Chapter Ten
Brooke just kissed me.
It wasn’t the best kiss of my life, seeing as we were speeding on Space Mountain and I didn’t even know what was happening, but it did happen.
Right?
It was quick, just a press of our lips, and then Brooke pulled away. She’s still holding my face in her hands, gives me a mischievous smile, then settles back in her seat.
What in the world?!
The rocket has slowed down, so we round the last corner and slow to a stop. The lap bars pop up and we get out of our rocket. I lead Brooke through the walking path of corridors until we emerge at the TV screens that show a preview of our pictures. We haven’t said anything to each other yet. Too many people around. So we pause in front of the screens, waiting for our rocket to show up.
And there it is. My eyes are open wide in surprise, Brooke’s are squeezed shut, and our lips are smashed together. Her hair is flying everywhere, but even so, she’s incredibly stunning.
She laughs and points at it. “Oh, man. That’s an awful picture.”
I nod. “It really is.”
I turn to face her, and she turns her attention from the picture on the screen to me.
“What…” I swallow. “Why did you do that?”
She blinks a few times, her face calm. Then she shrugs. “You told me that today is about doing things that will make me happy.”
My heart is pounding in my chest. “And that’s what made you happy?”
“Yep.” She smiles brightly at me. “Come on, let’s go find another ride!”
I have no idea what to make of this. But she’s right. Today is about making her happy. And I’m here for it.
After Space Mountain,we ride a few more “grown-up” rides—Indiana Jones, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the Matterhorn. I love hearing her surprised screams when the Abominable Snowman puppet reaches out toward her in the bobsled.
“What do you want to do next?” I ask as we exit the ride.
She looks over at me with a bashful grin. “I know I’m twenty-five, but…I really want to go back to all the kids’ rides in Fantasyland.”
“Perfect. It’s right over here.” I pause for a moment. “But since we have the PhotoPass, should we go take a picture in front of the castle? They have a professional photographer stationed there.”
“Yes! I’d love that!”
I hold my hand out to her, and she takes it, skipping like a little kid alongside me.
The line for the photographer isn’t too long, but we have a few minutes to wait. I point over to the side at Snow White’s wishing well, which overlooks the little lake below the castle. “That’s where people get married sometimes.”
And then I kick myself. Should I even be mentioning weddings right now? She clearly spent the last few months, maybe even years, planning her wedding, and I open my big mouth and remind her of that when she’s supposed to focus on herself today.
But she doesn’t flinch. “Oh, that’s so special!” She keeps her gaze on that area, then looks around at the crowds. “But I don’t know if I’d ever want to get married here. It’s a little too public.”
I’m a little surprised. I would have thought a public event would be her ultimate wish. “No?”
She shakes her head. “Even the wedding we had planned was too much. Too over the top. We invited five hundred people.” She looks directly at me. “Five. Hundred. People.” She rolls her eyes and laughs. “I feel like the wedding was more about making a show than promising our love for each other. Well, that’s obvious. Because he didn’t love me.”
I still can’t get over how nonchalant she is. “Doesn’t that bother you?” I risk asking.
She bites her bottom lip and looks over at the wishing well. She waits a few moments before responding. “I don’t think I loved him either,” she says quietly.
Boom.
I’m not completely surprised, considering how she’s talked about him, but I feel like this leaves an opening for me I didn’t know was there.
Until now.
“Then why go through with everything?”
Her eyes flick over to me. “Because no one cared to ask what would make me happy.”
The moment is charged and full of meaning. I’m the one asking what would make her happy. Me. And here she is, with me, telling me she never loved her fiancé.
The photographer waves us over for our turn, preventing me from asking more. He scans our tickets on our phones, then directs us to stand in front of the castle. I put my arm around Brooke’s shoulders, and she puts her arm around my waist. It’s a friendly pose, nothing romantic, but the feel of her body pressed against mine fills my chest with warmth.
The photographer snaps a couple of pictures of us smiling. Just when I think we’re done, Brooke whispers in my ear, “Want to know what would make me happy right now?”
I turn to face her, I’m sure with a puzzled expression, but looking into her eyes, I know exactly what she means.
This time, it’s on my terms. I wrap my other arm around her waist. She puts her free hand on my chest, and I dip my face down to hers and kiss her.
Now that we’re not on a speeding rocket, I get to sink into her lips and really feel the moment. She tastes like citrus, and the softness of her lips makes me melt into her. I’m relieved she doesn’t pull away—after all, she’s the one who insinuated that she wanted this, but I think she’s enjoying this kiss as much as I am.
“All right, I think we got it,” the photographer shouts at us.
I break away from Brooke, a little embarrassed that we were making out in front of the kids’ castle at Disneyland, but her eyes are bright and full of joy.
“So! Where next?” She pulls me by the hand, and I shout a quick “thank you” to the photographer as we rush off to our next ride.
I’m ready to follow wherever she leads.
Brooke sighs happily.“This has been the best day.” She takes another bite of her ice cream and hums in delight.
I could watch her forever. Today has been all about what she wants, and what will make her happy, and it’s been incredible. After we took the pictures in front of the castle, Brooke wanted to go back to Fantasyland and enjoy the kids’ rides. It’s been busy, and the lines have gotten longer as the day has gone on, but we’ve enjoyed every moment together. Even when we’re both quiet, there’s a comfort in each other’s company.
She’s right. It has been the best day.
And we’ve been kissing. Not all the time, but whenever there’s a PhotoPass station with a photographer, we stop and take pictures, and always end with a kiss.
I want to talk about it, but I’m worried about pushing her away. Whenever I think about asking her, I remember she was supposed to get married one week ago, and I don’t need to be selfish right now. Just getting to spend the day together has been more than I could have asked for.
I’ve spent the last five years thinking about the girl who broke my heart, and now we’re here in one of my favorite places in the world, sharing kisses and holding hands. As much as I want to know if there’s anything going on between us, and if there’s an option for a future, I want to soak in every second I get to spend with her.
And now, at 9:20 p.m., we’re seated on a curb on Main Street, sharing a giant ice cream. She wanted mint chocolate chip, so that’s what we got. Thankfully, it’s my favorite, too. The fireworks are supposed to start in ten minutes, and we’re taking the opportunity to rest our sore legs and feet. I’m exhausted, but it’s all been worth it.
“What was your favorite ride?” I ask.
She presses her lips together. “I loved Peter Pan.” She looks down at the ice cream and scoops out another spoonful. “Space Mountain was pretty fun, too.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t say the Matterhorn.”
She wrinkles her nose. “That was all right, but a little too jerky. And that snowman kept appearing at the worst times.”
I laugh out loud. “That’s kind of the point.”
She shrugs with a smile, holding my gaze. Then she looks down, her eyes catching on her formerly white shorts that are now full of stains. “Well, these shorts are ruined.”
“Sorry about that. I should’ve given you more specific instructions on appropriate wardrobe.”
She shakes her head. “It’s okay. I will forever treasure these as my Disneyland shorts.”
“As you should.”
She pulls out her phone and glances at the screen. “Just a few more minutes. How do we see the PhotoPass pictures from today?”
“In the Disneyland app. There’s a section for the PhotoPass pictures.”
She opens the app and fiddles around until she finds our collection of photos. The first is, of course, the one from Space Mountain, which makes us both laugh. We had at least gotten a peek at that one when we first got off the ride. But we haven’t seen the others yet.
The next set are the pictures in front of the castle, the first few of us just smiling and hugging, and then there’s the one of us kissing. Actually kissing. It looks real.
It felt real.
I glance at Brooke, noticing that she hasn’t moved away from that picture yet, and a small smile lights her face. Then she swipes over and we find a few more pictures of us—in front of the Millenium Falcon in Galaxy’s Edge, back at the statue of Walt Disney and Mickey, and with other characters we found throughout the park.
I have to know what she’s thinking. Were those kisses real? Or were they just for the cameras? Was this just a fun day for her? Is there more to this experience than just a day to let loose and forget about the fiasco of her canceled wedding?
“Brooke,” I begin. She looks over at me, her smile still on her face. “I?—”
But I’m cut off by the loud voice announcing the beginning of the fireworks show. I guess this will have to wait.