I concede and hop in the shower while he orders breakfast. Bennett did a really good job packing for me, better than I’d have done, and it’s only as I shift through my suitcase and run across my phone that I realize I haven’t checked it in a while. There are several texts from Evan, so I shoot back a quick reply.
Laney: Had a great bday. Friends gave me a party. Miss U 2. Thnks again 4 the flowers. xo
I question the xo, should I still put that, while on fantasy vacation with another guy? Yes. I’ll always be willing to give Evan love, a hug and sweet kiss, so I decide it’s okay. Is it okay someone else now calls me baby? Is it okay that I crave touching foreheads with a new guy? Is it okay that I just want to enjoy this fairytale I’ve entered and not examine it right now? Yes, yes, and hell yes. As I’m throwing my phone back into my bag, Dane walks in behind me.
“Everything okay?”
Turning to him, I give him my most reassuring smile. “Perfect, just gonna get dressed. Oh, and I’m planning on stealing this robe, just so you know. Look, it has the little ears on it,” I show him the emblem right above my left breast.
He gives a slight snicker. “No need to resort to thievery, crazy girl, I’ll buy you a robe. Breakfast is out here when you’re ready. I’ll eat with you before I shower, but give me a sec to count the silverware.” The wink that follows is all kinds of smartass sexy.
I don my favorite sundress, which doesn’t count as a dress because it’s comfortable, and sandals. After a wonderful breakfast buffet, Dane gets ready and we head out to take in all that is the Magical Kingdom.
Dane laughs at me all day, I’m almost worse than the little kids running around here. I don’t blatantly butt in front of them in line or knock them down or anything, but I can certainly gush over a character with the best of them. And it is okay to wear your ears all day, age is not a factor.
One thing I learn quickly, though, is to stay away from the shops, because he will buy me anything my gaze lingers on for more than ten seconds, and not only do I feel like I’m taking advantage of him, but he’s spending another fortune paying the courier. Did you know you can pay them to take all your bags to a collection point so you don’t have to carry your purchases around all day?
Brilliant.
*****
This will be my favorite moment of the trip, maybe in life, no matter what else happens. There’s a slide show being played on the side of the castle in time to the likes of Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and other female belters, and all the lamp posts are releasing a blanket of bubbles over the crowd. The smaller kids are running around their parents, catching bubbles, the dads are trying to keep track of them as it’s dusk now, but the ladies in the crowd all have the same look at their face as me—total amazement at this fairytale moment.
“I love the look on your face right now,” he says hotly into my ear, his strong arms encasing my waist.
“What look is that?” I grin up at him.
“The look of love; you’re in love with this moment, this place. It’s how you’ll look at your husband, your children; it’s breathtaking.”
“Dane?” I finally whisper after I don’t know how long. I want to freeze this moment in time, to always feel like life is perfect, happy and carefree.
“Hmmm?” He nuzzles the side of my face and neck with his nose and the tenderness brushes my soul.
“Are you happy?” My hushed tone is all but silent; I’m amazed I got it out at all.
“More so every day,” he says, pulling me to the center of a clear spot and dancing with me beneath the bubbles, in our bubble.
Chapter Thirty
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ULTIMATUMS
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Laney
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If I thought being at college, living on ramen, getting very little sleep, and living in a cramped room sucked before, then I think it blows complete ass now. Having spent the best four days of my life wrapped in Disney and Dane in a posh hotel, eating at fancy restaurants, and enjoying room service, being back to reality carries an extra sting. I can’t believe it’s over already, it flew by.
Dane and I experienced all we could; rode every ride, did the Princess tour, watched the fireworks from our balcony, laid by the lagoon, had a candlelit dinner, you name it. Sleeping in the same bed every night wasn’t awkward at all; we tumbled in exhausted every night and Dane was a perfect gentleman...almost annoyingly so. Those last few blazing kisses we shared on my birthday eluded all too well how hot things could be with Dane.