Naked Truth (10 page)

“Okay,” I say meekly. I really don’t want him to go, but I know I need to get back to work.

“Talk to you in a few hours,” he calls out over his shoulder as he heads to his car.

“Jordan?” I holler back so he can hear me.

He stops and turns, waiting patiently to hear what I have to say.

“Yes.”

At first, he looks at me all confused, but then it hits him. “Yeeees!” Jordan jumps in the air, pumping his fist like he just won the Super Bowl, while I am standing on the steps of North Miami Bank laughing like a loon.

I guess we’re going to Disney World.

-8-

Being that I am 28, and have lived in Florida more than half of my life, I was embarrassed to admit to Violet that I have never been to Disney World. We didn’t take many vacations when I was a kid, and when we did, it was usually to visit relatives where we had somewhere free to stay.  And as I got older, and travelled with buddies or exes, Disney just wasn’t on our radar. So when Violet agreed - albeit a little reluctantly - to go with me, I felt like a kid again. And I’m going to make sure we have the time of our lives.

I pick her up Sunday morning before the sun rises so we can get an early jump on the day.  A sight for sore eyes, she walks out in a cute little sundress and of course her Chucks. This time they are yellow, just like her sunny disposition. My cock hardens at the sight of her overnight bag, and I have to have a quick chat with him.  We have a long drive ahead of us and I refuse to do it hot, bothered, and hard.

I hop out of the car, grab her bag from her, and greet her with a kiss on her temple. She’s so beautiful I can barely stand it.

“Hi,” she says shyly.

“What’s a happenin’, hot stuff?” I watch closely as she processes what I just said.  As the laughter escapes her lips, I feel compelled to lean in and kiss her deeply. My tongue swipes across her lips and she grants entry without question.  Just as the kiss becomes more passionate, I feel her pulling away slightly.  Then I realize where we are. Shit. Her parents could walk out at any minute.

I meet her eyes and smile, but take a step back.  I make sure to continue holding her hand, though.  I find that when I’m near her, I need to be touching her. Anywhere.  I just need the contact.

“You ready?” I ask, giving her hand a little squeeze.

“Let’s go, Long Duck Dong!”  She surprises me by once again by getting my movie reference. I throw my head back in laughter then shake it in disbelief.  This girl.

As we turn to walk to my car, I hear a screen door scrape shut.  I look behind me to see a beautiful woman walking toward us, wearing a warm smile on her face.  She looks exactly like Violet but with darker features, and it gives me the perfect glimpse of what my flower is going to look like in twenty years. 

“Oh boy,” I hear Violet murmur.  “Good morning, Mommy.  What are you doing up so early?”

“You didn’t think I would let you go without saying goodbye and meeting your friend?” she asks Violet and I know it’s more along the lines of checking to make sure I’m not a serial killer.

“Mom, this is Jordan.  Jordan, my mom, Mirabel,” she reluctantly introduces us.

I place Violet’s bag on the floor because I refuse to let go of her hand that I am still holding, and then outstretch my hand.  “Nice to meet you, ma’am,” I begin to say, but am suddenly pulled into a hug by this tiny, yet strong, woman.

“Pish posh, we hug in this family.  And none of this ‘ma’am’ nonsense.  Call me Mirabel,” she expresses and I love this woman already.

I laugh, still in the hug.  I’m finally able to break free when Violet clears her throat and pulls back on my hand she now also refuses to drop.

“Alright, Mirabel.  Please know that you don’t need to worry about Violet.  I will take good care of her and make sure she returns in one piece.”

She smiles.  “Thank you, but once I saw you, and the way you looked at mija, I wasn’t concerned.  Did Violet discuss dinner with you?”

“Yes, ma’am, er, Mirabel.”

She grins at my save.  “How about next Friday?  Say 7:00 pm?”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” I answer sincerely, but also a little kiss ass.

“Are you two done with the love fest?”  Violet chimes in.

“Why? You got somewhere to be?” her mother shoots back teasingly.

Violet shoots her a look and they start speaking really fast in Spanish.  Like 100 miles per hour fast.  Holy shit.  Before I know it, we are all in a group hug saying goodbye.  We watch her mother enter back into the house and decide we better go before any other family members show up.

Ready to get the fuck out of Dodge, I pick her bag back up and throw it into the trunk next to mine. I then walk her to the passenger side and make sure she is safely strapped in before I hop into the driver’s seat and take off.

It should take us just under four hours to get to Orlando, and I want to maximize our day. We decided to stay the night, but I promised her separate rooms. I’m praying to anyone who will listen that she changes her mind.  After that kiss we shared at the bagel place, I want nothing more than to worship every inch of her luscious body.  I mean, come on, any virile man can see that her curves are made for sin.

We pass the hours talking about everything and anything, but mostly about family and our respective jobs. I take that back, he asks a lot about my job, but answers very little about his. I think he is a little embarrassed by working in a club, since I know how badly he would like to be a police officer.  I tell him a little bit about my sisters and the origin of our names.  I even tell him the story behind our middle names, but have to swear him to secrecy. 

“So, since my dad kept praying for a boy, and never succeeded, he got to choose our middle names.”

“Okay, how bad can it be?”

“Don’t laugh.”

“Cross my heart and hope to die.”

“Don’t do that,” I make him promise.

“What?”

“Hope to die.”

He looks over at me.  “Just a saying, pretty girl. Now that I’ve found you, I hope to live forever.”

My heart melts and my tummy flutters. Everything he says and does is so perfect. How did I get so lucky?

“So anyway. Promise not to laugh?”

“I’ll try,” he says, but he laughs while promising not to laugh.

I roll my eyes and he laughs harder. I can’t hide my smile. I love that I am the reason for his laughter. I try to continue. “Whatever.  So, he’s a huge political fan, but he doesn’t discriminate between Republican or Democrat. He is a government junkie through and through.”

“Uh oh.  I have a feeling I know where this is going.” 

“I don’t think you do,” I disagree.  “Are you ready?” 

“Lay it on me,” he instructs.

So I do exactly as he commands.  “So, I was born in 1989, when Ronald Reagan was in office. I got off pretty easy with Violet Reagan.  Rose, not so much. If she ever found out that I told anyone, she would kill me.  And then dig me up so that she can kick my ass.  She was born in 1993. I am going to give you a second to put that one together.”

He shrugs. “I’m not great with dates.”

“I’m not much of a history buff myself, so I’ll help you out.  George Bush was in office.” 

“No way!” he rebuffs, shaking his head.

“Yep! I know I don’t have to tell you, but I am dying to.” 

I can’t stop laughing.  Hang on.  Oh my god, every time I think about it I break out in laughter.

“Rose Bush!” I bellow.

Oh my.  Okay, sorry.  I’m back.

I see him biting his cheeks, trying so hard no to laugh.

“Go ahead, I know you want to.”  I give permission to let it all out.

“Uh uh.  I promised,” he tells me, keeping himself in check.  But I can see it in the strain of his mouth.  His sexy lips and strong chin. His chiseled jawline.  Crap, focus Carmichael! 

But, I’m impressed.  He kept a straight face while I wasn’t able to keep myself together.

I finish the story. “Lastly, my youngest sister, Daisy, was born in 2000. I was already ten so I knew the drill.  I was curious to see what my dad would do since we now had a left wing president, but that didn’t deter dear old dad. Daisy Clinton was born, and our family was complete.”

Jordan finally breaks down and has a laughing fit. So much so, that he has tears dripping down his face and one hand clutching his stomach. I don’t mind, though. Again, knowing that I brought him so much joy fills my heart.

The rest of our ride is the same. Talking, laughing, and singing.  I’ve never been happier.

We make it to Disney in record time.  I think Jordan may be a little more than excited to experience what is known as the happiest place on Earth.  If I’m going to be completely honest, I’d have to admit that any place I’m with him is my happiest place.  Being born and raised in Florida, it’s not an easy stretch to say that I have been to Disney World more times than I could count. Of, course, I know the exact number: 42.  And I could rattle off each day, date, and year if you’d like. Also, what I was wearing, who I was with, blah blah blah.  But this visit is my absolute favorite, and I’m sure will be my most memorable.

We have to take a tram from the parking lot to the ticket booth.  We bypass the ticket booth to the ferry and I give Jordan a sideways glance.

“Online,” he tells me then shows me the tickets he already bought.

“Like a boy scout?” I ask in jest.

We both chuckle. “Always prepared!” we both shout at the same time then break out into full-on laughter at each other.  We always have so much fun together.

We board the ferry holding hands, and he leads me to the top level, toward the front. The views of Cinderella’s Castle are so beautiful that we both snap a few pictures of each other from our phones, and then I keep mine out to take a few selfies of us together with the Castle in our background.  Of course, we have to have our token silly-face picture as well as one of Jordan kissing my cheek, and one of us sharing a quick peck on the lips. I melt on the spot.

The ferry drops us off at the entrance to Magic Kingdom. As we walk through the gates, the ticket taker or “cast member” - they are not called staff, I made that mistake once - scans our tickets, runs our fingerprints, then attempts to hand us maps. Jordan takes one but I politely decline. Obviously, I don’t need one. Not because I have been here so many times, but because, well you know, the whole memory thing.