Page 25 of Soft On Her
Milani relaxed in the chair and leaned her head back to peer up at me. Her big, bright eyes had me feeling guilty as shit when I hadn’t done anything wrong. I leaned down to repeatedly peck her pouty lips.
“Come on, bae. Let’s eat breakfast. We only have thirty minutes before we are scheduled to take the water taxi to Flamingo Island.”
“Only because your kisses just do something to me,” she exhaled deeply, pulling out a sandwich and unwrapping it. “Oh, this looks so good. You still remember all of my favorites?”
“That’s why I went down there and didn’t bother to ask what you wanted. You’ve always been a creature of habit. It’s almost like muscle memory. We rode to school together since sixth grade, and if my father was driving, we could always finesse a breakfast stop out of him. The Strawberry Açai refresher and bacon, gouda, and egg sandwich was always your order.”
“Every single time. Mr. Luis has always been my favorite adult. He was never judgmental, always supportive,” she noted. “I’m surprised you aren’t eating the cheese Danish.”
“I would have, but I needed more than that because we are on vacation and I’m going to take full advantage of that bar.”
“I can’t wait. You think the flamingos will mistake me for one of them in this bright pink bathing suit?” She joked.
“Mannnnnn,” I snickered. “You can be my flamingo any day of the week,” I assured her.
We ate breakfast and bantered a little longer before heading to the dock in the lobby.
A tall Aruban man, dressed in a navy collared shirt and khaki shorts, with a camera bag draped over his shoulder, held his phone facing forward, displaying our names. “Why is our name on that man’s phone?” Milani puzzled once she noticed him.
“I hired a photographer to capture your first encounter with the flamingos so we can just live in the moment.”
“Really?” She bounced around, gripping my hand tighter.
“Yeah. I told you we are doing everything I had planned for you that weekend.”
She peppered my cheeks with kisses and snuggled up into my shoulder.
“Hi Ruben. I’m Sneaux, and this is my girlfriend, Milani.”
“Good morning, ladies. I’m ready to snap as many pictures as you need,” Ruben greeted us.
“Hi Ruben, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” he smiled. “You know this woman is the reason I started my business. I used to just take pictures at my studio, then she offered to pay me whatever I wanted to photograph you guys on the island nine years ago. Although she never showed up, I still got paid,” Ruben laughed. “And the rest is history for me. I know I already told you over the phone when you called me, but I appreciate you so much. I have two employees andrarely come to the island anymore, but I had to show up for the woman who is responsible for the most successful service I offer.”
“I’m happy you’re still thriving,” I smiled before releasing Milani’s hand to embrace Ruben with a hug.
“Let’s get the day started. I still have to leave in two hours. My granddaughter’s birthday party is today.”
Ruben led the way to the dock. He helped me into the water taxi, then I helped Milani climb in last. The weather was beautiful, and the breeze over the water was so relaxing. Milani curled up against me while we enjoyed the view and the breeze whipping against our exposed skin.
We passed a few cruise ships, and Milani turned to face me. “You ever been on a cruise?”
“Nah, my family has never been into cruising, so I prefer to fly, but if you want to, I’m down.”
“Yeah, my family wasn’t into cruising either before my dad passed away. We always took the family jet.”
“You know, I never got to tell you how sorry I was about your father’s passing. I hate that I couldn’t be there for you while you grieved him.”
“Yeah, I still miss him, but losing my father definitely made me toughen up. With all the trauma from that day, aside from learning that my father died, the pity in your father’s eyes when I told him I didn’t know how to shoot a gun has always been my second most prominent memory. It motivated me to learn how to protect myself just as much as my father’s death did.”
“But look at you now. My baby knows how to shoot guns and throw knives.”
“Daggers,” she corrected with a confident smirk, causing me to laugh.
When we arrived on the island, Ruben also doubled as our personal guide. Recommending the best drinks and food on themenu, how to get the food to feed the flamingos, and directed us to the best spots for photographs.
“This is where you get the food. Do you guys have quarters?”
