Arielle had survived snowstorms, runaway muffins, magical glitter explosions, and kisses she still wasn’t sure she deserved.
But nothing—nothing—could have prepared her for the town parade.
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The streets were alive with the holiday spirit: strings of lights wrapped around lampposts, carolers singing off-key, and floats moving with the graceful precision of drunken penguins. Arielle trudged along beside Noah, who looked suspiciously calm for someone who clearly knew exactly what was about to happen.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” she asked, eyeing the parade route.
“Nope,” Noah admitted, grinning. “But it’s tradition.”
“Tradition,” Arielle repeated. “Right. A tradition that will inevitably ruin my life.”
He laughed. “Maybe. Or maybe it’ll make your magic even cuter.”
She groa
