Ember Frost’s POV

“Don’t stand there looking so nervous, dear,” the woman said with a bright laugh. She gave my arm a friendly tug before I could even react. “And you, young man, why are you just watching? Come on, bring your girl over and join the celebration!”

Her voice carried the kind of excitement that made it hard to refuse. Before I knew it, she had already started guiding me toward the crowd, clearly determined not to let us slip away so easily.

Refusing her felt ...