishes singing the song, the sound of his deep voice zipping down to my toes, and it’s taking everything in me not to hop into his arms and kiss him in front of everyone.

His determined, strong jaw twitches as he exhales, looking as if he’s attempting to compose himself too.

That is, until he tips his chin, bringing his gaze to mine, showing me he’s unafraid of showing affection in front of these nosy townsfolk.

All it takes is for his lips to tip up in that lopsided smile that drives me crazy, and I jump up, wrapping my legs around his waist, my head knocking his cowboy hat off him as I crash my lips into his.

A loud cheer erupts around us, but I ignore it. All my focus is on Luke. He's kissing me with all the self-restraint I didn’t know he could have.

I pull away, and his eyes roam over my face. “Surprise.”

I hop down from his arms and allow my gaze to rake over him again. “I can’t believe you’re wearing this! ”

“You told Nonni that you knew you were a goner when you saw me in the fringe. I had to make sure you were telling the truth.”

I tilt my head back with a loud cackle as Raine peeks up over her camera, giving us both a sweet smile before snapping a quick photo of us.

“Howdy, Woody,” a little boy says from behind us, and Luke sets me onto my feet as he twists to look at him. “Looks like you found your Jessie.”

“Hey, Buzz!” Luke says, giving him a high five as the little boy hands Luke his hat back.

“That’s Bo Peep, not Jessie,” another little boy says standing next to Buzz.

“Olivia, these are the little boys who gave us our Buttercream,” Luke announces, pointing at the kids.

“You named that cat Buttercream? Why on earth—” The little boy makes a disgusted face, and Buzz elbows him in the side. “What was that for?”

“I like the cat's name,” Buzz adds with a bright smile.

“We are thankful for him,” I say before a parent hollers for the boys, and they run off into the crowd.

Luke and I turn to watch the parade, but I’m not able to pay attention to the floats driving by. All my focus is on him.

I stand up on my tippy toes and confess in his ear, “Just so you know, I was a goner the moment you entered my life.”

“Well, it took us long enough to realize that!” he exclaims, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“I know, right? What’s wrong with us?”

“We knew the whole time,” a few people from behind us say together. My face heats with embarrassment as I turn to look at the crowd behind us, everyone smiling in our direction. I recognize most of them, if not by name then at least by face.

“Well, why didn’t you tell us?” I shout at them.

“Because you needed to figure things out for yourself,” Raine replies, snapping another photo of us.

“Also,” Mrs. Whitmore calls out from behind the cider stand, “I had a bet going with Steven at the hardware store. Said you two would kiss before Christmas. Looks like I win.”

There’s a ripple of laughter as Felix adds, “About time! I nearly went blind watching you two pine like teenagers.”

“Wait, you all had a bet going?” I blink at the crowd.

Everyone around us shakes their head in unison. Luke’s chest shakes with laughter from behind me, his arms still looped around my waist like he’s not planning to let go.

“You guys are ridiculous,” I say, grinning so hard my cheeks hurt.

“But we were right,” someone sings out.

I guess they were. Somehow, this chaotic, nosy, absolutely charming town knew what we were before we did.

I shake my head, turning until I can look up at Luke, whose eyes are softening as they land on mine.

If there was one moment in my life that I could anchor my soul to, it’s the moment I fell in love with my best friend.

Snowflakes fall around us like quiet blessings, the whole world feeling hushed, like it’s holding its breath just for us. I squeeze his hand and smile through the tears building in my eyes.

“All that pretending…and somehow this became everything.”

Luke’s thumb brushes over my cheek, his eyes never leaving mine. “It always was. I was just waiting for you to see it too.”