I Promise

14

I wake up, snoozing my alarm before the twins or Peyton can wake up. The clock on my bedside table reads five in the morning, and I almost groan out loud. I would, but I don't want to wake anyone up.

I silently walk into the kitchen and start making breakfast. First things first, coffee. I desperately need it. Then I dig out some food and indulge, taking my time. By the end, I feel much more energized.

After I wash up and brush my teeth, I realize I need to look for some tourist attire. I settle for an oversized Hawaiian shirt, some denim shorts, and converse. The Hawaiian shirt is the only thing I have that screams tourist, and if I wear my sunglasses and sling my camera over my neck, maybe I'll look the part enough.

Right when I finish putting on some minimal makeup, my phone rings. It's only 5:30, but I pick up, knowing it's Matt.

"Ready to go? I'm parked outside," Matt says, not even saying hello.

I chuckle. "I thought you said six?"

I could almost see his shrug. "Think of it as a test. If you really want to explore this city, you have to be ready. All the time," he says.

I hang up and walk downstairs, and I feel excited. I have no idea where we are going, and it really does feel like an adventure.

I walk down to the guest parking lot, and sure enough, Matt is there, decked full on out with a Hawaiian shirt and Khaki shorts. He's also wearing a bucket hat with the California flag and sunglasses.

But what surprises me more is his car. It's an old crossover, decked out with a rack.

Matt opens up the passenger door for me and then gets in the driver's seat himself. I notice inside, there's a sunroof. "You like the ride? 1990, Ford," he says. I smile. I know cars pretty well, and his crossover is one of my favorites.

"Why do I get the feeling you know even more about this car than me?" he asks, chuckling.

I shrug. "Maybe I do."

Matt smiles at me as he sits inside. "Ready to go?" he asks, smiling mysteriously.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I reply, but he shakes his head.

"You're missing something, typical tourist." And then he takes out the exact same bucket hat from the backseat and flops it on my head. I laugh.

"Do you just keep a supply of these just in case you want to dress up as a tourist?" I ask, and we both laugh.

"How did you find out?" he asks, and starts up the engine.

"I have a feeling I won't know where we're headed until we get there," I say. Matt nods, still a mysterious glimmer in his eyes. He seems excited too.

I almost jump out of my seat when I hear whining and Zeus pops his head out from the backseat. Of course, Matt laughs.

"Is it okay if he comes?" he asks.

"The more the merrier," I say and pet Zeus's head.

And then we're off. I take some candid photos of us on the road, and I take one of him driving, and one of Zeus.

"I didn't know you have a knack for photography," he says, keeping his eyes on the road.

"I don't. I just like taking photos," I say.

"I bet you they're good," he says.

We drive for about half an hour, the mountains nearing our view, and Matt declares that we are ten minutes away, so he stops on a grinding road and takes out a blindfold.