If there was a world record for "Most Unlucky Human Being Alive," Maya Thompson was sure her face would be printed right on the trophy.
Not just because her umbrella snapped inside-out the moment she stepped outside.
Not because a truck splashed her with freezing street water as she crossed Evergreen Town Square.
Not even because her boss had "accidentally" mixed up her schedule again and made her work through lunch.
No—Maya was convinced she was cursed because this was her seventh Christmas Eve disaster in a row.
Seven.
Lucky for the rest of the world, Maya's bad luck did not spread. If it did, humanity would have already collapsed by now.
She clutched the steaming cup of hot cocoa she'd bought to warm her hands—only for a strong gust of winter wind to blow whipped cream straight into her face.
"Of course," she muttered, wiping chocolate foam off her cheek. "Because why wouldn't that happen today?"
The town square glittered with bright lights, warm carols, and couples holding hands under the giant Christmas tree. The whole place smelled like cinnamon and hope.
Meanwhile, Maya smelled like spilled cocoa and disappointment.
She tilted her head toward the sky—dark navy, sprinkled with snow, peaceful in a way her life never was.
"Please," she whispered. "Just once. Can I get a Christmas Eve that doesn't feel like a punishment?"
A soft twinkle sounded above her. She blinked.
Was that a star?
A glitch in the lights?
A hallucination born from too much stress and cheap cocoa?
Before she could decide, something small and glowing drifted down from the sky like a falling ember.
Right toward her.
Maya frowned up at it. "What the—?"
The glowing object floated closer, shimmering like gold dust, until it landed gently in her open palm with a warm pulse.
A charm.
A small, perfectly shaped golden four-leaf clover hanging from a thin chain.
It felt warm. Alive. Like it was breathing.
"Okay… this is new," she whispered.
Before she could take a better look, something crashed into her from the side.
Maya stumbled, flailing, barely catching her balance. Her cocoa went flying.
"Watch it—!" she squeaked.
A tall figure in a dark coat steadied her by the elbow.
Strong hands.
Steady grip.
Cold, cold fingers.
"You okay?" a low voice asked.
Maya blinked up—and met the stormiest gray eyes she had ever seen.
The stranger looked… annoyed. Like the universe forced him to exist in a place he didn't want to be. Snow clung to his thick dark hair, his jaw was sharp enough to slice through ice, and the shadows under his eyes held something old and heavy.
He looked like a man who hadn't smiled in years.
"I—I'm fine," she stammered.
He released her arm immediately, as if touching people was something he preferred to avoid.
"Good," he said shortly. "Sorry. Wasn't watching where I was going."
Just as Maya attempted to reply, the charm in her hand glowed again.
Brightly.
The stranger saw it—and froze.
"What is that?" he asked, tone shifting from annoyed to suspicious.
Maya held it up uncertainly. "I… honestly don't know. It just fell from the sky and—"
The charm pulsed a second time, brighter than before.
The man stepped back. "It's glowing."
"Trust me," Maya said, "I'm just as confused as you."
A third pulse.
This one stronger.
The charm warmed her whole hand.
"Is it supposed to do that?" he asked.
"No!"
The charm flickered—then shot out a tiny trail of golden sparks that pointed down Main Street.
Both of them stared.
"What is it… doing?" Maya whispered.
The stranger's jaw tightened. "Looks like it wants you to follow it."
Maya swallowed. "That's crazy."
"Magic usually is."
She blinked. "Magic?"
He coughed. "Forget I said that."
Another pulse—more forceful this time—made Maya's fingers tingle as if the charm were tugging at her.
"Okay," she whispered. "That's definitely not normal."
The stranger took a step backward, hands raised slightly. "Look, whatever this is, it's not my business. I don't do Christmas magic. Or Christmas anything."
"You… don't like Christmas?" Maya asked.
His expression darkened. "No. I hate it."
Right. Of course. Maya finally gets a magical glowing charm and fate decides to attach her to a man who despises the one holiday she desperately wanted to enjoy.
Perfect. Just her luck.
The charm pulsed again—then—
pulled.
Literally pulled her forward, tugging her arm toward the stranger.
She yelped and dug her heels into the snow. "Hey! Stop—!"
He grabbed her wrist instinctively to steady her—
The moment their skin touched, the charm exploded with golden light.
Both froze.
"…Okay," the man said slowly, voice lowering. "What was that?"
Maya's heart pounded. "I don't know! I'm not doing anything!"
The charm glowed softer now, but steady… like a heartbeat syncing between the two of them.
The stranger stared at their joined hands, then at her, then at the charm again.
"This is trouble," he muttered.
"You think?" Maya shot back.
Silence settled between them. Snow drifted lazily from the sky.
Finally, he sighed—a heavy, weary sound.
"I'm Rowan," he said reluctantly. "If some magical thing is dragging us into weirdness together, I guess I should at least know your name."
"Maya," she replied. "Maya Thompson."
Rowan nodded once. "Okay, Maya Thompson. Here's the plan: we figure out what that thing wants, then we go our separate ways. I don't do destiny. Or fate. Or…" his lip curled slightly, "holiday miracles."
Maya looked down at the charm glowing gently in her palm.
She didn't believe in destiny either.
She didn't believe in magic.
She definitely didn't believe in fate.
But as the charm warmed her hand and her heart thudded with something unfamiliar, a quiet whisper slipped through her mind:
What if… this time… Christmas wasn't trying to punish her?
What if it was trying to give her something?
She glanced up at Rowan.
His eyes were cold. Guarded. Dark.
But the charm glowed brighter when she looked at him.
Maya's breath hitched.
No.
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
The charm couldn't mean—
Rowan stepped back abruptly, breaking the moment. "Let's just get this over with."
Maya nodded, struggling to swallow her racing thoughts.
Because if the charm really glowed only when true love was near—
Then she was in serious, impossible, unbelievable trouble.
⸻
✨ End of Chapter 1