Page 65 of Yours To Hold
I can’t blame them. I love the Tetons. They’re my favorite. But I like sticking to the trails that only Dixonites know.
They’re quieter. Easier for me to get lost in my art.
The fair is only a short ride from Mason’s house. It’s hard being in a confined space with him like this and not being able to reach over and touch him. Feel his warmth.
The last thing we need is for Willow to find out about the two of us. It’s not fair to her when this is only for the summer.
The summer.
It’s going by in the blink of an eye. And before I know it, I’ll be packing up and heading to Seattle to start my new life.
What I’ve always wanted.
“There’s so many people here,” Willow chimes in from the back seat. Mason pulls the truck into an empty spot in the field being used for the fair.
Cars and people are everywhere. Excited voices can be heard over the chimes and music of the carnival rides. A Ferris wheel is set back, drawing everyone’s eye to it.
“Make sure you stay by me or Ivy, okay?” Mason turns in his seat, facing Willow.
“Okay, Daddy. Do you think you can win me a goldfish?”
“A goldfish?” I hop out of the truck and open Willow’s door, helping her down. “Why do you want a goldfish?”
“Jamie at school got one and she named it Nemo. I want one too.”
Mason rolls his eyes as he comes and takes Willow’s hand. “We are not getting a goldfish. What if Daisy tried to eat it?”
Willow’s eyes go wide as she takes my hand. “Daisy doesn’t eat fish. She only likes people food.”
“And why would she like people food when we’re not supposed to feed her?” Mason eyes me over her head. A playful smile is on his face.
I love that I get this side of him.
To everyone else, he’s the surly oldest brother of the Winchester clan. The one people don’t want to mess with.
It’s all a facade.
Mason has a heart of gold. He loves his people fiercely. The way he is with his daughter turns me into a puddle.
It’s what is making this wholesummer onlything that much harder.
I thought I knew the real Mason.
Turns out, he doesn’t hold a candle to the man I’ve gotten to know.
Mason stops at the ticket booth and buys us each a wristband for unlimited rides. “Any tickets for the games?” the woman asks.
“We’ll do two.”
“Five!” Willow chimes in.
Mason eyes her. “Three.”
“Four.” Willow holds up four fingers.
“I guess four.”
Wrapped around her little finger.
