Page 73 of Mad Love

“You never know what’s behind the suit,” he whispers under his breath.

Owen pipes up. “I think Pappy was Santa Claus last year. He always keeps peppermints in his pocket and Santa was handing out candy canes.” He looks at me with big eyes and I smile. He’s adorable.

“That’s a really good guess then. If I knew it was Pappy playing the Easter bunny, I wouldn’t mind so much,” Weston says.

“I don’t think it’s Pappy,” Dakota says. “See? He’s over there with Grinny.”

I look over and see a striking elderly couple standing together near the Easter egg hunt. Weston has had to tell me several times who everyone is and I’m still having trouble keeping everyone straight. But I believe Grinny is the Landmarks’ grandma, and Pappy is the Ledgers’ grandpa…as inZac Ledger,formerly my favorite quarterback until I met the one next to me.

We’re next in line and when the helper motions for us to come close, I do and Weston stands back. I look at him and he makes a face and then moves forward with us. It’s our turn for a picture and when I step closer to the bunny, Caleb starts wailing. He looks at the Easter bunny and cries his eyes out. I think pictures are still taken, but it can’t be a good one.

“Let’s go, let’s go,” Weston says, hustling us away from there as fast as he can.

Caleb’s lower lip sticks out as he looks back at the bunny and cries a little more.

“It’s okay, sweet boy. We won’t go back there,” I tell him.

“You never have to get your picture with a dressed-up character if you don’t want to,” Weston tells him solemnly.

I burst out laughing and he gives me a mock hurt look.

“No, you’re right. He doesn’t,” I say, trying to get serious and failing.

Later, we take a ride up the highest mountain in a big gondola. It’s full since it’s a clear spring day and everyone is out for the festivities. April has been amazing this year, and I can’t wait until the weather is even warmer so we can get in Weston’s pool. When we reach the top of the mountain, we take a few selfies of the three of us, and Felicity takes a few of us too. I get some of her and Sutton and Owen, and while I’m busy with that, Weston gets mobbed.

“Oh my God, Weston Shaw,” I hear the shriek and turn to see a bunch of hot girls in skintight jeans and boobs lifted up to heaven, surrounding him.

“Can we get a picture with you?” they ask, and he agrees.

I’ve never heard him say no to an autograph or a picture, and by now there have been a few occasions when it wasn’t the best timing. Like last month at Caleb’s doctor’s appointment.

“Sure,” he says.

They take no less than three dozen pictures, each of them wanting one-on-one shots and then multiple group shots, and then they want him to sign things. One girl lifts her shirt and flashes her boobs and points at her cleavage, asking him to sign there.

Felicity turns Owen away so he doesn’t see too much.

“I’m here with my family,” he says, shaking his head. “But you guys have a nice day, okay?” He starts to walk away and several of them stick pieces of paper in his pockets.

“Nerves of steel, these women,” Felicity mutters. She looks at me and rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry. He’s not into that. He’s grown up a lot.”

“I’m not…he can do whatever he wants.” I lift my shoulder.

Her eyes narrow and her lips poke out like she’s trying to read me. “But you know he’s into you, right?” she whispers.

I make a face. “No. It’s just a weird situation. I don’t think he really is at all?—”

She snorts. “Uh, I’ve seen the way he looks at you…and I thought I was seeing something in the way you look at him too, but—” She shrugs. “Maybe I have it wrong?”

“I think so,” I say.

“Hmm.”

“What do you think?” Weston asks, coming up to us.

“I think you got a lot of girls’ numbers just now,” I say.

He groans. “If there was a trash can up here, I’d toss them.”

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