Before I could think of what to say, Jax spoke again. “Remember—this trip is all about you. Whatever you want to do, I’m completely in. Don’t choose what you think I would want.”
“Are you sure? Because the first thing that comes to mind is watching a movie in our hotel room and going to bed early.”
Jax shook her head as if she was disappointed, but the smallest smile parted her lips. “I thought I told younotto choose what you think I’d want.”
I laughed at her joke. “I highly doubt you wanted to stay in tonight.”
Jax shrugged. “I’d be down for anything, but honestly, staying in and watching a movie sounds fantastic.”
“And you don’t think it kind of ruins the point of the list seeing as how it’s supposed to make me more exciting and fun?”
“Carter, you don’t have to be doing something all the time to be fun. You came on this trip. You trusted me to lead us with no plans, which is something I couldn’t even get Olivia to do.”
“Wait. What?” My head shot up so I could look Jax straight in the eyes to see if she was telling the truth.
Jax nodded. “For years, I tried to convince your sister we should head to the airport and go wherever we could find seats. She wouldn’t agree to it.”
“Technically, I didn’t agree to it either.” I chuckled. “I didn’t realize you had madeliterallyno plans until we were already in our rideshare.”
“But you didn’t jump out! You also didn’t murder me when we had to run through the airport, and you even seemed to enjoy the flight. I’d call that a win. Wouldn’t you?”
Her sweet words caused a feeling of pride to shoot through my body, and I sat a little taller. “You’re right.”
“I know.” Jax winked, causing my stomach to do that annoying flip again. “I’m always right.”
After eating way more than necessary, we got the keys to our room and headed up. We watched the guide on the TV and realized there was nothing good to watch unless we paid twenty dollars for a movie. I was about to give up and put on a random game show when I remembered I had brought my computer along in case I was motivated to write.
“If you’re okay with the small screen, I can stream a movie on my computer.”
“I’m okay with the small screen as long as you’re okay with sharing your bed. I’m not trying to watch from across the room.”
Before I could answer, Jax leaped up onto my bed and situated herself against the pillows. I pointed to where she was lying. “Sure. Make yourself at home.”
Jax closed her eyes and laid her head back. “Ah, perfect. I thought you’d never ask.”
I joined Jax on the bed and started my computer and after a bunch of back and forth, we decided to watchTower of Terror.
“So, this movie is based on a ride here at Disney?” Jax asked as we watched.
“Yep. I think it was the first time amoviewas based off of a ride instead of the other way around.”
“That’s really cool.” Jax kept her eyes glued to my computer screen as she continued to talk to me. “So, what happens on the ride?”
“It drops a bunch of times.”
“No way!” This time, Jax did look away from the screen to fix her wide eyes on me. The hotel room lights reflected off of her eyes, causing them to become an even more stunning blue than usual and making it impossible to look away. “I can’t wait to go on it.”
The excitement written all over her face made me almost forget one very important detail. When I remembered, my eyes burned as if tears were about to fall. It was an extreme reaction, but Jax looked so happy, I couldn’t bear the thought of squashing her excitement. “That ride is actually at Hollywood Studios, not Magic Kingdom. We should totally go to Hollywood Studios instead though. It wouldn’t be right to show you the movie and not give you the chance to experience the ride.”
If I wasn’t watching Jax so closely, I probably would have missed the way her lips dipped into a frown before quickly returning to a smile. “Absolutely not. Magic Kingdom is your favorite, so that’s the one we’re doing.”
“What if we flip a coin?” I knew Jax was too stubborn to change her mind, so this might be my only chance to actually get her what she really wanted.
“Wait a second.” Jax slapped her forehead. “I have an even better idea.”
She picked up her phone and started to type rapidly. Every time I tried to look over her shoulder, she pulled the phone away so I couldn’t see what she was doing. After a few grueling minutes, she finally held the phone out toward me. The screen was showing a flight for that Friday that left at 10:30 p.m.
“I’m confused. What do flight times have to do with which park we go to?”
