“I don’t like the dark.” A small girl, maybe six or seven, looks up at who I’m assuming is her dad.
“I know, but don’t worry. It’s only for a few minutes.” He picks her up, tucking her into his shoulder.
Leaning down to Mila’s ear, I smile when she jumps as I whisper, “You’re not afraid of the dark, are you, Sunshine? Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”
I no sooner pull Mila into me, then the guide turns off the lantern and continues talking about the history of the caverns. I have no clue what she’s saying; all I can focus on is Mila’s back pressed against my front. I spread my hands underneath her shirt and smirk when shejumps. Pressing a kiss to the side of her head, I let my hands stroke up and down her rib cage. Her skin is so soft and warm. I want to touch her forever.
Mila’s hands come up to pull mine away, but I move them so our fingers are threaded together. Rubbing my thumbs across her skin, I hold her close to me and rest my chin on her head. She huffs, causing a chuckle to escape me, but I know she loves our size difference.
The guide turns her lantern back on and looks at our group.
“Up ahead at the wishing well, you’re going to find a carving in the limestone. Legend has it that the original cavern founder, Henry Lockery, was exploring the caverns, and one day noticed a girl, Josephine Williams, wandering around outside. She was local to the area and was very interested in the caverns. Henry was immediately taken with her. He promised to give her a tour when everything was finished, and he did. She came every week for the same tour, no matter how many times she’d seen it before. Eventually, he offered to give her a private tour.”
She pauses for dramatic effect, then continues with a smile. “Of course, she took him up on his offer.” This gets a few chuckles from the crowd, Mila included. She squeezes my hands as if she understands that feeling. Squeezing hers in return, I hug her tighter to my chest. “Josephine’s favorite part of the tour was the wishing well. Every time they got to it, she tossed a coin in the pool and made the same wish.”
I know what I’m wishing for when we get there. I might just dump an entire sack of coins in the pool.
“What’d she wish for?” the girl in her dad’s arms asks.
Smiling at the duo, the guide answers, “She wished for him to marry her. She wanted to spend her life with him, side by side in the caverns.”
“Did she get her wish?” the girl asks.
“She did. When we get back topside, you can see their picture in the main lobby.”
Turning from the group, she continues the tour. A few minutes later, we arrive at the wishing well. It’s not the typical circular stone on the ground but instead, there is a large grotto. Crystal clear blue water spans around us, with rocks breaking through the surface here and there. A wooden path leads to a platform where some families are posing for photos, and kids are tossing coins in.
Waiting for our turn, I palm the coins in my pocket. I brought a few extra for the penny pressing machine I know they have, but I might toss them all in and say screw it. Mila is taking a few photos of the area on her phone, and I imagine her doing the same thing when we have our kids here one day.
Stepping down on the platform, I pull out a few coins and gesture for Mila to take some. “Don’t forget. You have to a make a wish.”
Tilting her head to the side as if deep in thought, she smiles, then closes her eyes. I watch with bated breath as Mila holds her hand over the railing and drops it into the water. When she reopens her eyes and her gaze finds mine, I’m dying to know what she wished for. Taking my turn, I close my eyes and drop one coin into the water.
I wish for Mila to be crazy in love with me, like I am her. I wish for her to take that leap with me.
Thinking better of it, I pull a second coin out and drop it in too. They donate it all to local charities, so one more wish can’t hurt, right?
“What did you wish for?” she asks, reaching for my hand.
“Can’t tell you. I don’t want to chance it. What did you wish for?”
“Nope. Good try though, Casanova. Not telling either,” she teases.
Grinning at Mila, I lean down to kiss her, but a new voice has me stopping. “Would you like a picture?” the guide asks.
Beaming, Mila hands over her phone with a nod. “Yes, please. Thank you.”
I pull her closer to me and situate Mila in front of my body whereshe belongs. Mila will always come first. Smiling with genuine happiness, we pose as the guide takes our photo. Pulling away, Mila looks at me, and I can see joy radiating from her.
“Here you are.” The guide hands the phone back to Mila. Turning to the crowd, she gestures toward the end of a tunnel. “We’re almost at the end of our tour. Make sure you stop at the petting area to see Pete and our other goats.”
Standing at the edge of the platform, I tuck Mila’s hand into mine and get ready to follow, but she stops me with a tug. I turn to look at her and see a thoughtful expression on her face. She’s staring at something on her phone and being the nosey guy I am, I follow her gaze and see what’s holding her attention hostage. The guide didn’t take just one photo, but two. The first picture with Mila in front looks great. Behind us, the water of the grotto shimmers, and you can just make out some of the coins along the bottom. But it’s the second one that causes my heart to skip a beat. I’m going to have to get it enlarged and hang it on the wall.
When Mila was turned and looking up at me with a smile, the guide took another photo. There’s so much happiness on her face, and you can practically see the hearts in my eyes as I stare down at her.
“Send those to me,” I request, my voice rough.
Mila nods, using her free hand to tap on her phone a few times. I feel mine vibrate in my pocket a moment later. By now, I realize most of the group has made it through the walkway. Leaning down, I quickly seal my lips over hers. This was the best fucking idea ever. I grab her face with both hands and tilt her head so I can deepen our kiss. Her body melts against mine, and I know she must feel how hard I am for her. I can’t take it as far as I want, but you’d have to throw me in the grotto for me to move away first.
