The Proposal [18+]

Chapter 9 - Weekend musings

    The drive to their mansion wasn't very long, but it was comfortable. We spent the time talking about what we usually do over the weekend. As far as I'm concerned, lately I have had to study over the weekend as well as the week. They seem to accept that, even mentioning that they already packed my laptop and workbooks, just in case.

Lorena predictably, said that one of her favourite things to do over the weekend, was to go shopping. Luca jokingly interjected that he was considering turning one of the guest rooms into another walk-in closet for her as they were already running out of room in their huge shared one. Another hobby of hers had a lot to do with clothes. She loved to sew in her free time.

"Really?" I looked up at her face in surprise. I was lying comfortable on the back seat with me head resting in Lorena's lap while she softly brushed her fingers through my hair. It was very relaxing. "I have to admit, I find it surprising. I would think, with all the money and your love of shopping you would have no need to sew or alter your clothes. You can just pay someone else to do it for you."

She smiled down at me, "It's not about money. Obviously, I have no need to do it. However, I find that it relaxes me. Also, it is helpful when I have this crazy design in my head that doesn't exist out there. This way, I can just make whatever I think of." She gathered my hair and then passed her fingers through it. I closed my eyes and let out a breath.

"What about you, Luca? Any surprises?"

Turns out, not too many. As I was expecting, Luca was zealous adrenaline junkie. He used up every opportunity he had to do something extreme to 'relax'. I scoffed at that thought. He let me know his favourite bungee jumping spot wasn't too far from their mansion, only about half an hour drive by car. He doesn't like to go on long trips away from Lorena. Since he has to work most of the time, when he's free, he makes sure to find the time so they could spend some time together.

We were close by when he finished retelling me of the time, he came back from one of his extreme mountain biking excursions, Lorena forced him to spend the day tailing her and holding her bags while she shopped. At the end of the day, he was so exhausted he could barely walk. His feet and hands felt like they were made of iron.

I looked up at her, smiling exploratory, she huffed and pouted, looking offended. I giggled up at her. Her antics sometimes made her look more like a mischievous little girl rather than a grown woman. The sparkle in her eyes was very pronounced in those moments.

Car stopping was what had me sitting straight and looking up. Their mansion had me out of breath. It was huge, looking like something out of Downtown Abbey. And the rolling green space all around it had the look of something out of a postcard. They even had a small pond in the back of the house. It all looked idyllic.

Car door closes to me suddenly opened and Luca burst in, taking me for a surprise. Before I could process what, he was doing, he had me in his arms, holding me close. I squeaked, startled.

"What are you doing, Luca?" Like any other girl, I had concerns when someone carried me in their arms, I always thought I was too heavy and worried about them. "I can walk by myself, you know."

"Of course you can," he winked at me. "I just love carrying you." He pressed me closer to him for a moment. I relaxed slowly once I realized there was no laboured breathing, his pulse was steady and he didn't look like he was struggling at all.

Over his shoulder, I could see Lorena just getting out of the car. When I caught her eyes, she winked at me and put her finger on her lips. I rolled my eyes, imagining what could she be up to already. We have not even entered the house.