AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I loved it so much that I couldn’t stand it.
I pulled a small bag out of my purse and handed it to him. “This one is for you.”
He let the bag fall at his feet as he took the t-shirt out of it and unfolded it in front of him before erupting in that beautiful laughter again. “Oh my God. Matching t-shirts?” He pressed the shirt against his chest. “You hate matching Disney t-shirts.”
I opened my mouth to say,but I like you, before I stopped myself. “You like matching t-shirts, and it’s your birthday. Birthday boy gets what birthday boy wants.”
He raised one eyebrow, and I saw the question in his eyes.
Something we’d address later.
“Plus,” I said, changing the subject, “I can get behind these shirts.”
He slipped off the black hoodie he was wearing and stood in front of me bare chested. I didn’t fight the urge to stare at him. He threw the shirt I bought over his head and smoothed it out along his torso.
In classic Disney writing his shirt read,I’m Dumbo, with a picture of the character underneath it. While mine—also in classic Disney writing—read,I’m with Dumbo.
“Did you already buy tickets?” he asked.
I nodded.
“You want to go right now?”
I nodded once more. “On one condition, though.”
He only raised a brow in question.
“I want to go to Star Wars Land first. I’ve never been.”
He clicked his tongue. “You like Star Wars?”
“Han Solo is my soulmate.”
He crossed his arms and tilted his head, leaning against the door frame. “Funny you say that, because as a kid I was convinced Leia was mine.”
I smiled at him. “She’s my idol.”
He smiled at me. “I’m not surprised.”
Chapter 19
Inhindsight,Ishould’vebeenmuchmore clear to Dom about my fear of people in animal costumes. I knew we’d land ourselves in Disney jail the moment Winnie the Pooh’s head went rolling across the pavement, sending children screaming and running in terror.
It started when I tried having a light-saber fight with the red and green churros we got in Star Wars Land, knocking his into the dirt, and refusing to buy him a new one. In my defense, I did buy our tickets, and our t-shirts, and I make significantly less money than he does.
Regardless, that dropped churro turned into an all out prank war. Jump scares in the Haunted Mansion, pretending to not be buckled properly just as we reached the top of the Matterhorn, and splashing each other on Pirates of the Caribbean. I should’ve reminded him that I drew the line at the animal costumes.
I was distracted, too. Distracted by his smile, and his laugh. After what Carter had told me, that Dom spent years shutting himself away on Christmas—his birthday—seeing him so full of life today filled me with a level of pride I hadn’t even known I was capable of feeling.
It helped that the park was decked out in Christmas decor. There were wreaths hung on every lamppost, the lights from the Castle and the Christmas tree in the center of Main Street shined brightly in the overcast light of the day. The park existed in shades of red and green and gold. The typical nostalgic smells of Disneyland, like the water in Pirates of the Caribbean, the smell of Pineapple near the Dole Whip stand, and the perfume mixed with Monte Cristo sandwiches in the French Quarter stood out throughout the park; along with the scent cinnamon sugar, vanilla, and gingerbread in the air from the holiday-season treats.
The many families visiting from far away and seeing it for the first time added to the magic of it all. People were complimenting our shirts and a few mentioned how clever they were, which filled me with pride too.
I visited Disneyland once as a kid during the holiday season, and it had been It’s A Small World that I remembered most. I always loved the warm, fuzzy, gooey feeling the holidays provided, but I think that feeling was born here, looking at the lights on the outside of the ride. The way they moved, the way they lit up the world. The way they blinded even in the day time.
I lost that feeling years ago, but it felt as if it was reborn as I caught Dom’s face sparkle with what I imagined was that same warm and fuzzy feeling I loved myself as he took in the decorations, the music, and the lights. He leaned into me on that little boat, surrounded by strangers in the dark, and lightly took my hand. He pressed his lips against my head quickly, whispering, “Thank you,” before pulling away.
If that moment alone was the only thing I’d take from today, then it’ll all be worth it.
