I take a deep breath. “He told you something?”
“Not in so many words. You know Declan isn’t the type to open up and gush about his feelings.”
Damn. He must be really affected if he talked to Rowan of all people.
I sigh. “Fine. I’ll give him a call after this weekend.”
Rowan winces. “About that…”
Fuck. Rowan was the suckiest secret keeper, right after Lana.
“You told him I was here, didn’t you?”
“Surprise?”
My eyes roll. “When is he coming?”
“Tomorrow night. Zahra and Iris are planning an early birthday dinner for you.”
Shit.
Cami walks out of the Magic Wand Salon with a contagious smile on her face. She looks adorable with her glittered-covered blond curls and her purple princess dress, with the shiny material shifting colors depending on how much sunlight peeks through the clouds.
“Thank you from both of us.” Lana plants a kiss on my cheek before taking off after Cami, who wobbles toward the castle in her plastic heels.
“Will they be joining us for dinner tomorrow?” Rowan tips his chin in their direction.
The three of us.
I really like the sound of that.
“I need to check with Alana and see how she feels first. She might not be up for something like that.” Not that I would blame her. My family is a bit much, especially when we are all together.
“Shoot us a text either way,” Rowan says before he and Zahra walk away.
It’s easy to find Cami and Lana in the crowd with how the rhinestones on Cami’s tiara glitter under the bright sun. Her plastic heels click and clack against the cobbled road leading up to Princess Cara’s castle. Lana clutches Cami’s sneakers in her other hand, ready to replace the heels once Cami’s feet hurt.
I pull out my phone and snap a photo of Cami and Lana holding hands before walking up to them. Cami doesn’t hesitate as she grabs on to mine, and the three of us take off to the first activity I have planned.
In the middle of the park, hidden away within the rose bushes and tall hedges, is a small table occupied by none other than Princess Marianna herself. While her dress is the same shade and style as Cami’s, her hair is similar to Lana’s dark strands.
Even when next to the Dreamland princess herself, my girl looks like a million bucks, especially with the smile on her face.
My girl.
The term never sounded more right than in this moment.
The shriek-squeal combination Cami lets out quickly becomes my new favorite sound.
Lana blinks, rubs her eyes, and then blinks again. “Tell me you didn’t.”
“Okay, I won’t.”
A few servers come out in costumes, carrying trays with teacups and snacks. Cami claps her hands and bounces in her chair while Princess Marianna whispers something in her ear.
Lana shakes her head. “I’m never going to be able to top this birthday.”
I grab her hand and spin her in a circle, making her laugh. “Sounds like a fun challenge to me.”
“What’s next? A trip to Africa to see wild animals?”
“That can be arranged. I helped Iris plan her honeymoon there, so I know all the good spots.”
She wipes the disbelief off her face. “This isn’t real life.”
I tug her against my chest. “It can be if you let me take care of you two.”
She shoots me a smile that rivals all the beauty surrounding us. “Get sober and I’ll let you.”
42
ALANA
I always knew bringing Cami to Dreamland would be magical, but the reality is so much more than that. Everything about the park excites her. The castle. The food. The characters dressed up in the costumes that used to make me cry as a kid. She soaks up everything, and her happiness is a living, breathing entity that I find extremely contagious.
I couldn’t have imagined a better day. At least I hadn’t until Cal lifts Cami up on to his shoulders so she can get a better look at the evening show happening in front of the castle.
I never stood a chance at surviving this trip without falling in love with Cal. It was a valiant effort on my part to even think otherwise, but I’m no match for the girl dad energy he is giving off. A few women around us seem to take notice, although I shoot daggers in their direction until they turn away, flustered and somewhat disturbed.
I’ve been perfecting the look since everyone in my age range started lusting after Cal when we were teens. It’s not pretty, but it gets the job done.
I smile as I snap a photo of Cami and Cal from behind so I can print it out and store it in my memory box.
Cal glances over his shoulder at me. “What are you doing?”
I motion toward him and Cami. “Saving the memory.”
Something flashes in Cal’s eyes before he grabs the person next to him.
“Do you mind taking a photo of my girls and me?”
His girls.
They might have to airlift me out of here, because I’m about ready to go into cardiac arrest. With the way my left arm tingles and my heart pounds, I wouldn’t doubt it.
Cami remains on Cal’s shoulders, her smile bright and ready while I stand, stunned and blinking rapidly. Cal shakes his head with a smile before tugging me against him and wrapping an arm around my front while keeping Cami secured with the other one.
The man holds up the phone and begins his countdown. A firework explodes above us. Cami and I both look up at the same time as the flash goes off, ruining our photo.
The man practically throws Cal’s phone at him before returning to his family.
“More!” Cami claps her hands.
“They’re coming,” Cal says.
Fireworks erupt above us, painting the sky in different colors. Cal keeps his arm wrapped around me during the entire show. At some point during the explosions above, Cami falls asleep.
“How is that even possible?” He removes her from his shoulders before cradling her against his chest.
My legs might give out from how hard I swoon. “I told you she can sleep through anything.”
Another firework explodes above us, proving my point as Cami doesn’t even flinch.
“See?”
“Damn. Do you want to head back?” His eyes slide from Cami to me.
I look up at the sky, taking in a few more seconds of the show before nodding. When I turn, Cal’s gaze is already fixed on me, although it burns with promise as he follows the curves of my body.
Between Cal showering Cami with love and attention, and his soft whispers when no one is around, I’m more than ready to head back.
Fireworks be damned.
I shut the door to Cami’s room behind me before sagging against it. There isn’t a single part of my body that doesn’t ache from walking around the park all day, and no amount of working out would have prepared me for that kind of soreness.
“She went back to sleep easily?” Cal sits up on the couch.
“Yup. Out like a light.” I hated waking Cami up after she knocked out, but I refused to let her go to bed covered in theme park germs and butterfly face paint.
“It’s impressive how she can sleep through fireworks, a screaming baby on the ferry, and the entire walk up to the room.”
“If only the rest of us could be that lucky.” I fall face-first into the cushions of the couch across from the one Cal sits on.