That left the responsibility of raising three wild teen bears mainly on me as the oldest.Not that the twins didn’t pitch in when they were in town.
“I’m all about a good party,” Lana agrees.“I say we come up with an excuse for one every month.It will build community.”
“Yes, when are we celebrating your 90th?”I ask Daisy.She thinks I don’t know she’s been 89 for at least three years.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Doctor Matthias Stark.”She wags a finger.I’ve got a foot and a half of height on her plus a medical degree under my belt, but I feel like I’m eight years old.“Or I’ll nominate you for King of Bad Bear.”
“King of Bad Bear?”Lana asks, her eyes twinkling.
“I’d vote for you,” Teddy grins.I shake my head at him slightly, but Daisy’s already running with it.
“You should!”she cries.“Put your votes in at the Daisy Day Cafe booth.Winners will be crowned King and Queen of Bad Bear at the end of Winterfest.”She points to a small stage set between two bear-shaped ice sculptures.
“How many votes per person?”Teddy asks.I can see he’s plotting something.
“You can vote once a day, every day you attend Winterfest,” Maisy says.My bear perks up at the sound of her soft voice.“Entries must be made in person.”
“And you’re welcome to campaign for your nominee,” Daisy adds.
“Excellent,” Teddy rubs his hands together.
“Don’t,” I warn, but he just chuckles.I bet he’s going to recruit all of my brothers to spam the voting box and make me king.They’ll get a picture of me standing on that dais in a dinky crown, holding a scepter, and then the triplets will hack professional networking accounts and post it as my profile picture.
I’m about to order Teddy not to get near the voting station when I notice my brother Axel walking towards us.He’s in his signature blue jeans and black leather jacket, with his long black hair tied back out of his face like he’s been working.He’s also got his red metal toolbox and a wrench in hand.
“Maintenance check’s done,” he calls, and I notice he’s looking at Maisy.“Ferris Wheel’s good to go.”
She smiles at him, and her whole face lights up.“Thanks, Axel.”
He gives her a nod.
My hands clench into fists.Heat flares through me, red hot energy making my body ready to rage.
Against my own brother.
Maisy and Axel’s whole interaction was less than ten seconds, but it was enough to tell me she’s comfortable with him.More comfortable than she’s ever been with me.Axel’s already walking off, but I want to go after him and pulverize his face.Make sure Maisy only smiles at me.
The jealousy doesn’t feel good.Axel is my most chill brother.If I talked to him, told him Maisy was my mate, he’d back off.
But no, I can’t do that.Just like I can’t tell my brothers about Mom.I don’t burden others with the curveballs Fate throws when I can handle them on my own.That’s how I maintain control.
And right now, I just need to get my emotions under control.
“All right, you kids need to help me get this party started by hopping on the Ferris wheel.”Daisy hooks her arm through mine.She still has hold of poor Maisy’s arm.“You two, climb on first for me.”She propels us up to the wheel, cutting past the group of children and their parents who have been waiting for the ride to start.“Show everyone how safe this is.”
My bear nearly roars his approval with the plan.My first instinct is to shout, YES.
Then logic kicks in.My brain calculates whether I took enough Moon Cure to be shoulder to shoulder with Maisy for an extended period.
It’s probably fine.
Avoiding it would probably cause more strain on my condition because my bear would go rabid.And I need to be close to her, to cover her with my scent, so that Axel backs off.
I hold out my hand like a gentleman for Maisy when Daisy tells the attendant to start loading up, with the two of us going first.
Maisy stares at my proffered palm in surprise.Her mittened fingers lift, then freeze mid-air, like she’s afraid she made a mistake.
I give her an encouraging smile.“My lady.”I bow, since I look more like I’m asking her to dance at an old-fashioned ball than a guy who’s about to climb on a Ferris wheel.“Shall we take a spin?”
