Tutoring for Eternity

Chapter 35: I Love You

"Danni, wake up," I tell her. "We have to leave for the airport soon."

"What time is it?"

"Five."

"That's too early."

"Do you want to go to Italy or not?"

"Mhm."

"Then get your lazy ass up."

She opens her eyes and pouts rolling over.

"I don't want to go anymore."

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't."

"Danni, you're not seriously mad at me for talking about your ass."

"No, I'm mad at you because you called me lazy. I am not lazy."

"No, you're not. I'm sorry." I kiss her forehead.

"I forgive you." She smiles.

"Now, get up so we can leave. Grab your suitcase that weighs fifty pounds and let's go."

"Why are you so grumpy?"

"Danni."

"What?"

"I don't want to miss our flight."

"Ugh fine. I'm up." She puts her slippers on, throws her hair into a low bun, and brushes her teeth. "I'm ready."

"Good now let's go."

Her mother drove us to the airport and now we're in bag check. Airport security.

"We're in terminal A, gate twenty four."

"I don't know where that is but sounds good."

"I was just told our flight actually leaves at six thirty so most likely by the time we get to our hotel room it'll be pretty close to midnight, I think."

"Do we have time to get food?"

"We have like forty five minutes to get it then eat it. So, I would get something that won't take long to make and eat."

"Mac n cheese?"

"If you can eat it quick enough. They'll have food on the plane too, Danni. You don't have to go ten hours without eating." Danni's never been on a plane before so this is all new to her.

"Good."

"We can get mac n cheese, if you want. We have enough time."

"Can we, please?" I nod.

She eats her mac n cheese with a smile on her face.

I love her.

I really love her.

I plan on telling her on her birthday. Hopefully she doesn't beat me to it.

I got her a promise ring too.

She's- she is just... perfect.

I want to marry her.

I want to grow old with her.

Become parents together.

I want to be with her for the rest of my life.

She deserves so much happiness and I want to be the one to give it to her.

"Zak." She waves her hand in front of my face. "I asked you a question." I raise an eyebrow. "Get out of dreamland. What hotel are we staying in?"

"We're staying in Belmond Hotel Cipriani."

"Isn't that like really expensive?"

"A little bit, yeah."

"How much?"

"I do not want to say."

"Zak."

"It's irrelevant. Just enjoy it."

"Okay." She says quietly.

I spent over fifty thousand dollars for this trip and her gift.

That's without food and the places we're going to see.

The plane tickets and hotel costed a lot.

She's worth every penny.

I want to make this birthday,  the best birthday she's ever had.

***

We finally landed in Venice, Italy.

"Danni," I say. "Wake up. We're here."

She fell asleep about eight hours in. So, she got almost a two hour nap. She tried to stay awake but she couldn't.

"We're here?" She asks excitedly with tired eyes.

"Yes, we're here."

"I'm ready to do so many fun things."

"I'm ready too. Let's head to our hotel now. Okay?" She nods.

We leave the airport and head to rent a car.

The air just seems so much better here than in Jersey.

The ride to our hotel was only about half an hour long, it's only ten thirty at night.

"It's so pretty..." Danni gasps and says once we walk in.

She steps out onto the balcony. I wrap my arms around her.

"It is." She turns around to face me and puts her arms around my neck. "Just like you."

She blushes and smiles giving me a kiss.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"I mean it, Zak." I furrow my eyebrows. "Thank you, thank you so much for being such a great boyfriend. I love you." She tells me.

She beat me to it.

"I love you," I tell her. "Y'know, I was supposed to be the first to say that."

"Really?" She asks with a raised eyebrow.

I nod.

"I was planning on telling you for your birthday."

"Close enough." She says with a smile as she connect our lips. 

I love this girl.

***

They're in love

755 words.