Three hearts, One Christmas

I stand at the edge of the gymnasium, arms crossed, watching the crowd of happy, swirling couples. The High School Christmas Party is in full swing, with laughter and music echoing off the walls. The gym, draped in red and gold streamers, looks nothing like its usual fluorescent-lit self. A glittering Christmas tree stretches to the ceiling in the corner, and beneath it, people exchange small gifts, giggling like everything’s perfect. Except, of course, it’s not. At least not for me. “Cheer up, Moraine!” Kayla’s voice cuts through my thoughts. She bounces over to me, practically glowing in her sequined green dress. “You’re at the best party of the year! Smile a little.” I force a tight-lipped grin. “I’m smiling on the inside.” Kayla rolls her eyes. “Don’t lie. You’re sulking. I get it—Ryan is here with Tasha. That sucks. But you’re way better off without him.” My gaze flickers toward Ryan Walker, my ex-boyfriend, who’s spinning Tasha on the dance floor like he’s auditioning for a movie. He doesn’t look like a guy who dumped me in the middle of the cafeteria last month. No, he looks carefree and stupidly handsome in his tailored suit. “Not sulking,” I say. “Just… observing.” Kayla snorts. “Right. Observing. Listen, you should be out there dancing, not stuck in the corner looking like the Grinch.” I don’t respond. The truth is, I did have a date for this party—until he found his “true mate” in the cheerleading squad. My pride is still bruised, but that’s nothing compared to the embarrassment of standing here alone, pretending I don’t care. Kayla sighs, grabbing my arm. “Come on. Let’s at least get some punch. Maybe you’ll run into someone who—” Before she can finish, a loud cheer erupts from the dance floor. My eyes snap toward the commotion. Someone’s holding up a sprig of mistletoe, and the crowd parts like the Red Sea, forming a circle around the unlucky pair stuck beneath it. My heart sinks when I see them. It’s Matthew Harper and some wide-eyed girl I don’t recognize. Matthew is one of the Harper triplets—rich, ridiculously good-looking, and completely out of my league. His brothers, Ethan and Lucas, are just as unattainable. Together, they’re Willow Ridge’s golden boys. Matthew leans down, his sharp green eyes twinkling mischievously, and kisses the girl on the cheek. The crowd roars with approval, but I look away. It’s just another reminder that I don’t belong here. Kayla nudges me, her tone conspiratorial. “The Harper triplets are all here tonight. You know what that means, right?” “Absolutely nothing,” I reply flatly. She grins. “It means you could snag one of them. I heard Ethan’s band is playing later. Maybe he’ll serenade you.” “Not interested.” “Liar.” I roll my eyes and glance at the punch table. Anything to escape this conversation. But before I can move, someone bumps into me—hard. “Watch it!” I snap, turning around. And then I freeze. It’s Lucas Harper. His dark hair is neatly styled, his suit perfectly tailored, and his piercing blue eyes lock onto mine. “Sorry,” he says smoothly, though there’s a hint of amusement in his tone. “Didn’t see you there.” I manage a nod, my brain short-circuiting. Lucas Harper just apologized to me. Me. Moraine Carter. “Enjoying the party?” he asks, his voice casual but oddly genuine. “Sure,” I mumble, though the sarcasm must be obvious. He raises an eyebrow, but before he can respond, a voice calls out from behind him. “Hey, Lucas! Get over here. You’re up next!” It’s Ethan, the middle triplet, standing by the makeshift stage. His blond hair is a mess of curls, and he’s holding an acoustic guitar like it’s an extension of himself. He waves Lucas over, flashing a grin at me in the process. Lucas gives me a small nod. “Maybe I’ll see you later.” And just like that, he’s gone. Kayla is practically vibrating beside me. “Oh my God. Lucas Harper just talked to you. What did he say? Did he ask for your number?” “No,” I say, grabbing a cup of punch to distract myself. “He was just being polite.” “Polite, my ass. He was totally checking you out.” I shake my head, but my stomach flips at the thought. The music shifts to a slow, romantic tune, and couples flood the dance floor again. I take a step back, suddenly feeling exposed. Maybe I should just leave. But as I turn to slip out, something catches my eye. No, someone. Matthew Harper is walking toward me. My breath catches in my throat. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, and exudes the kind of confidence that makes people part for him without question. He stops a few feet away, his green eyes flickering with interest. “Moraine, right?” he says, his deep voice smooth as silk. I blink. “Uh, yeah. That’s me.” He smiles, and it’s unfairly dazzling. “I noticed you standing over here. Thought I’d come say hi.” Kayla practically squeals beside me. “I’ll just… give you two a moment,” she says, disappearing into the crowd. I gape after her, then look back at Matthew. “Why are you talking to me?” He chuckles, tilting his head. “Why not? You look like you could use some company.” I open my mouth to reply, but before I can, someone shouts, “Mistletoe!” I look up, and my heart sinks. Sure enough, a sprig of green hangs directly above us. The crowd erupts in cheers, and I want to disappear. This cannot be happening. Matthew grins, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Well, looks like we don’t have a choice.” Before I can protest, he leans in, his lips brushing mine in a soft, fleeting kiss. My heart pounds so loudly I’m sure everyone can hear it. When he pulls back, the crowd roars again. I’m too stunned to move, let alone respond. But then another voice cuts through the noise. “Hey, my turn.” It’s Ethan. He’s grinning like he’s just won the lottery. “What?” I stammer, but before I can say anything else, he steps under the mistletoe, leans down, and kisses me. This kiss is different—longer, slower, with a playful edge that leaves me completely breathless. The crowd is going wild now, but I barely hear them. My mind is spinning. And then, as if things couldn’t get any more surreal, Lucas appears. “Don’t leave me out,” he says smoothly, his blue eyes glinting with mischief. “What is happening?” I whisper, but no one answers. Lucas steps under the mistletoe, cups my face gently, and kisses me. His lips are soft and warm, and for a moment, everything else fades away. When he pulls back, I’m left reeling, my face burning and my heart racing like I’ve just run a marathon. The triplets exchange grins, clearly enjoying my bewilderment. “Well,” Matthew says, “this just got interesting.” I have no idea what to say, so I do the only thing I can—I turn and walk out of the gym, leaving the chaos behind. Outside, the cold night air stings my cheeks, but it’s nothing compared to the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. What just happened? And why do I feel like my life just changed forever?