CHAPTER 12: SURPRISE ROAD TRIP

CARA’S P.O.V

“So, are you going to tell me where we are going?” I asked Xander, getting into his sports car. “Cara, do you remember that night, when you got drunk with wine and said that you would follow me anywhere I go?” he asked, turning the key, his engine roared. “Yes, I remember,” I said. “but I was drunk then…remember?” I questioned him smartly. “Oh, so does that mean that you don’t love me that much?” he said, making a sad face as we rolled out of the long, curvy driveway. “So, you won’t tell me?” I asked again. “Hmmm, it’s quite obvious now. Isn’t it?” he said, more to himself than to me. The expression on his face was as if he made a discovery but still trying to figure out if his discovery is correct with his creased eyebrows. “What is?” I asked, curious to know what he is going on about. “That you, my dear Cara has never been surprised before,” he said, his tone playful but his eyebrows still creased. “What makes you say that?” I asked, amusement danced on my lips, but my eyebrows matched his. “Because don’t you know my love, that if I tell you where we are going then it would no longer be a surprise,” he said, making me laugh.

We drove for about an hour and the route that we were on felt so familiar, with its curves and bumps, however, my surroundings remained completely foreign to me. “Are we almost there?” I asked, getting impatient. “What? No, my love. We aren’t even close,” he said, a big smile on his face. “Why are you smiling so much?” I asked, annoyed. “Why can’t I smile? Is it a crime?” he asked. “No, it’s not. But I’m pretty sure that kidnapping is a crime,” I said, folding my arms against my chest, I looked out of my window before I heard a burst of laughter. “Oh, baby, who is getting kidnapped here? It’s definitely not you. It has to be me. Are you kidnapping me, babe?” he asked. “Me? You are the one who is taking me on a crazy road trip without telling me where we are going or how much longer it would take to reach our destination” I stated the facts. “You seem angry,” he said, still amused. “Yeah maybe,” I said. “You won’t be angry when we reach our destination, ” he seemed excited about the surprise that he apparently had for me. “I hope so,” I said, calming down a bit. “I know so,” he confirmed.

“Let’s take a break and stretch our legs,” he said, pulling over to the side of the road. “Right here?” I asked, looking at him in confusion. “Yes, why? What’s wrong with here?” he asked. “It’s in the middle of nowhere,” I said. “Oh no, baby. It’s not” he said, as he walked into the forest that was beside us. “Xander? Where are you going?” I asked. However, he didn’t answer my question, all he did was turn around and smile, as he walked out of my view. In a few minutes, he returned holding a bunch of red roses in his hands. “Roses?” I said, a smile on my face as I filled with happiness. “Yes, my love. Only for you” he said.  “Thank you, Xander. I love you so much” I said, taking in the scent of the roses. “I love you too Cara,” he said.  “How much?” he asked. “What?” I was confused. “How much do you love me?” he asked. “Xander, love cannot be measured in words” I explained to him. “But if it had to be, then how would you use words to explain how much you love me?” he asked. “Well… I love you more than all the water in the ocean,” I said and then laughed at how cheesy it sounded, but Xander didn’t laugh or even tease me, he just stared into my eyes. “Really? Do you really mean that?” he asked. “Truly  I do,” I said, my tone a little bit more serious now as I tried to match his.  “Cara, I don’t think that I even had anyone love me that much. I’m lucky to have you” he said before our lips met and confirmed that what I was saying is true.

After driving for about 2 more hours, I could see the tiredness on Xander’s face and he began to pull over to the side of the road again. “Another break?” I asked. “Yes, actually I’m going to take a break while you take over” his words left me shocked and nervous. “What? What do you mean Xander? Take over as in drive?  But I can’t drive” I said. “You can’t drive” he repeated my words before laughing at me. “Y – y- you say that you can’t drive and yet you drive me crazy every day,” he said in between his laughing fit. “I’m serious Xander! I can’t drive!” I said, scrolling at my husband-to-be who was acting ridiculously immature. “I’m serious too Cara. Did you forget that you have a driver’s license in your purse because I did not forget seeing it there” he said. “But Xander I haven’t driven since my dad passed on and that has been almost 2 years ago. Bear in mind that when I got my license he died a few weeks after, so I don’t have that much experience either and all the experience that I did have is long forgotten” I explained. “So you will never drive again? Because the last time that you drove was 2 years ago…that’s why you don’t want to drive now?! Are you serious Cara? You are such a smart woman but I can’t deny that the way you are thinking right now is extremely stupid. Now get in the driver’s seat.” he commanded. “NO!” I protested. “CARA!!!” He yelled at me. Hmm, if he thinks that he is going to intimated me by yelling at me, he is completely wrong! “XANDER!!!” I yelled at him back, my tone was much louder than his and just like a lion who got roared at by his lioness, Xander  toned down his dominance. “Fine! If you want to be so stubborn Cara, then I will be more stubbor,n!!!”  he said, turning the engine off, he rested his chin on his hand and looked out of the window, away from me. “Xander?” my voice was soft. “Cara if you don’t want to drive then we will sit here until you decide that you will” he said. “But Xander?” I called out again, I tried to make my voice sound sad, hoping that he would feel sorry for me. “But what?” he snapped at me. “But I need to use the bathroom” I said, I really, really needed to use the bathroom. “The place that we are going to has a bathroom which I think you would be more than comfortable to use” he said. “But Xander…” I said again, my voice in a begging tone. “But what now?” he snapped again. “I’m scared” I confessed. “I’m here with you Cara, am I not?” he asked.  “You are” I admitted. “And will I let anything bad happen to you?” he asked. “No,” I admitted. “Then what is the problem?” he asked, his tone dominating once again. “What if I crash the car and you get injured. I won’t be able to live with myself if something bad happens to you Xander, especially if it is because of me” I admitted my fear. “Cara baby, I promise that I won’t let anything bad happen to you or me” he said and in his striking grey eyes, I could tell that this man would protect me so much to the point of protecting himself to protect me. “Okay fine, I’ll drive” I said and we swapped seats, him now sitting on the passenger’s side of the sports car and I, besides him on drivers. I held my breath as I started the engine and then I slowly pulled back onto the road. Lucky for me, this route was extremely quiet and I had the whole road to myself. I pressed the accelerator and then the brakes immediately after. “Ok, It’s okay! A Lamborghini Veneno is extremely fast so you would want to just tap on the accelerator” he said, holding the steering with me. “Steady. Steady. There you go” he said, letting go and I couldn’t believe it but I was driving and not just any car but the second most expensive car in the world.

I drove for about 2 hours with Xander telling me where to turn and guiding me. “Hey Xander…” I said and pulled over to the side of the road. “What? What’s wrong?” he asked. “Cara?...” he said my name in shock as he saw me beginning to tear. “It’s okay. You are driving really well” he said. “Xander… I know where we are going. Thank you Xander. Thank you so much. I love you so much” I fell into his embrace and wrapped my tiny arms around his big shoulders as well, when I realised that he was taking me home. “I love you too babe” he said, placing a comforting kiss on my forehead. “I don’t want you to drive while you are so emotional, so why don’t you let me take over, besides it’s getting dark” he said and we switched again.

Xander, drove for about a half an hour longer before we stopped in front of a small match- boxed shaped house, which held half of my heart inside of it. Coming out immediately was a warm face with the biggest smile. “JOYCE” I jumped out of the car, with joy I ran and enveloped my sister in my sister- bear hug…