Chapter One
Willa
I glance over at my brother, Luke, and his fiancé, Natalie, with a smile. They’re adorable together. His arm is wrapped around her, and she’s tucked into him like she’s found her perfect spot. It makes me happy seeing him like this. It also makes me feel lonely, not that I would ever admit that to anyone.
I pull my coat tight and exhale into the cold. The town square is packed with people huddling in tight clusters while waiting for the Christmas tree lighting. Children’s laughter rings out over the holiday music and the smell of hot chocolate fills the air. Everything is magical and I let it soak in.
Luke looks over at me with a grin. “Having fun?”
“Of course,” I say, nudging him with my shoulder. “Wouldn’t miss this for anything.” Which is true. Luke and I always spend Christmas together. This is our first in Love Beach and the first with Natalie, too.
“We’re glad you’re here, Wills,” he says, pulling me into a side hug. “Wouldn’t be the same without you.”
I smile up at him, letting the warmth of his words settle over me. Luke’s always been caring, ever since our parents passed, but this year he’s different. Happier, and maybe a little more thoughtful. Maybe it’s Natalie rubbing off on him, I don’t know.
Natalie chimes in, her eyes shining with brightness. “I need you here to keep this one from spoiling all the fun. He keeps trying to peek at his Christmas gifts.”
I laugh, “Classic Luke.”
He rolls his eyes, but I can see the happiness radiating from them.
I’m about to say something about Luke’s lack of patience when the lights on the tree flicker catching everyone’s attention. The crowd hushes as a feeling of anticipation ripples through us.
A voice over the speakers begins the countdown. I join in along with everyone else, feeling a childlike thrill build with each number. “Five…four…three…”
I catch a glimpse of Natalie leaning into Luke as the countdown finishes and then, suddenly, the tree is ablaze with light. Rows and rows of twinkling multicolor lights climb up the massive evergreen. There’s a collective gasp, this moment where everyone’s taken by the beauty of it.
It’s pure Christmas joy.
I swallow against the strange tightness in my throat. This is a chance to escape the quiet of my apartment and spend the holidays surrounded by people who love me. I chose to come here, to Love Beach, knowing exactly what I was getting into: lights, laughter, the sounds of carols in the air, and all the cheer I could possibly hope for.
But there was one thing I didn’t expect. I didn’t expect that the warmth around me would make the quiet inside me feel even louder.
“Willa, come take a picture with us!” Natalie’s voice is bright, her cheeks pink from the cold as she waves me over. She’s holding up her phone, already snapping a few pictures of Luke who’s playfully dodging. He finally gives in, pulling her close and grinning into the camera.
I force a smile as I slip between them, draping my arms around their shoulders. Natalie’s camera clicks, and I find myself laughing as Luke goofs off, making funny faces and pretending to freeze against the night air.
“There,” Natalie says, tapping her screen to save the photos. She shows me one where we’re all mid-laugh, our breaths frosting in the glow of the lights. “Perfect.”
I nod. It’s perfect. They’re perfect together, both so in love and so right for each other. I was a little wary of Natalie and Luke’s relationship in the beginning. She is much younger than him, the daughter of his best friend, and their relationship moved so fast. But once you get to know Natalie it’s impossible not to love her.
As if she can read my mind, Natalie gives me a soft nudge. “I want you to feel at home here, Willa. Nothing’s gonna change just because I’m here now.”
And I do feel that, at least most of the time. But even so, there’s something —someone— missing, and I can’t shake that. I know I shouldn’t let it get to me. It’s Christmas, for heaven’s sake. Yet, somehow, the joy of everyone else makes my loneliness feel like an itch I can’t scratch, like something I can’t shake off no matter how hard I try.
Just then, a band starts playing “Jingle Bell Rock”. I notice people swaying along and a few couples dancing in the open square. I step back from Luke and Natalie giving them space and wander a few paces off losing myself in the sway of the crowd.
This time of year always gets to me like this. Christmas was always a big deal growing up. We’d bundle up and drive for hours to see the lights in the city, our car packed with homemade snacks and the smell of hot cocoa and peppermint. Luke was always the eager one, counting the days until Santa came. And Mom and Dad…they’d let us go on and on, smiling, laughing along with us, always making sure we felt loved.
That’s what I’m trying to remember now. I want to remember those little things, the feeling of home, even though it’s different now.
A wave of cheers erupts around me, and I turn my gaze back to the lights. I don’t even know what I’m looking for, maybe just a moment of connection, something to chase away this quiet ache in my chest.
And that’s when I see him.
He’s standing across the square. His face is in the shadows but somehow still distinct in the glow of the Christmas tree lights. Tall, strong jaw, and a kind of presence that somehow cuts through the crowd. I can’t help but stare. He’s looking at the tree, a faint smile touching his lips, but there’s something about his expression that feels wistful. He looks like he’s caught in a world of his own.
As if he can feel my gaze, he glances up and catches my eye. A slight crease forms between his brows, a look of recognition or maybe just curiosity. It should be awkward —I’ve been staring at him, after all —but there’s something about his expression that makes me hold his gaze. I’m not sure if it’s the atmosphere, the magic of the lights, or maybe just the need to feel seen, even for a moment.
He takes a step forward and I realize he’s moving toward me. My pulse quickens and I glance away, feeling foolish for being so obvious.
But when I look back, he’s still coming closer weaving through the crowd with ease and grace that somehow stands out. There’s a steadiness in the way he moves, a quiet confidence, and I find myself drawn to it like a magnet.
Finally, he stops a few feet in front of me. Up close, I notice details I hadn’t before: his sharp cheekbones, the hint of stubble on his jaw, and those eyes —a deep, dark shade that seems to hold a thousand stories. He’s handsome, yes, but there’s something more.
“Hi, I’m Leo,” he says, his voice low and warm, tinged with an accent I can’t quite place. He smiles and my knees go a little weak.
“Hi, Leo. I’m Willa.” I reply, my voice coming out softer than I intended. I clear my throat. “Quite the crowd tonight, huh?”
He chuckles, glancing around. “Yes, it’s a bit more than I expected.” His eyes settle back on mine as if I’m the only person here.
For a second, I lose myself in that gaze, feeling the noise and the lights blur around us. I’m not alone. Not in this moment, not when he’s looking at me like this.
“Would you like to grab a hot chocolate with me? He asks, nodding toward a booth nearby. His tone is calm, almost careful.
I surprise myself by nodding. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
And just like that, the quiet inside me fades, replaced by a warmth I could get used to.