Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 130307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
On anyone else, the thing would have been ridiculous.
But on her…
It was breathtaking.
“Sundar,” I heard Chef whisper somewhere behind me, and while I was still stuck in a haze, Ava whizzed past me and slid to a halt right in front of Chloe.
“Wow,” she breathed, blinking up at her.
“Wow is right,” Chloe said, tapping the tip of Ava’s tiara. “You look amazing, princess.”
“No, you look amazing.”
“No, you,” Chloe argued back, and then they were plucking at each other’s clothes, dishing out compliments and giggling like best friends.
Chef approached them with her phone in hand, gesturing for them to get together for pictures. She snapped away while I watched from behind her.
I couldn’t take my eyes off Chloe.
And when her gaze slid to mine, I felt that familiar faltering of time, the way the world stuttered to a quiet whisper around us.
Juan tapped me on the shoulder, shaking me from the moment as he informed me we needed to get to our dinner reservation. It was madness as Chloe and Ava thanked the employees profusely for their work, and after a dozen more pictures with the Fairy Godmothers and a hundred blown kisses, we were all but running across the park to Be Our Guest.
We were immediately escorted to our dining table once we made it, and after dinner, we rushed to the Seven Dwarfs rollercoaster ride before finding our spot for fireworks.
I never got the chance to tell Chloe how gorgeous she looked.
But as we rode the water taxi to our hotel, I caught her shy gaze from across the boat. The lights reflected off the water, and in her warm eyes, my daughter sleeping with her head resting against Chloe’s shoulder. Chloe smiled at me, just the corner of her mouth lifting, and need coursed through me like a wild, rushing river.
I wondered if Fairy Godmothers really did exist.
I wondered if mine had sent Chloe to me.
And I hoped she could feel my intention as I returned her gaze, as I let my eyes travel the length of her, knowing her skin was turning that lovely shade of red I loved so much even though it was too dark to see it.
I wanted her to melt from the heat in my stare.
I longed for her to let me show her what I could never say with words.
There was only one way I knew how to do exactly that.
I was ready for another lesson.
Tonight.
Not For Long
Chloe
Once I flopped down on the bed in my hotel room, I found it nearly impossible to move again.
Exhaustion washed over me like it never had before, humming in every bone and muscle of my body. My legs and feet ached, my eyelids were too heavy to peel open. I barely had the energy to text the cat sitter and watch the adorable videos she had sent of my three rascals getting into trouble like always.
And yet, I wore the biggest smile.
There were no words for what an amazing day it had been.
And while Will had almost made me burst into tears with what he did for me at the boutique, what replayed in my mind most were images of Ava. I smiled wider and wider as I remembered her squeals of laughter, how she ran to each character we found to fill her autograph book, the way her eyes grew round and mesmerized in each show and on every single ride, how she threw her arms up and screamed — fearlessly — on every rollercoaster she was tall enough to ride.
It was the most perfect day, one I knew she’d never forget.
I’d sent a few pictures throughout the day to the group text with my mom and grandmother. They hadn’t met Ava yet, but I hoped one day they would. I also hoped they’d see from the pictures that I was doing my job, that I was safe, that Will wasn’t a threat the way they thought he was.
Grandma commented on how adorable Ava was, and Mom said she liked my princess look — though I didn’t miss her pursed lips when she said it. Maybe the fact that they hadn’t dressed me specifically like any of the Disney princesses made a slight difference, but she still didn’t look thrilled.
They both begged me to come visit soon before the call ended, which I promised I would.
I groaned when my phone pinged, thinking it was them and hoping like hell they wouldn’t ask if I had time for a phone call. But when I looked at my phone, a tired smile crept over my face at the text from Maven.
Maven: I just saw a photo of Will Perry on Instagram.
Livia: … okay?
Maven: AT DISNEY WORLD
Maven: WITH HIS DAUGHTER
Maven: AND HIS CHEF
Maven: AND HIS NANNY *wide eyes emoji*
Livia: Daddy P at Disney World?! This can only be the work of a certain teacher we know.