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 loudhootbefore 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 songthey’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.
