Page 54 of Jingle Spells

“Hardly. No, the issue is, Nate doesn’t want to get married until we can go on a proper honeymoon. Which we can’t, of course, because of the forgetting spell.”

“Weren’t you all working on a forgetting-spell loophole when I left? Something with studying trivia?”

“Yeah well . . . Suck in your breath a little for me . . . ugh, more, Delilah, c’mon . . . The trivia loophole has not been effective thus far. And so, I wait. And wait. Okay, you’re set. You look gorgeous, big sister. Now can we please get going? There’s a praying mantis in a tuxedo downstairs who keeps nervously checking his watch.”

“Mean. Jasper’s just nervous because you asked him to address the whole damn town.”

“Sure, that’s what he’s nervous about.” Scarlett’s eyes twinkled. “Not a certain witch he can’t stop staring at.”

“Oh shut up.” But Delilah couldn’t prevent the flush in her cheeks.

“He likes you. And you like him. Which makes total sense, since you’re both huge nerds.”

“You don’t know that.”

“That you’re both huge nerds? Are you kidding? That man has never met a filing cabinet he didn’t want to marry and have little manila folder babies with. Trust me, anyone can see you’re both huge nerds. Aliens can see it from space. Blind people can see it. The dead can see that⁠—”

“Cut it out. I meant, you don’t know that he likes me.”

“Silly girl.” Scarlett wrapped her arm around Delilah’s. “He looks at you like you’re the pen-and-pencil set he’s been searching for all his life.” She gently steered her sister toward the door. “Now, we have a feast to attend, a town to save, and a romance to kindle. ¡Ándale!”

They hurried down the hallway, but Delilah abruptly stopped. “Scar, I miss Luna. This doesn’t feel right without her.”

“Yeah . . . I know. I miss her too.”

“I wonder what she’s up to.”

Scarlett shrugged. “Probably marking the holiday with a coven of telekinetic yak herders. Can we go now?”

“I just hope she’s okay.”

“She’s fine, Del. Luna will turn up—she always does. She’s probably just waiting to make the most dramatic entrance possible.”

The sisters paused at the top of the grand staircase that swept down to the lobby. Below them, the inn hummed with activity. Staff hurried to and fro; Mama directed traffic. The oak banisters had been wrapped with evergreen garlands and twinkling lights. And there, at the bottom of the stairs, stood Jasper and Nate, deep in conversation. They were still in their casino-inspired tuxedos.

“Look at my guy,” Scarlett whispered gleefully. “I’d never get Nate into a tux under normal circumstances.”

Nate’s face split into a wide grin as he caught sight of his girlfriend bounding down the stairs. “Hey, look at you! Best Christmas present ever!”

Then Jasper looked up.

When his eyes met Delilah’s, something in the air shifted. And that insecure voice in Delilah’s head? That voice that kept whispering “Girl, better change your dress one more time”? That voice fell silent. In the warmth of Jasper’s gaze, the dress was perfect. She was perfect.

But as she descended the stairs, she thought, Don’t be an idiot, Del. To him, we’ve just met.

“You look amazing,” he said simply.

“Gosh, thanks,” she replied, and then cursed herself internally. Gosh?! Since when do I say gosh? “You clean up pretty well yourself.”

“Technically, I haven’t changed since last night. Or this morning. However time works around here.” He adjusted his glasses. “I mean, I don’t actually own a tux. I don’t know where this even came from.”

“Fits you nicely,” Delilah said.

“Another mystery. My proportions are all weird, nothing fits me . . . and yet this does. Plus, I’m still not sure why I’m at a magical banquet in a town that technically doesn’t exist. But um . . . well, looking at you now? I’m certain that I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

“That’s . . . that’s a very nice thing to say.”

“It’s the truth,” he replied. “I thought I’d better tell you before I forget.”