I didn’t need to be told twice. By this point, I’d lost sight of Brougham and Winona altogether, so I broke into a jog and dodged families and children and strollers and balloons, over the gray paved path, and past umbrella-topped tables outside Tomorrowland Terrace. Finally, I spotted them hovering outside the Star Trader souvenir shop. Brougham was saying something to Winona, but he seemed distracted. Then his gaze tracked over and hung suspended for the briefest moment on me before turning back to Winona. His stiff posture relaxed.

They started moving again, which meant I did, too. Far enough behind them that they didn’t notice me, but not so far behind I lost them. So far, there weren’t any red flags. The conversation seemed evenly split, with no long, awkward pauses. Winona even threw her head back in laughter once, her chestnut brown hair spilling back over her shoulders. All promising.

We were due at Space Mountain in ten minutes, and we’d started heading in that direction. I sent a quick location update to Ainsley.

She appeared just after Brougham and Winona entered the ride, holding one mostly clean stick, and one corn dog with a significant chomp taken out of it. She passed this one graciously to me.

“Hey,” I protested.

“Consider it my driving tax. Oh, Darc, can we go to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique after this?”

“Why?” I asked through a mouthful of mystery meat and batter.

“I want a princess makeover. I didn’t get to have one when we were kids.”

“I’m pretty sure there’s an age cutoff. You’re about a decade too late.”

Her face darkened. “This is such bullshit.”

I offered her another bite of my corn dog in consolation and she took it, plus one more, glowering the whole time. At that moment, I resolved to act as Ainsley’s shoulder devil the next time we passed a stall selling Minnie Mouse ears. Who cared if she never got the chance to wear them again? She deserved the commercialized, capitalistic Disney princess treatment that she’d missed out on.

With Ainsley’s help finishing what was left of my snack, we were soon heading down a red-lit corridor with flashing galaxy lights on either side of us, while a metallic robot voice overhead pleasantly warned us not to ride if we had a heart condition.

We’d just joined the end of the queue when my phone buzzed with a text from Brougham.

Getting on now

I’m in the line behind you. I’ll text you when we’re done. All ok?

Yup

See? He was fine. Bringing Ainsley and me all the way here as his safety net was nothing but a waste of money.

“How’s Romeo?” Ainsley asked, peeking over my shoulder.

“He’s doing pretty well. I’m hoping he lets us off early soon.”

“Not surprised. His face does half the work for him.”