Finding Christmas Magic by Carolina Ximena

Author:Carolina Ximena [Cara Rivers]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Authentic Souls Club
Published: 2025-07-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Lucia

My eyes were closed as I held my palms against my chest, not believing how lucky I felt that I came searching for Christmas magic. My expectations that it would be enough to be close to the action, while the universe had something even better in store by participating. It was competition day and a squeal tickled the back of my throat as I ran on the spot in an excited circle.

It was early. We technically didn’t have to be at the community centre until nine, but I was elated. I was just about to move into downward dog when my morning routine was interrupted by a knock at the door. Assuming it was Carol, I didn’t think too much about opening the door in my sports bra and spandex.

“Oh!” The word popped out as I staggered back.

There was Mark, taking up the entirety of the doorframe. The greens of his eyes turned stormy, as cinnamon-flavoured kisses peppered my skin where his gaze scanned my body. It was the most transparent I’d seen him. In each of his hands was a Farmhouse 50 to-go cup. With a blink, the tempestuous skies cleared, and his right hand moved in my direction.

“Eggnog chai. We should go.”

Go? Go where? Definitely not the community centre, it was way too early for that.

But then he walked away. Leaving me standing alone, both hands warming against the drink, looking around for anyone who might have the answers to what the hell just happened.

* * *

He did, in fact, mean the community centre and when I asked why we were here so early, he said we needed to strategize. That’s when I realized… Mark was competitive. And he was in for an incredibly rude awakening because I was certifiably not.

As he gave me a rundown of the most common landmarks used in past competitions—their proximities and that hoofing it was a better transportation method than driving cause you could take shortcuts and if I was sure my boots were weather appropriate—I was busy absorbing it all. The other contestants who sprinkled their way in. The tourists who came to enjoy the market and watch. I could already tell who was from here and who wasn’t, and wondered what vibe I gave off.

“Are you listening?”

“Hm?”

“Lucia, we need a plan.” My name rolled off his tongue more comfortably, and it made me grin.

“Can’t we just have fun? You said it yourself, your family doesn’t even try cause it doesn’t matter, they’ll donate anyway.” I added the last part in a whisper, not sure how the town would react to that information.

He looked at me like I had asked him to give up his firstborn. My lips pinched together, trying not to laugh.

“Okay,” I relented. “Tell me the game plan.”

* * *

While we waited, it felt like someone was casually rubbing a balloon, creating an energetic friction in the room. The closer we got to starting, the more animated it became. Finally, the coordinator came up to the podium to announce that Mark and I would be receiving the first clue.

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