I help her gingerly climb into the car, and then hop in the driver’s seat.
She looks around the interior strangely.
“Whose car is this?” she asks mildly confused.
“Mine.”
“You drive?” I almost think she’s trying to be funny.
I snicker. “Of course I drive. Why’d you say that?” I punch on the engine and the Jag rumbles to life.
“Because I’ve never seen you drive a car before.” She grabs her seat, surprised by the vibrations. “You always showed up in a limo when you came to Expo and we were carted all over the place in Bora Bora. Jett even drove the boat to and from the airport.”
I laugh to myself as I put on my sunglasses. Oh, how little does she know. I can drive all sorts of thing.
“Well, I guess I’m full of surprises.” I press a button and the roof retracts, Ellie squints as the sun shine hits her face. I open the glove compartment. “Sunglasses?” I hand her a brand new pair that Jett picked out especially for her.
“Thank you.” She takes them, smiling shyly. “What kind of car is this anyway?” she asks, gliding her hand over the door handle.
“Jaguar F-Type.” I hit the gas in my black V8 and take off.
“One of your toys?” Ellie inquires, as her hair blows in the wind.
“One of the many.” I grin carefree, placing my hand over hers, and just drive.
I notice Ellie start to look around curiously as we drive through and then out of Waikiki.
“Where are we going?” she asks confused.
“Home,” I tell her, not taking my eyes off the road.
I feel her staring at me peculiarly. I just smirk and continue to drive.
Ten minutes later we are rolling through the Diamond Head section of Honolulu.
“Seriously, where are you taking me?” she asks again, and I can’t stop myself from smiling widely.
“I told you,” I pull into a driveway. “Home.” I throw the car in park.
Ellie freezes as she takes in the two-story stucco house.
“Exactly whose home are we going to?”
“Ours.” I hop out of the car.
“Ours?” she repeats perplexed as I walk around the convertible, open her door and carefully help her stand up.
I think it’s a record. That’s the most she’s spoken in a week.
“Yup.” I take her hand and lead her to the front door. The walkway is landscaped with lots of bright island flowers and tall green trees. Once inside, Ellie gasps. Yeah, it’s pretty insane. I fell in love with the house as soon as I saw it online. It was so different and modern, yet homey as well. The website boasted it was an award-winning design, inspired by the shape of a sundial, the back of the house curved with one hundred, eighty degree views of the ocean and mountains. Between you and me, I had already put an offer in prior to leaving for Bora Bora. It was some serious wishful thinking on my part, but I couldn’t help myself. Every time I looked at it, I could see Ellie and me living here.
I walk her through the kitchen decorated with light cabinets and dark granite. I grab a small remote off the counter and continue straight back into the living room. I glance at Ellie taking it all in. Then I hit a button and the electric curtains rise. The entire room is made of windows, and as they lift, an unobstructed view of the Pacific blinds us, as if we’re sitting right on top of it.
“Oh my God.” Ellie puts her hand over her mouth as she looks out over the lani, curved swimming pool hugging the house, and vast blue water.
“Like it?” I ask nervously.
She doesn’t answer, just stares straight ahead.
