Page 69 of Yours To Hold
The three of us fit in one car as it slowly carries us up to the sky. Willow leans against Mason, her eyes starting to drift closed.
“Someone’s had a little too much fun.”
I smile down at the now sleeping Willow. “I don’t think I was ever this excited for the fair.”
Mason wraps an arm around me as best he can. “I remember having to watch Logan because he liked to run off without telling anyone. He hated it.”
“Such a good big brother.”
Mason’s fingers play in the strands of my hair as we stop at the top of the ride. The sun is gone now. Colors are splashed across the sky. Pinks and oranges are fading fast as inky blues take over.
“Sometimes I don’t feel like it.”
“What?” I whip my gaze around to him. “What in the world are you talking about?”
Mason is staring out at the mountains. “I feel like I let my brother down because I wasn’t there for him when everything happened.”
Logan. It’s been a hard few months for the whole family, trying to make sure he’s taken care of.
“You couldn’t have known that was going to happen.”
“But I still wasn’t there.”
“No one blames you for not being there. You have Willow to worry about. And you’ve been there for him ever since. You’ve always been there for your entire family.”
Mason’s free hand runs through Willow’s curls as she continues to sleep.
I continue. “All of my memories when Gemma and I were growing up have you in them. Even though you might not think so, you are an amazing big brother, Mason. And a great father.”
Checking to make sure Willow is still asleep, I grasp Mason’s chin and pull him in for a kiss. It’s soft. Nothing heated or over-the-top, but I try to tell him how I’m feeling about him with it.
He pulls back, cupping my cheek. His thumb is soft as it rubs over my lips. “Thank you, Ivy. I don’t know what I’d do without you this summer.”
“I should be saying the same to you.”
For once in my life, Dixon is where I want to be. Sure, Seattle is there in the back of my mind. It always is. But being here with Mason, with Willow, it’s everything I could have ever wanted.
The ride starts again, waking Willow up with it.
“Can we stay for the fireworks, Daddy?” Willow asks around a yawn.
“Of course. What’s a fair without fireworks?”
“You hear that, Dino? We can watch the fireworks and then I’m going to introduce you to all your new friends at home.”
I smile over at Mason. His eyes are locked on mine. “Sounds like a good plan, Pipsqueak.”
Mason easily lifts Willow into his arms as we get off the ride. “This is the best night ever, Daddy. Thanks for coming, Ivy.”
I rub a hand down her back. “I’ve had so much fun with you guys.”
She smiles as we follow the crowd to the back of the fair. Willow’s already dozing again.
“I’m glad you came.” Mason wraps his arm around my shoulders as the fireworks start.
It’s dark. No one can see us, or pays us any attention, as colors explode across the sky. Oohs and ahhs are heard as crackles light up the sky.
It’s the perfect ending to the night. I want to bottle this up and never forget how I’m feeling. Getting to spend the evening with these two was everything I thought it’d be.
