Page 45 of More Than a Little Spark

Carson turns around and his shoulders slump.“Selfishly, I was hoping Fred would want to go with Mason.”

“It’s fine.I’ve hardly spent any time with him today, so this will be good.”I inch up and whisper in his ear.“Kisses can wait until we go out alone.”

“Bummer.”He laughs.“I should probably find it disturbing that you can read my mind so well.”

I pat his chest.Meeting Fred hasn’t gone as well as I’d hoped, but if I continue to be nice, surely, I’ll win him over.I don’t want to think about the alternative.

Twelve minutes later, we’re all in Carson’s truck.

“Today was fun.”Mason leans forward in his seat.“I’m glad you could make it, Miss Emerson.Did you enjoy it?”

“You can call me Daphne.I had fun.Everyone at the ranch is so nice.And the food was amazing.”

“Yeah.”Fred nudges Mason.“The water guns were super cool.”

“Parker brought those.One time, when my dad and mom were on their honeymoon, and I was hanging out with Parker, we were chasing each other and spraying each other, but he accidentally sprayed Bluebonnet.It was before they were married.They weren’t even dating.I thought it was really funny until she started crying.Then I ran off and let Parker handle it.”Mason crosses his arms.“I don’t like to see girls cry.”

“You and me both, kiddo.”Chuckling, Carson shoots a glance in my direction.

“Dad, can Mason stay over tonight?We don’t have school tomorrow.”

Carson nods.“If it’s okay with his parents, it’s fine with me.”He reaches across the console and clasps my hand.It’s the most PDA we’ve done all day.And it’s nice to not be pretending.

At the county park, Carson backs into a spot.Then we all pile out of the truck.He drops the tailgate and rolls back the bedcover, unveiling pillows and blankets.They are the same throw pillows from our date that I forgot to take home on Valentine’s Day.After that, I joked that he should keep them in case we found ourselves in the middle of nowhere with time to kill.I’m starting to wonder if he totes them with him everywhere.

Fred climbs into the bed, and he and Mason get the blankets spread out.Then Fred plops down in the middle of the blanket and taps the spot next to him.“Come on, Mason.We can totally see the display from here.It’ll be awesome.”

Poor Mason glances at Carson, then me.I give a slight nod, encouraging him to sit with Fred.So he climbs up and sits.“There’s room up here for y’all too.”He nudges Fred.“Scoot that way so they have a place to sit.”

Fred shifts closer to Mason.“Dad, you can sit here by me.And there is room by Mason for Miss Emerson.”

“Y’all can call me Daphne.You don’t have to call me Miss Emerson.”It’s not hard to see that Fred isn’t my biggest fan, but I’m not giving up yet.

“Okay, Miss Daphne.”Mason smiles.

I turn to hoist myself into the bed when Carson steps up beside me.

“Let me help.”With ease, he lifts me onto the tailgate.“I think we’ll be too squished with all four of us up there.I’ll just stand next to the truck.”He walks along the bed as I crawl into the spot beside Mason.

During the party, Poppy told me stories about how Mason worked to get Kent and Poppy together.I’m not sure that’s how it’s going to happen with Fred.I came into this with high expectations.Her stories amped those expectations.And I’m trying not to let my disappointment show.

Carson trails a knuckle down my arm, and I’m reminded of why I want this to work.Never has anyone made me feel like he does.

A shrill whine catches our attention, and a moment later, color explodes in the sky.

I reach up and take Carson’s hand, and we watch the display.

It’s late when we get back to the house.Fred and Mason run inside, trying to decide what movie to watch.

Instead of walking to the door, I head toward my car.

Carson follows.“They have plans to stay up all night.I’m betting they don’t even make it through one movie.”

“After all that swimming, I’m guessing they’ll fall asleep pretty quick.”I open the back door and toss in my bag.“I had fun today.Thanks for inviting me.”

He moves closer.“Fred just needs time, I think.Since he came to live with me, it’s just been the two of us, so the idea of my dating someone is a big change for him.”

I bob my head.“For sure.”

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