Chapter 65 More surprise
LISA
I enjoyed the ride so much because Devin played one of my favorite love song medleys the whole way, I'm certain Axel tipped him on my music taste, he knew exactly how to make a girl giddy in love. We pulled into a park shortly and I felt the car coming to a halt, I was staring out the window in awe since I'd never had the opportunity to spend a day at a park, and somehow my inner child felt seen and understood.
My childhood memories were an endless loop of violent and tedious training sessions with men twice my age because my family put the mafia's organization before everything else and I was no exception.
I stared out the window like a child watching the ice cream man's truck drive by, I'd dreamt of visiting a park someday but I had no idea it would feel like an out-of-body experience when I finally did. "Ma'am, we're here" Devin's voice broke through my thoughts as he opened his door and walked towards mine.
"Thank you so much, Devin, I enjoyed the ride- and the music" I winked at him as he opened the door to let me out. "Enjoy your day ma'am" he smiled politely and curtseyed before getting back into the car and driving off.
"Did he just?" I opened my mouth in shock and raised my brows as he sped off without giving me any further instructions. "Yes, yes he did," I replied to myself aloud and I could swear I heard an echo, the park was empty.
Still, I stood transfixed in a spot while drinking at the mere thought of being at a park for the first time ever, it shouldn't be a big deal but for me, it was at the top of the pyramid of things I wanted to experience.
One might assume I was overreacting because of how my eyes bulged and my soft smile brightened as I looked over the park, but I'd spent my entire childhood learning to defend myself rather than being a normal child whose days were spent at parks and play dates.
It took me a while to realize that the park was an abandoned one, but somehow that only made me more curious rather than discouraged, I let myself imagine that there were a host of people inside having the time of their lives and I was about to as well.
Was that a little delusional? I didn't care, I wouldn't let anything ruin this moment or take it away from me when the fun was only just getting started.
I heard footsteps approaching me gradually and as I turned I came face to face with a girl holding a flower bouquet and gesturing for me to collect it.
How much cheesier can this day get? I said to myself while feeling giddy and lighthearted as I reached out to collect the bouquet.
As I expected, she bounced away the moment the bouquet was in my hands. Instinctively, I smelt the flowers and felt a familiar satisfaction wash over me.
Then, I looked closely at the flowers and noticed a note peeking through the luscious rose petals and I reached for it happily.
"You made it beautiful, just a few more steps. Walk into the park"
I smiled so much that I chucked and threw my head back a little while holding the bouquet tightly against my chest. How did he always know the right things to say? Fuck.
Curiously, I took my signature long strides toward the heart of the park, and as I edged closer I began to notice a few people in uniforms walking around and I figured they were park attendants.
As I inched closer, a small train came to an abrupt stop in front of me, startling me a little.
"Come aboard ma'am" the driver poked his head out of his window and beckoned to me.
At this point, I had no desire to badger anyone with questions, I knew Axel planned it all and I just wanted to enjoy every minute of the ride.
I smiled at him kindly and got into the train, my excitement building childishly as I got comfortable in my seat.
The whole ride brought up a rollercoaster of emotions for me, I had never been treated with as much love and affection as I was being treated at the moment.
Axel's thorough preparation and romantic gestures have my heart melting in ways I never thought were possible, he was so intentional about me and I loved that so much, God knows.
I took another sniff of the flowers and couldn't help the giggle that escaped my lips. Why on earth was I acting like a love-struck teenage girl? Man, I had no idea but I'd never trade this feeling in a million years.
Soon enough, the train came to a halt and the driver gave me a polite nod and I took that as my cue to get off the train.
I stepped out of the train and as soon as my eyes hit the scenery, I took in a deep breath with my eyes closed as the train drove away.
In mere seconds, I opened my eyes to meet Axel's gaze locked on me. It felt like my heart had stopped that very second, would this effect he had on me ever wax cold? I hoped not.
He broke into a smile as he drank my entire appearance in and I couldn't help but smile back, his smile was intoxicating just like his entire being.
He began walking towards me and snapped his fingers and on cue, the lights went dim while a beautiful path lined with petals lit up to lead the way.
As he reached me, I batted my eyelashes and my lips formed a little pout to show how much he'd made my heart flutter by pulling this together.
"You look more beautiful than I'd imagined" he smiled and took my hand in his as we walked down the lit path and a heavenly picnic setup revealed itself.
I had so much to say but I couldn't find the words, it was as though he'd made me speechless and the only thing I could focus on was keeping myself from growing weak in the knees.
The scenery was beyond breathtaking, the rose petals filled the air with a lovely scent and the lights that illuminated our path made me feel like I was in a fairytale of course. Axel was my Prince Charming.
I squeezed his hands in mine a little tighter as I gazed upon the gorgeous white tent that was at the end of the path.
The tent had beautiful flowers cascading down the entrance and lining the entire expanse of it which made me marvel, I could see lit candles through the transparent tent that indicated a romantic candle-lit picnic was waiting for us at the other end.
Every step of the way felt more and more exciting, my heart had stopped in my throat but my entire being was eagerly waiting to enjoy the bliss at the end of our path.
"Here we are," he said breathily as he held open the lovely tent that housed the beautiful picnic setup I had sighted earlier.
"When did YOU become a hopeless romantic?" I said as I finally found my voice while we walked into the tent.
"I wouldn't have guessed those were the first words that would leave your lips" he laughed as we sat facing each other on opposite sides of the picnic mat.
"Heard the phrase never let them know your next move?" I asked and he nodded smiling "Great, then you understand" I finished proudly.
"Well, for the record I'm not. But God knows I'll be anything and everything for you Lisa, always" he leaned slightly toward me and flashed me a smile.
"You're IT for me, Axel, this is beyond perfect, how on earth did you pull this off?" I asked genuinely curious.
"Don't worry about your pretty head, I wanted to see you so bad but I also wanted to show you love differently if that makes sense?" He raised a brow as he trailed off.
"All the sense in the world, I felt loved like I never have before and it's all because you went an extra mile for me today," I said, reassuring him that his efforts had touched the farthest parts of my heart. "Nothing makes me happier than being loved by you, I needed you to know that what we have comes once in a lifetime and in this one, I'm holding onto it for dear life" His deep voice made every single word get etched into my memory, words that I agreed with and would always cherish.
He placed my hands in his and we simply basked in that very moment, one where he was mine, I was his and nothing else mattered.