Page 49 of More Than a Little Spark

“Don’t wake up the baby, please.”Prim says to Bailey, then turns her attention back to me.“Thank you again.She was so excited to be invited.And I’m stunned she got near a snake, let alone held one.So thank you for inspiring her bravery.”

I lean close.“It was selfishly motivated.I was trying to show Fred I was cool enough to hold a snake.Not sure it worked though.”

She laughs.“Boys can be weird.Give him time.”

I’m not sure time is working, but Carson currently has his arm around me.And Fred hasn’t gotten out of the truck to pull Carson away from me, so that seems like progress.

After dropping off Mason, we drive back to Carson’s.

Fred slides out as soon as we’re stopped.“Thanks for taking me, Dad.Bye, Miss Emerson.”

“Thanks for letting me join y’all.I had a lot of fun.”

He nods, then trudges into the house.I’m getting mixed signals from him.He spoke to me, which hasn’t been the norm, but he looks sad.Of course, my brain twists it so that I’m the reason for the sadness.But what if I am for real?

Once the door closes, Carson pulls me close.“Finally, we get a moment to ourselves.Don’t get me wrong.I had fun today, but I’m also glad I’m getting a chance to do this.”He tugs me close as his lips meet mine.

Maybe holding the snake convinced Fred that I’m not cringey and it’s worth giving me a chance.Fingers crossed that’s the case.

Two weeks later,Carson and I are out to dinner.Since we’re not hiding, we opt for the barbecue place in town.

“We haven’t done this in a while.Dinner with just the two of us.”I pour sauce beside my brisket because I prefer dipping rather than slathering.

Carson nods.“He’s at Mason’s.I’m a little worried about him.For a while, he wanted to do all the sleepovers at our place.Which I’m ninety-nine percent sure that was so he could keep us from going on dates.So I’m glad he’s not doing that, but something’s up with him.When I dropped him off, he asked if I’d pick him up after my date.He didn’t want to spend the night.”

“Oh no.What’s wrong?I’d think that if he and Mason were on the outs, then he wouldn’t go over at all.”

“I asked him if there was a problem.He swore things were fine.He just wanted to sleep in his own bed.”

“It sounds like he went there just so we could go out.”I’m touched by how sweet that is.

“I think so.”Carson scoops up a bite of potato salad.“Have you had this?”

“I haven’t.”

He holds out the spoon, and I let him feed me.We’ve become this cutesy couple, and I’m so here for it.When Rose and Dallas were “faking” their relationship, I was jealous.Not in the I-wish-she-didn’t-have-that way, but in the I-want-that-too kind of way.And now I have it.

And Fred seems to be on board.The future is looking brighter.

We finish our barbecue, then devour a couple of banana pudding cups.

“I was thinking we could either drive out to a scenic spot and do some stargazing, or we could go back to that swing on Matchmaker Ranch.”Carson lifts his eyebrows, wanting me to choose.

“Stargazing.”I blow him a kiss.“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?Besides, Matchmaker Ranch currently has guests, and they might be using said swing.”

“Is Rose keeping you up to date on the happenings there?”

“Yep.So far, the ranch has a one hundred percent success rate.”

“That’s awesome.How many have they matched before the current guests?”

“Two.”

“Two couples?”

“Two people.”I grin.“Hopefully the streak continues.”

We drive out to a hillside and park.

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