CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
ELISE
“GIVE ME ONE hint. I promise I won’t tell anyone.” I whipped out my best puppy dog eyes.
Nathan glanced at me, one hand on the steering wheel, his other hand on my thigh as he drove, firm and claiming, like even behind the wheel, he needed to keep a part of me close.
I watched his lips twitch in amusement, though he tried to suppress it. “You’ll find out soon enough, Cupcake.”
“That’s not an answer!” I flopped back against my seat, crossing my arms in mock frustration. “This is cruel and unusual punishment.”
Nathan’s chuckle was low and warm, the sound settling deep in my chest. “You’re dramatic.”
“You like me dramatic.”
“That I do,” he admitted, shooting me a sidelong glance. His smirk deepened, but when his eyes lingered on me a second too long, I knew what he was doing.
Nathan Edge never missed a thing, and he wasn’t fooled by my easy laughter or casual teasing. Last night’s dinner with my parents had left a bitter taste, and no amount of beach days or shopping trips at the Galleria Mall could completely erase it.
I winced, remembering the heated argument that had erupted during my mom’s birthday dinner. Nathan had boldly called them out for how dismissively they’d treated me. It had been surreal watching him stand up for me with so much conviction.
“They’ll come around,” he said, as if sensing my train of thought. “And if they don’t, it’s their loss. I won’t let anyone make you feel less than you are, Elise.”
I blinked back a sudden rush of emotion. How did he always do that? How did he find the exact words to make me feel like I mattered? “Thank you,” I murmured, squeezing his hand.
His gaze softened. “Always.”
Before I could press him for more details about our destination, the car slowed, and Nathan pulled into a gated entrance. My breath hitched as I caught sight of the unmistakable archway with its bright, iconic letters: Walt Disney World.
No. There was no way.
The sight of the iconic letters sent a jolt through my chest, and I sat up so fast my seatbelt nearly choked me.
“No way,” I breathed, my fingers gripping the door handle like it might ground me in reality.
Nathan said nothing, he just kept driving with that smug, knowing smirk, the one that drove me insane and made my stomach flip at the same time.
A slow, creeping realization settled over me as I took in the empty parking lot, and the darkened pathways beyond the gates. No crowds. No tourists in Mickey ears. Just us.
My mouth went dry.
“Nathan, where is everyone?”
He pulled into a spot and shifted in his seat, finally turning to me. There was something softer in his expression now, past the teasing, past the usual arrogance. “I rented it out. Just for us.”
I blinked. “You what?”
“You told me once you’d always wanted to come here but never could because your parents couldn’t afford it.” His voice was quieter now, like he knew how much those words still carried weight. “So, I thought it was time to change that.”
My heart lurched.
Memories flickered of six-year-old me, staring at Disney commercials on the TV with wide, hopeful eyes.
Nine-year-old me, begging my parents to go, only to be met with too expensive, maybe next year.
Twelve-year-old me, quietly tucking the dream away, telling myself it was silly to want something so badly.
And now, twenty-four year old me, sitting here, struggling to breathe because Nathan had just handed me a childhood dream like it was the easiest thing in the world.
He remembered.
I swallowed hard as my chest tightened.
The thing about Nathan was that he wasn’t just extravagant, he was intentional.
He didn’t throw money around for the sake of it.
He did things like this, pulling out my quiet, forgotten wishes and making them real in a way that knocked the breath from my lungs.
My gaze drifted around us, taking in everything again, the lights, the space, the fact that it was just ours.
My stomach dropped when I thought about how much this must have cost him. “Nathan…” I turned to him slowly. “How much did this cost?”
He didn’t even hesitate. “Ten million.”
I stared at him. “Ten?” I repeated, pressing a hand to my chest. “Nathan. That’s not…” I shook my head, my voice coming out softer, overwhelmed. “You can’t just spend ten million dollars on me.”
One corner of his mouth lifted slightly, like he didn’t see the problem. “I can,” he said simply, before leaning in closely, his gaze steady on mine, all traces of teasing gone. “And I’d do it again without hesitation.”
Tears burned behind my eyes.
“I...” My voice cracked, so I stopped. What did you even say to something like that? Thank you wasn’t enough. You’re amazing wasn’t enough. Nothing was.
So instead, I unbuckled my seatbelt, launched myself across the console, and threw my arms around his neck.
With no lines, no crowds, and every ride lit up just for us, it felt like stepping into another world.
We raced each other to Space Mountain, where Nathan claimed victory, though I was fairly certain he cheated and at Tower of Terror, he pretended not to see the drop coming, gripping my hand at the last second like he was the one who needed comfort.
I walked out of the gift shop wearing a pair of sparkly blue Minnie ears. Nathan of course opted out of buying one but I did convince him to wear mine long enough so I could take a picture of the two of us but had to swear an oath that I would never show it to anyone or post it online.
As I was holding my newly purchased Minnie Mouse that was larger than I was, I had a sense of deja vu that I couldn’t escape.
“What?” Nathan asked, curiosity laced his voice.
“This reminds me of the day we spent at the festival.” That day, only a month ago, now seemed like decades ago. Not even in my wildest dream did I think that moment would lead us here.
“You mean the day where you tried getting me into a dunk tank?” Nathan teased.
“I merely suggested it,” I blushed. “You can’t blame me for being curious about what you looked like underneath all those suits.”
Nathan chuckled. “So, what’s the verdict now that you’ve definitely seen me without it?”
Glorious. Award-winning. Swoon-worthy.
I don’t say any of that though, instead I shrugged, feigning indifference. “Eh. Titan has better—ahh!” My words morphed into a yelp when Nathan swept me off my feet and into his arms and spun me around.
“What were you going to say, Cupcake?” Nathan pinned me with a look that sent a heady mix of thrill and nervousness spiraling through me.
“Nothing.” I answered, breathlessly.
“I thought so.” Nathan replied in a tone that inflicted a delicious dip in my stomach.
As if able to tell, Nathan’s smirk deepened before he leaned in and pressed his lips against mine, making the dip turn into a full-on ache that spread through me.
So I was a little surprised when Nathan was the first one to pull away. “I have one more surprise.”
“Okay.” Heat crawled up to my cheeks at how breathless I sounded, but I didn’t protest when Nathan steadied me back on my feet.
Nathan led me to Cinderella’s castle, which was bathed in sparkling lights. To my surprise, a small orchestra waited for us, playing a soft, romantic tune I recognized instantly—Fall Again. My favorite scene from Maid in Manhattan came rushing back without warning.
“What is this," I whispered, my heart in my throat.
“Can I have this dance?” Nathan extended his hand out to me.
Grinning, I took his hand, and he pulled me into his arms. We swayed under the stars, the music carrying us as if we were the only two people in the world. Something shifted in my chest, quiet but undeniable.
“I love you,” I blurted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Nathan stilled, his gaze searching mine.
For a moment, I thought I’d made a terrible mistake.
But then he gave me that soft, vulnerable smile he reserved only for me, and when he kissed me beneath the castle lights, I realized I’d never felt more alive, more cherished, or more certain that this man was my forever.