Page 47 of More Than a Little Spark

“Do you not like Daphne?When she’s around, you don’t talk to her much.”

“She’s nice.”His gaze is fixed on his plate.

“Are you unhappy that I’m dating her?”

He shovels a bite into his mouth, and then there is an awkward lull in the conversation while he chews.After swallowing, he shakes his head.“Nope.”

His words say no, but his body language says yes.

“My dating her won’t change anything about where you live or where I work.I want you to know that.”I’m hoping that by assuring him life isn’t about to upend, he’ll open up to the idea of Daphne.Because I’m getting the idea that it’s more about the dating and less about her.

“Okay.”He meets my gaze and flashes a quick smile.Then he drops his fork onto the table.“Can I go call Mason now?”

“Sure.”That didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, but at least I made some key points.

I send off a text to Daphne.

Me:Any interest in going to the Snake Farm with me, Fred and Mason next week?And maybe Bailey.I’ll have to see what Fred thinks about that idea.Not sure what day yet.It’s one last hurrah before school starts again.

Bubbles dance on the screen, then stop.After a second, they start again.

Daphne:While I am not a fan of snakes.At all.I very much like you, so yes.Let me know what day, and I’ll do my best to slip away from the office.I like Fred and Mason too.And Bailey.For the record.

Me:Great.I’ll call you later.

Daphne responds with a kissing emoji.Sadly, we haven’t done much of that recently.Thanks to a very intentional Fred.

The Snake Farmis more roadside attraction and less zoo.That’s not to say it isn’t cool.Fred and Mason are loving it.And Bailey too.She’s right there next to the boys as they ooh and ahh over the baby alligator and then gawk at the full grown one.

Daphne snaps pictures with her phone and smiles at me, but the smile is riddled with disappointment.Fred hasn’t said more than a hello to her.

“Miss Daphne, come over here.”Bailey grabs Daphne’s hand and pulls her closer to the pen.“The teeth are scary.Let’s take a selfie with the gator in the background so I can show my mom and dad.”

Daphne squats beside Bailey.They lean their heads together and Daphne holds out her arm, moving it around a bit before snapping the photo.

“Want me to get one of all four of you?”I pull out my phone.

Daphne gives a slight head shake, then steps next to me.“Just the three of them, I think.”

Grinning ear to ear, Bailey moves so that she’s between Mason and Fred.Then I take a picture.While I’m sending the photo to Anderson because I know he’ll want it, the three of them take off.

Daphne and I nearly have to run to keep up with them.They stop at the door of the reptile center.

Fred grabs the handle.“I think we can touch the snakes.”

“Cool!”Mason steps closer to Bailey.“You don’t have to touch the snakes if you don’t want to, okay?”

“I know.Dad told me that before I left.I just want to look at them.”

Anderson warned me about Bailey’s fear of snakes.He was a little surprised that she wanted to come along.But it seems like spending time with the guys outweighs her dislike of snakes.

That’s something Bailey and Daphne have in common.

I squeeze Daphne’s hand.“Same goes for you.Don’t feel obligated to pet the snake.”

She meets my gaze, determination etched on her face.Then she whispers, “I will hold that snake if they let me.”

“I thought you didn’t like snakes.”

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