Baecation
And don't forget to send me pictures. Really I'll kill you if you do not.
I smiled, shaking my head as I read the message on my phone screen from my best friend. Celine was the happiest to hear that I was finally getting a break from my break if that made any sense. I quickly typed a response across the screen and dumped my phone on the bed next to my suitcase.
7 days had breezed past like 7 hours and after a week of activities with the kids, Lucas and I were finally leaving on our trip for some alone time. Some much needed, much desired, much deserved alone time. I mean after all our relationship had been through.
Lucas's large arm looped around my waist and his scent filled my senses. His voice was thick when he spoke, "Hey muffin,"
I sighed and sagged my body against his, my eyes roamed my empty suitcase as I contemplated what to pack for this three-day getaway. "I don't know what to pack,"
"You don't have to pack anything, a few bikinis is probably too much actually," Lucas said and left a light kiss on my shoulder.
"I don't mind being naked with you all day, but I'm not putting my body on display for everyone," I said flatly, shoving a pair of leggings into the bag.
He released his grip on me and sat on the bed next to the bag, "by everyone you mean?"
I scowled at him with brows raised, "People?"
"Except you mean the creatures in the sea and of course myself, I don't think you have anyone else to worry about."
I planted one hand on my hip and finally voiced the question that had left me curious all week long, "Where exactly are we going?"
"To a place," he gave an amused shrug.
"Lucas," I whined, crawling between his spread legs, "tell me."
"And spoil the surprise?"
I pouted and he reached his hand out, with his fingers digging into my hips, he yanked me closer so his face was at the same level as my abdomen.
"I cannot tell you where, but I told you before, there would be no room for you to do so much as thinking about the outside world when we get there, so, have some patience, my love. "
"Okay," I nodded, kissing his lips briefly before straightening.
"By the way, Mia and Lilian would be here in about 5 minutes, so that's how long we have to leave."
I was still skeptical about leaving the kids, but that was more out of the fact that I would miss them terribly not because I feared they would not be safe.
If there was anyone safer to look after the twins, it was their dear aunt who adored them and had been doing the very same thing since their birth.
After deciding to go for a smaller knapsack, I threw in a few clothes and some much-needed toiletries.
I threw it over my shoulder just as a car peeled in through the wrought iron gates guarding the mansion.
Abby and Aiden were downstairs already playing with their new best friend Elmo and their happy squeals and cries filled the air as Mia, Lilian and Zoey piled out of the back of the SUV.
I reached the lower floor just in time to receive Mia's grasping embrace. "God I cannot believe how much I missed you."
"One week?" I pulled back and raised an amused brow.
"Feels like one month."
Zoey was already babbling and rattling off God-knows-what to Lucas who was rocking her in his arms and giving her his full attention as though he could actually understand a word she was saying.
"Well I missed you too Angel," he said when her rattling finally came to a slow stop and he cradled her into his chest, pressing light kisses on her forehead.
"She's probably telling you how Lilian nearly cried her eyes out on the flight here," Mia said drily as Lucas passed Zoey back to her and headed to the car to get things in place.
"What, I'm aerophobic," she shrugged, and with a light chuckle, she sauntered towards us, Abby and Aiden following behind her.
"I want to hear all about it when we get back," I said, kissing Zoey's forehead. She was already kicking and struggling to be put down so she could join Abby and Aiden.
"Do I get a hug?" I asked Abby and Aiden who seemed too focused on introducing Elmo to the others.
The hug was brief and I barely had the time to tell them how much I loved them before they were chasing after Elmo and Zoey. I turned to Mia, "You'll look after them right?"
"Do you even have to ask?"
"Also, you have to call us if anything happens. Please,"
She placed a reassuring hand on mine, "I'll call you if anything happens Chris, though I doubt the possibility of that. Just make sure you and my brother get some really deserved break."
"And I hope you take the time to rest too."
She chuckled, "My wedding is in a few months, the word rest is not in my dictionary."
"Just don't tire yourself out," I smiled and gave her a cheek-to-cheek kiss.
After saying our goodbyes, I followed behind Lucas, pausing as he held the door open for me. Taking his offered hand, I climbed as gracefully as I would into the car, "You're such a gentleman,"
"You're about to find out how gentlemanly I can be," he grinned, before shutting the door and turning to his side of the car. The engine roared to life and he adjusted his rear mirror, giving me a view of the kids and Elmo.
"Do you think they'll miss us?"
He took my hand in his and brought it higher to press a soft kiss over my knuckles, "I think the question is do you think you'll miss them?"
Our first stop was at the airport. I prided myself on being the detective that was going to solve the mystery of figuring out where in this big world my dear boyfriend was taking me.
Even though it was more fun to wait and let him surprise me, I was going crazy as hint upon hint crawled up my mind, only to be crushed every time we drove past one resort or the other.
"So hint number one, we're leaving Italy," I turned to Lucas, hoping he'd give me something, but he simply mouthed a 'yes and no,' that only helped to jack up my frustration. "You know I don't have my passport here."
"Says who?" he gave a cocky smile. He was really planned for this trip.
We looked like a newlywed couple going on a tour with me in a pair of leggings and a white tank top with a hoodie tied around my hips and Lucas in a pair of cargo shorts and a black t-shirt.
Lucas took my hand in his, leading us through the arena while two men I could tell were among the security guys paved a way through the crowd.
We climbed through a set of stairs, that led us to the waiting plane on the large airfield. After giving the crew instructions, Lucas led us through to the cabin of the private jet, about half the size of his, and I spun to look at him.
"How many planes do you have exactly?"
"A few for commercial travelers, One for personal use, this baby though is family-owned. The next one we'll be going on too," he explained as he tossed our luggage in the overhead cabin.
I gaped at him, "We're taking another flight again?"
"Yeah, I know it's a little overwhelming but there are limited ways to get to our destination," he gave a faint smile, closing the distance between us. He placed his warm and heavy palm around my neck in a loose hold.
"I feel like you're taking me to the very ends of the earth," I said with a giggle.
"And yet you would come with me," his voice was thick and I did not get the chance to affirm his words before he tilted his head and closed his lips over mine.
About an hour later, we arrived at a private airstrip, much smaller and regional than the one we arrived at earlier. "We're no longer in Italy," I said, looking around as I tried to figure if we were at least still on earth. The pilot striding towards us answered that question.
"Don't be too sure Muffin," he murmured briefly and turned to shake the pilot, who offered his hand to me next.
"The flight should be smooth and we'll be arriving there at around, say..." the man checked his watch and looked back at us, "4:30 pm,"
I checked the time on my phone, nodding in relief as I realized it was only a 15-minute flight. "Okay."
"Please take a seat."
I was a little shocked to see two flight attendants, male and female inside the plane, mostly because it seemed unnecessary for a 15-minute flight on such a small plane. They offered a small greeting as they prepared for the flight too.
"Where on earth are we going," I chuckled as Lucas strapped my seatbelt around me, locking me in place to the small plane.
"Not telling," he shook his head and did the same for himself. "You aren't afraid of heights are you?"
"Not exactly..." I said, not really knowing how to answer. I had never really been in a situation that would test my fear or bravery with heights. "why?"
He gave me a mischievous smile, "nothing,"
The plane slowly lifted off the ground, and I relaxed in my seat, taking in the sight of the ground below as everything becomes smaller and smaller and smaller until we're high enough to make them look like no more than a bunch of sugar ants.
My adrenaline mixed with the curiousity of our destination made my stomach churn, but as we descended slowly over the large, endless mass of water, I started to get a hint of where we were going.
There were small dots of green which I presumed to be uninhabited islands and I turned to meet Lucas's gaze burning into my skin. "The view is amazing."
"I'm glad you think so," he half smiled, eyes still fixed on me.
"You're not even looking," I pouted, willing myself not to fluster under his watchful eyes.
"I have something more beautiful to feed my eyes with,"
Okay Chris, stop grinning like an idiot. For Chrissake, we have company.
Biting back a grin, I turned back to stare at the water. A few minutes passed before Lucas finally unstrapped his belt and got to his feet. I watched, unabsorbed as he reached for a bag I had not noticed before and started to search through the contents.
"Looking for something?"
He regarded me with a smirk and held a bag to me, "Put these on."
"What are they?" I looked at the bag like it contained a bag of snakes.
One of the flight attendants came up beside me and leaned down with a smile, "This must be your first time, don't worry, that's why I'm here to help."
"First time with...?" My gaze fell between the woman and Lucas in sheer confusion.
"Skydiving," Lucas answered.
It took a full-on three minutes for my laugh to finally fade. Wiping my teary eyes, I looked at Lucas, "You're joking?"
He chuckled, "You're taking this better than I imagined."
"These are not tears of joy," I waved my hand over my face.
"I know," he grinned, "I was expecting to be murdered by now."
He was not wrong, I wanted nothing more than to kill Lucas right now. "I don't know the first thing about skydiving."
"There's always a first time," he shrugged, pushing the diving kit closer to me. "The only way to the island is by air or sea...so..." he waved his hand as if emphasize the fact that we're on a plane.
"I don't love you so much right now," I said with a frown, looking away.
After Lucas broke this news to me, the clear blue sea that looked marvelous to me a minute ago looked much more terrifying than a horror movie.
Snapping my eyes shut, I averted my eyes from the sea, "I cannot do this, I take back what I said about heights, I'm shit scared of heights. "
Lucas got to one of his knees next to me and took my hand in his, easing his thumb over my skin that now popped with goosebumps. "Do you trust me, Chris?"
"You know I do," I said, more sharply than I meant to. "But I'm too upset at you right now."
"I just wanted this to be a great surprise, landing on the island on a parachute."
"You have done this before?" I asked, willing him to say yes. It would help a whole lot if he had some experience.
"A few times."
"And you didn't die?" I asked and almost immediately wished I could take the dumb question back.
Lucas chuckled, "I'm right here in front of you so no."
"Miss Christine," the female attendant said softly behind me, "I know it can seem a little terrifying from up here, but I and my partner here have been doing this job for 16 years without an injury. I promise we'll help you land safely, following all the procedures."
Lucas spoke again, making soothing circles over my hand, "You won't be flying alone Muffin. You'll be harnessed to me, but if you want you can be harnessed to Rebecca here, she's one of the best in Europe from the research I did."
I did not bother telling him that professional or not, I would rather trust him in any case.
His eyes watched me pleadingly as he silently willed me to make a choice.
He must have done so much to make this trip a reality and while I was sure I would be mad at him for this for a pretty long time, I could not cancel the fact that he only did this for me.
It was a surprise for me, to make me happy.
I knew without a doubt he would not force me, in fact, if I wanted to he would change the plan of our trip and brush it off his shoulders like it was nothing.
But Lucas had done so much to make me happy and the least I could do was return the favor and make him happy too even if the very thought of jumping off this plane made me shudder.
With a deep sigh, I gave a small nod that did nothing to hide my fear and uncertainty. But I did not want to disappoint Lucas so I gave a firmer answer, "I'm only doing this because I love you so much,"
"I know," his smile deepened, "Thank you."
"Let's do this then," the other attendant spoke, jumping into action.
Lucas and I were attached together because if I'm dying from a skydive there's no one else I want to be with and well if I'm surviving it too, I want to do it with him.
Lucas must have still felt some guilt because he kept asking if I was alright.
And while I wanted to reassure him that I was fine, I was not too sure myself, so I just nodded every time.
The two skydivers did a check and crosscheck of their equipment a few times and I was assured they knew what they were doing.
For a second I was starting to feel comfortable with the idea of jumping from a fucking plane but that excitement completely faded when the whooshing sound of the engine hit my ears as the plane doors opened.
The chilly air slapped my skin and I took a peek down again.
Oh, God! Oh, God! Oh, God!
"You owe me big time for this!" I shouted to Lucas over the sound of the engine.
I could hear the amusement in his tone when he reassured me he would be paying back really soon. "I'm right here Chris," he shouted, kissing me through my hair, before helping me buckle my helmet.
His words were enough to get my feet steady and I pushed the goggles down to cover my eyes and gave a thumbs up to the others who were waiting for my signal to move forward.
With a swift move, Lucas and I plunged right out of the plane through the airy sky.
Well here goes nothing.