Chapter 22
ADEN
Do you know the feeling where you are beyond tired but your mind is completely awake? That is me right now. 3am and still awake. Riley and Sam had to get picked up from the airport at 1am. From what I heard, it sounds like they had a blast. I will have to get the full low down tomorrow. Having Riley back, tomorrow being surgery day, and being that much closer to purposing is on constant loop in my head. It’s tiring just thinking about it all, why can’t I just let it go for a while and get some rest? I have a big day planned for Riley. I just want to do something special before the surgery. Even though I told Riley that I am not worried about the surgery, I lied. The whole process freaks me out. What if the anesthetics wear off and I wake up while they have my head cut open? Even worse, what if I go through this and I can’t speak? How will Riley ever hear me say I love you again? My stomach turns in knots just thinking about it.
I remember Riley talking about some breathing exercises that will apparently help you fall asleep fast. I think it was something like 4-7-8. You breathe in for 4 second then exhale for 7 then inhale for 8. I guess it works for Riley. I might as well give it a shot. I don’t want Riley to see me with heavy under eyes for our date. I take a deep breathe in then out, then in then out. Hey, this is actually working. Within a few minutes I finally am asleep.
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I slowly wake up from the blinding sun beaming through my window. I look at the clock and it is just after noon. At least I got in some sleep.
I look at my phone to see if I missed anything. Nothing. Not even from Riley. She must have slept in too today. Well I better get ready.
Good morning beautiful, I text Riley as I pour myself a bowl of cereal.
Someone clearly has no concept of time, Riley texts back. Then a second message, Good afternoon to you handsome.
I meant to do that, I text back.
I am trying to pick out what to wear today. Should I be dressing up or dressing down? Riley texts.
Does dressing down involve not wearing much? ;) I text.
Let me rephrase that for you. Something formal or casual? Can I wear heals or do I have to wear boots or sneakers? Can I wear flip flops? Should I bring a sweater? she texts.
I never realized how much thought goes into picking an outfit. What about that cute pink dress you wore to supper with my folks last summer? I thought that looked good on you, I text. There, problem solved.
Sure, I think I can work with that. I think I still have it in my closet somewhere, Riley replies, See you in a few hours G Bear.
Oh Riley, I would think she looked beautiful even if she showed up wearing a dirty old sock. I never understood why it takes girls hours to get ready. It’s not like I haven’t seen Riley looking her worst. Not that she ever looks bad.
I think I will kill time and go for a run and clear my mind before I have to get ready. By getting ready I mean showering and brushing my teeth.
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“Hey handsome!” Riley says enthusiastically as she gets in my car. I lean over and kiss her.
“I haven’t been able to do that in a while,” I type.
“I’ve missed it,” she says, leaning in again. “So where are you taking me tonight? I feel like that has been my whole summer so far, people planning surprises for me. Next date I want to choose something.”
“Go ahead, but I don’t think anything can top this date,” I type.
“We will see about that,” Riley challenges.
I put the car in drive and pull out of the driveway. The drive to our destination is quiet. There is so much I want to say, but I can’t really text and drive. I miss the conversations we have in the car. Just one more sleep and everything will be back to normal again.
“What kind of a sketchy place are you taking me to?” Riley jokes as I park the car in front of an old warehouse like building.
“Close your eyes,” I type. I get out and open the door for Riley. I take her hand and lead her inside the building.
“Don’t make me crash into any walls,” Riley says. “Do you know how scary this is when you have no idea where you are?” She laughs a nervous laugh.
“Think of it as a trust exercise,” I type. “Okay now wait right here and don’t move. No peeking either.”
“Where are you going?” Riley asks, but I don’t respond.
I run over to a back room where there is a bunch of controls for lighting. I turn on a couple of the switches and the room lights up. I rush back to Riley. “Okay you can open your eyes now.”
“Oh my gosh Aden! What is this place? It’s amazing!” Riley says.
“One of the guys on the football team has a sister playing in a major production. She is letting us spend the evening here.
The old warehouse is where the cast is set up to practice until they set up the set on stage. The play takes place in Paris. There is a 20ft Eiffel tower complete with lights, little bistro table and chair sets, each set up with a rose bouquet as the center piece, and tons of greenery fill the space. Behind everything is a lit up backdrop of a starry night looking over a balcony to the streets of Paris with a full moon lighting the evening. I have set up under the Eiffel tower a table and chairs for us with a gourmet French themed meal planned for us.
“You always talk about traveling and going to the city of romance. I thought that why not bring the city of romance to you,” I type.
“Aden, it’s incredible!” Riley says. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.” She looks at me with her big green eyes and I see a tear forming in the corner of her eye.
“This isn’t a sad cry now is it? You know I don’t handle crying very much,” I type.
“No, it’s a happy cry,” Riley says as she wipes the tear away and laughs. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“You are my everything Riley,” I type. I wrap my arm around her waist and lead her over to the table.
“May I take your jacket for you, mademoiselle?” I type and take the coat off her shoulders and place it on the back of her chair.
“Thank you sir,” Riley says sitting down.
“Seriously? Brad forgot to light the candles!” I type.
“It’s fine Aden. I think everything is perfect,” Riley reassures me. The light off the Eiffel tower makes her glow, showing off all the contours of her face. I can’t help but stare.
“You are the most beautiful woman in the world,” I type.
She looks down in embarrassment. “So what’s for dinner? I am starved.”
I snap my fingers and two waiters in tuxedos come bringing out two silver plates for us. “Bon appetite,” they say and leave.
“Pretty snazzy,” Riley says.
“I know right? I have always wanted to do that,” I type.
Riley laughs and picks up her fork to take a bite of her filet mignon. “Delicious,” she says after she swallows.
There is a second of silence between us. I think both of us are just too caught up in the moment.
“Have you ever thought about what the future will be like for you? I have been thinking a lot about the future and what all the possibilities are,” I type as I break the silence.
“The future,” Riley stops to think about it. “One thing for sure is that I see you in my future, I hope. In a couple years graduate, and hopefully get a job as a lawyer straight out of school if all goes well.”
“Yes, I definitely can see a future with you too,” I type, “But haven’t you ever thought of what else the future could hold besides just school and work?”
“I’ve never really thought about it much,” Riley says. “I have just always taken it day by day, which sounds crazy since you know how much I like to plan ahead for everything else. What do you see?”
“You already know I would like to play in the NFL, but besides the obvious, I think I would like to take a year to just travel around the world. There is so
much out there to be seen. If I am able to, then why not? I also would maybe like to volunteer time to helping some of the less fortunate children in other countries. We have it so good here, we don’t even think about the people in third world countries. I feel like even if it is just something small I can do, it can make a big impact on someone else’s life.”
“Wow, I’ve never knew that was how you felt,” Riley says, taking my hand in hers.
“I don’t know, I just feel like helping would give some sort of purpose to my life,” I type.
“I feel the same way,” Riley says. “I think it would be an amazing experience to do something like that.”
“Together,” I type.
“Yes, together,” Riley says.
“Maybe someday I will have the privilege of raising my own child and teaching them the importance of helping and giving,” I type.
Riley looks up and smiles. “Maybe even children? I think I would like to have at least two, that way they can grow up having each other. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to find such a great friend like Sam. She was like my sister. Having a sibling, you have an automatic best friend and I think I would want that for my children.”
“I agree,” I type. “It sucks being an only child. I didn’t find my best friend until I was a teen. I always wondered what it would be like to have a brother, and then I found Ethan.”
“Aden, I am worried about tomorrow,” Riley says suddenly.
“This night is about you and me. Let’s not talk about tomorrow. Let’s just live in the moment,” I type. “Would you care to join me for a dance?”
“That would be wonderful,” Riley says as she takes hold of my outstretched hand and I lead her away from the table.
I snap my fingers and the lights dim. An orchestra playing Tale as Old as Time starts to play.
Riley looks at me with wide eyes. “My favorite song!”
I lead Riley to the middle of the room under the artificial moonlight under the Paris streets and we start to dance. Riley sets her head on my shoulder and we don’t say a word for the next few moments. Both of us just take in this moment we have together. I so badly want to ask her to marry me at this moment, but I know that if I wait, it will be so much better if I could actually say what I want to say to her.
“You have really out done yourself Aden. You’ve gone above and beyond this evening to make me feel like a princess,” Riley says, gazing into my eyes as the song ends.
“I will do anything for my princess,” I type. “I have one last surprise for you this evening.”
I lead her over to an old style automobile and open the door for her. “After you.”
“What is this?” Riley asks as she gets in the car.
I snap my fingers and a projector turns on, shining on the wall in front of us. “A movie of course. Is Beauty and the Beast alright?”
“It’s perfect,” Riley says quietly as she turns so we are face to face. She leans in close and I smell her Sweet Like Candy perfume on her. I breathe it in and it brings back all the memories of every date we have been on. It’s the scent that she only wears on dates. She slowly puts her lips on mine and her hands run through my hair. “Can the movie wait?” she whispers in my ear.
“Riley, but we made a promise,” I type.
“I’m tired of being patient so let’s pick up the pace,” she whispers as she runs her fingers down my arm.
“Are you sure about this Riley,” I type.
Riley takes the talking device and sets it out of my reach. “I’m positive,” she says as her lips brush up against mine. “I need a little less conversation right now and a little more of you.”
I know that I probably should have stopped myself at that moment, but I couldn't help myself. Even though it wasn't the moment we planned on, it felt right. I think Riley felt the same way.
Let me just say, tonight was a night to remember. It was amazing.