Wicked Surprise...
I'm so freaking excited for our trip and the best part is that he still doesn't know where we're going. I've plotted this anniversary trip out and it's going to be incredible. The kids are taken care of for the week and a few extra days, so it will just be us. I gave him an idea of what to pack and he was definitely intrigued with my suitcase selection as I packed nearly all of our sex toys. He gives me a look and I laugh with a little shrug... "What? I plan on us having a lot of sex."
We load our stuff into an Uber and head to the airport. He discovers the first leg of our trip when I sign in for our tickets. We'll be flying into O'Hare before lunch time. After getting through security we stop by Starbucks for my customary mocha frappuccino. The concoction is such an insane calorie bomb that I only purchase them on 3 occasions; a really good day, a really bad day, and when travelling through airports.
He questions me while we're in line about what's in Chicago. I tease him with references to Harry Dresden, the protagonist wizarding P.I. to one of his favorite series, which is set in Chicago. I ask him if he wants a mocha frappuccino as well. He doesn't like coffee but this barely qualifies as coffee.
"No thanks. Those things are loaded with extra calories."
I smile... "Oh, I know but you and I are going to be burning a heck of a lot of calories this week."
"You know... You're even sexier when you're being all mysterious. Maybe we should try to find a quiet little area before our flight..."
I laugh and move to my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "I love you but I will be very unhappy if we miss our flight because we are in jail for indecent exposure." I collect my coffee and we spend our time walking through the airport, talking, and people watching. Our flight is finally preparing to board. He behaves himself on the flight... for the most part. His hands definitely did some wandering. We arrive in Chicago and pick up our luggage.
He gives me a confused look however when we store our luggage at the airport rather than taking it with us. "Are you storing it because we can't check in to the hotel yet?"
I shoot him a playful look "Who said anything about a hotel? Guess our roles are reversed and you're going to have to trust me to lead you." I give him a considering look tilting my head to the side.
"What are you looking at Mrs. Anderson?"
"Just imagining whether or not my collar would fit you." I can't help the giggles that erupt over the expression on his face. I tug his hand and pull him out of the airport.
We hop in a Taxi. I tell the cab driver "700 East Grand Avenue please." He gives me another quizzical look and I decide that I'm going to give him a kiss every time he gives me such a look on our trip. I make the mistake of telling him my new game and he proceeds to make absurd and occasionally confused expressions that I'm now obliged to kiss away from his face. The trip only takes about 20 minutes and we pull up in front the Navy Pier. We climb out of the car and my eyes are glued to his face as he reads the sign for Giordano's.
"I hope you're hungry for some authentic Chicago style deep dish pizza baby." He gives me a look and I swear a part of me melted onto that little patch of sidewalk there in Chicago. I try to move forward into the restaurant but he pulls me back for a kiss. Ugh, I love him so much. I tip back in his arms and look at him with my heart in my eyes. It's too much in that moment. I hide behind a false bravado "Enough of your mushiness man, I'm starving." He graciously allows the retreat and we sit down to order.
"This seems pretty elaborate Alina. Just what do you have up your sleeve baby."
I take another big bite of delicious deep dish... So much better than NY style! "Well... It isn't intentionally elaborate. We're on this trip mostly due to luck. I've always been exceptionally lucky."
He gives me a skeptical look. "Not sure I'm buying what you're selling."
I stick my tongue out at him "Well, I am exceptionally lucky. I'm sitting across from exhibit A of said luck."
He pauses between bites of pizza to consider what other surprises I might have in store. "I'm assuming we aren't staying in Chicago, so we're flying somewhere again... Further west I assume."
"Ooooo, I like this... kind of a Harry Dresden cosplay." I smile gleefully.
"Excuse me but I think I'm a little better dressed than that. At any rate, if anything, it's a Harry Dresden LARP."
"I knew I should've brought that collar."
"You're trying to distract me, minx. Hmmmm, It's not the time of year for skiing and what does luck have to do with any of this?" He continues trying to piece together information.
I rest my chin on my hands. "Hey Derek..."
He looks at me. "Yes?"
"You're adorable." He narrows his eyes at me which only causes me to giggle again. I look at both of our plates where we demolished our pizzas. "I think it's time to move on to our next adventure babe."
We finish paying and step out of Giordano's and into what Chicagoans affectionately call the Canyon of Concrete. We arrive and I consult the time. "We have a few hours to play before we need to head back to the airport. What do you want to do first, my love?"
He glances at an advertisement for a virtual reality game. "Let's start there." We compete with other people in the virtual reality world and had a blast figuring out how to use the technology. We move on to some other basic carnival type games. I've never been much of a roller coaster thrill seeker but I loved the game sections of theme parks when I was a kid. I look at him and think to myself that I guess I've always been drawn to terms that were high-risk and high-reward. We browse through the gift shops and pick up some items for the kids.
He convinces me to go on the Centennial Wheel, despite my apprehension. I haven't been on a ferris wheel in years and I was surprised the last time I was on one to find that I was slightly terrified. He points out how the view will be incredible and I capitulate.
I try to stay calm as we sit in our little basket of death as it slowly lurches into motion. I'm not afraid of heights necessarily but I don't like the loose swaying motion of the cart. He notices my tension and moves closer. "Alina, we're fine baby." He pulls me close to him and wraps his arms around me. "Maybe you just need to feel something other than scared."