The Moment I Knew

Surprises

My phone was vibrating in the pocket of my apron consistently all throughout work. Finally I took a bathroom break to see what was so important. I pulled out my phone to see I had a new video message from Austin. Closing the toilet seat, I sat down and pressed the play button smiling.

"Hey, Rae..." He smiled shirtless lying on his stomach across his bed, an Aspire & Create beanie slid over his head. "I know you're at work but I have big plans for us tonight. I need you to go right home after work and get dressed into something really nice. Like really, really nice. And then come over to my place right away. I'll meet you there. I love you." He blew the camera a kiss with a smile before ending the video.

Smiling I slipped my phone back into my pocket and walked back out to the floor feeling a lot better about the day.

I rushed home after work with images of the evening Austin had planned dancing around in my head.
I slipped on a red dress I had stored at the back of my closet and a pair of black pumps. I curled my hair as quick as I could manage and darkened my makeup.

I was jittery the whole drive to Austin's. I couldn't imagine what he had planned. I wondered if I had dressed right, hopefully I hadn't over or under dressed. The drive took a surprisingly short amount of time what with my mind so occupied, and before I knew it I was pulling up next to his car.

I climbed out and crossed his driveway, heels clicking against the pavement. I got to his door and found that it was locked. I knocked loudly and tucked my keys away in my purse while I waited. I regretted not switching to a smaller more elegant bag. Austin still hadn't come to the door. I knocked again getting a little frustrated with him. He didn't live far from the beach and there was a cold breeze coming in off the ocean, causing me to shiver slightly.

I knocked again, making sure to pound on the door a bit harder. Sighing in frustration I pulled out my phone and dialed his number.

"Hello?" He answered.

"Are you going to answer the fucking door?"

"What do you mean?" He laughed.

"I've been knocking on your door for like three minutes!"

"I know, I can see you...you look amazing..."

"Where you?" I asked looking around. "I'm not in the mood to play games, Aust—" My breath caught in my throat as I turned towards the street and saw the door of a limo opening slowly and Austin, in an adorable black suit, stepping out a bouquet of roses in his hands. My mouth fell open as I walked towards him feeling tears pricking my eyes.

"You really do look amazing." He said smiling wide as he stood in front of me. I leaned up and kissed him.

"As do you, Mr. Carlile."

He handed me the roses with a laugh which I took gratefully.

"Miss Jones..." He said taking my hand and helping me into the limo. He slid in after me and soon the
car was in motion.

"Where are we going?" I asked placing the flowers down on the seat opposite us.

"It's s surprise Rae." He said with a laugh pouring two glasses of champagne and handing me one.

"Why are you doing all this?" I couldn't have taken the smile off my face if I had wanted to.

"I wanted to show you how much I love you and how much I appreciate you and celebrate the fact you actually took me back." He held up his glass to make a toast. "To us."

"To us." I agreed before clinking his glass and taking a big sip.

We drove heading north, following the coast line enjoying comfortable small talk and intimate kisses.

"Are we going into the city?" I asked as the big lights of Los Angeles loomed nearer and nearer.

"No, somewhere even better." He said with a smile.

I had realized it a little before we had gotten there. Malibu, we were going to Malibu. But where in Malibu was the mystery.

We pulled up to Geoffrey's, a restaurant that was known to be over the top expensive and a frequent haunt of A-list celebrities.

"Austin!" I gasped as we stepped out of the limo and he led the way into the restaurant.

"Reservations for two at six for Carlile." He said to the man in the suit at the hosts' stand.

"Of course...right this way Mr. Carlile." The man said picking up two menus. Austin gave me a smirk as he linked my arm in his and followed the man to a beautiful little table on the balcony outside.

Austin helped me into my chair before taking a seat across from me. The sun had just set, casting a beautiful shade of purple over the water, the entire restaurant aglow with orange lights from the little torches and candles.

"Austin...this is too much..." I said looking around in wonder.

"Do you like it?" He asked smiling at me as a waiter came and filled our water glasses.

"I love this, but you didn't have to go to all this trouble..." I said shaking my head.

"Are you kidding? This was so much fun to plan!" He laughed. "And you haven't even seen half of it yet."

After one of the most amazing meals I've ever eaten in my life, we climbed back into the limo. I snuggled up into Austin's chest inhaling his scent.

"Thank you." I mumbled. "This has been amazing."

"It's not over." He laughed making me sit up and look into his eyes.

"What?"

"Rae, we have a whole night ahead of us! Not just a dinner!"

"Where are we going now! I'm so tired!"

"Don't worry." He said pulling me into him with a kiss on my forehead. "You'll be able to sleep."

I curled back up against his body before another horrifying thought hit me and I sat up again. "I have no clothes! I didn't pack anything!"

"I took care of it."

"What?"

"I took care of it." He said with a smile.

I noticed we had arrived at the next destination. The driver of the limo opened the door. Austin helped me out before paying the man and leading me up to the front doors of a enormous hotel. Malibu Beach Inn was printed on a sign beside the front door as we made our way inside.

"This way," Austin said leading me away from the front desks and up towards the elevators. We stepped inside and made our way up to what I assumed was our room. Austin pulled a little key card out of his pocket and slid it into the door in front of us. "Close your eyes."

I did as I was told, he took my hand leading me into the room and shutting the door behind him.

"Okay, open them." His voice came from behind me.
I blinked for a moment before taking in the absolute beauty of the room he had rented. It overlooked the ocean, there was a huge California king sized bed against the back wall and a nice sitting area with a huge TV.

"Holy. Fuck." I mumbled.

"Your bag is in the bathroom if you want to change. I was thinking we could hang out in those oversized bathrobes all night and rent movies and get room service." He explained taking off his jacket.

"I love you." I said kissing him hard before bounding into the bathroom to change out of the dress.
The bathrobe was soft on my skin as I pulled it on and wrapped it around myself glancing in the mirror with a satisfied smile, hardly able to believe this was all real life. I reached into the pocket of the bathrobe and felt a little piece of paper. Confused, I pulled it out and unfolded it. Austin's familiar writing was written across it, "reach into the other pocket (;"

Crumpling the scrap in my fist, I slowly lowered my left hand into the pocket and felt something cold.
I pulled it out to find a silver necklace. The pendant was in the shape of a key and as I turned held it close I realized it was from Tiffany's.

Tears in my eyes, I put the necklace on and ran out of the bathroom finding Austin on the balcony looking at the ocean.

He turned hearing my footsteps and smiled deeply.

"I love it." I said placing a hand on the necklace.

"I knew you would." He smiled placing a kiss on my nose.

"Austin this is way too much. You've done so much for me tonight."

"Yeah, but you've done so much for me just by being in my life, Rae. You don't know how much better you've made things. I love you, Raegan."