One of the Good Ones ✓

Grinning like Little Kids

We pull up to the resort we'll be staying at a few hours later. I'm practically vibrating with excitement. "I can't believe you did this."

He smiles down at me. "I told you, you deserve so much more than you think." He says, coming up and wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me to him. I sigh happily, truly relaxed for the first time in months. "Let's go get checked in." He adds, pulling me along to the front desks. I look over and silently scream when I see how close we are to the Magic Kingdom.

Once we're checked in and settled into our room, he turns to look at me. "What?" I ask, a goofy smile on my face.

He shakes his head, a smile on his face as well. "I like seeing you like this."

"Like what?"

"Happy. Truly happy. Like the kind of happy little kids get on Christmas morning."

I laugh at that. "If you don't get giddy happy on Christmas morning, I don't trust you... But I am happy. And not just cause we're at Disney. I feel safe... probably for the first time in my life. And that's because of you."

He smiles sheepishly. "I haven't done anything, really."

"That's not true and you know it. You're there, in one form or another, whenever it's needed. I don't really think you fully understand what I mean. Before you, I was terrified, all the time. Whenever I left my house, hell even when I was home. And forget even trying to be with someone romantically. How do you explain this kind of past to someone and not expect them to run for the hills? But you... you've been amazing."

"You need to stop. You're going to inflate my ego. I'm just trying to show you that you are, indeed, worth it."

"It's kind of hard to... When your own mother has told you otherwise. You hang onto the negative more than the positive. I'm sure you know that."

"I do. Which is also why I know that it won't matter what words I say. At the end of the day, actions speak louder." At this point my stomach growled loudly, easing the emotional charge that had filled the room. Chris laughs. "Let's go get you something to eat before we get kicked out for a noise disturbance."

"Oh, that's how it is? I've heard your stomach clear across your house when you've been hungry." I reply with a laugh.

"Let's head out. We have reservations in 30 minutes anyway." He says, taking me by the hand and leading me out of the room.

✨✨✨

We head back to the room that night after dinner and dessert with a private viewing on the fireworks show over the castle. "Thank you." I say as Chris unlocks our door. "I don't think I said it enough today."

"You're welcome. And believe me, I think the squealing during the fireworks was enough to let me know I did good." He says with a stupid grin on his face. He lets us into the room and I quickly change and get into bed, excited for tomorrow.

Chris joins me shortly after. "I love you." He says quietly.

"I love you too." I tell him back and he pulls me into a kiss before turning the light above the bed off and we settle in to sleep.