Page 103 of The Mistletoe Makeover

I don’t care what the critics say. I don’t want to stop making music ever.

When the silence settles across the room, sweat pricks the back of my neck. I sit behind the piano, stretch my fingers across the keys, and take a deep breath.

Never have I been this nervous to perform a new song. As my heart bangs against my chest, I search for her in the front row.

“I’ve got a new song to play tonight,” I tell the audience. “And I’d like to ask someone to join me onstage.” I look out at the expectant faces in the dark. “Tonight, I’d like Mia MacPherson to come up here.”

I don’t care if I had to pay a million dollars for this date. I’d do it all again.

Mia stares at me while Jaz and Ella push her toward the stage.

She slowly joins me onstage, and then shoots me a nervous smile as she sits next to me.

At first, I’m too nervous to look at her, so I close my eyes, letting the piano echo across the space.

Beneath the mistletoe, by the glow of Christmas lights,

With you in my arms, it’s a magical night.

Snowflakes softly falling as our fingers entwine,

I can’t wait ’til we’re alone, because this year, you’ll be mine...

I feel her eyes on me, giving me a surge of confidence, until the band hits the instrumental part.

I lift my hands, and lean close to her. “Will you dance with me?”

She glances at the audience. “In front of all these people?”

“Yes, Mia, in front of everyone,” I say, loud enough for only her to hear. “It’s not pretend this time. It’s for real. I’ve been waiting for this moment ever since we danced before.”

I walk her to center stage as the band continues to play. The hesitation swirls in her eyes, and I give her a reassuring smile, gathering her in my arms and pulling her body close, like we were made to dance this way, swaying gently under the Christmas lights. As I rest my head against her hair, we slowly find our rhythm and let the audience melt away. It’s just her and me and a lifetime stretched out before us.

Closing my eyes, I imagine what it would be like to have this every day. To wake up every morning with her in my arms, to kiss her every night.

As much as I love music, she’s worth losing everything for.

When the band plays the last note, there’s a stretch of silence—the whole audience caught up in our moment.

When I turn to Mia, her eyes are shining. Whatever is happening between us—she feels it too. She’s the reason I found my muse again. No matter what happens after tonight, this song will always be hers.

As the crowd rises to their feet and applause fills the room, the only thing that matters is her.

I slip offstage as the cheers continue and Allan runs over. “Jace, you’re not going to believe it.”

“What?”

“The entire field outside is full of tailgaters, and so many fans watched online that YouTube temporarily glitched.”

“That’s crazy.”

“The news outlets are reporting already that your concert was a massive success. Your new songs blew up the internet, especially that last one with Mia.” He holds up his phone to show me the comments pouring in.

“That’s great,” I say, feeling an urgency to tell Mia. “I need to talk to Mia before she leaves.”

“You’re finally ready to tell her?” he says, his lips curling into a smile.

“You knew?”

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