“Why are we going to Phoenix?” Eva asked Alexander sitting beside her with his eyes closed, ready to catch up on some sleep.
“There’s a 52-minute layover time at Phoenix.” Eva waited for him to say more but he didn’t and she picked up a magazine to read. How could he sleep when she was bursting with excitement? “Buckle your seat belt for takeoff!”
As the aircraft took its position on the runway, Eva struggled with her seatbelt since this was her first time on a flight. Alexander leaned forward and buckled it instead for her, his arm brushing against her curves in the process. Eva’s cheeks colored and she learned the technique so that she wouldn’t need his help the next time. The aircraft surged ahead and took off at last but apart from her ears, nothing seemed much affected. Alexander opened his eyes to give her a once-over when they were airborne.
“All fine so far?” he asked with a smile, seeing her pull her ears.
“Yes, but maybe I’ve become deaf,” she chuckled.
“Here, chew this,” he said, taking out a pack of chewing gum and handing it to her.
“Why? Are we teenagers again?”
Alexander chuckled, remembering his addiction to the pack when younger. His dad had to stop his monthly allowance to get rid of his over-dependence. So Eva hadn’t forgotten a thing, it seemed.
“No, swallowing or chewing gum relieves airplane ear symptoms.” Eva smiled and popped a gum into her mouth, remembering their younger days when Alexander used to pop one every hour and whiz past her on his motorcycle, hardly acknowledging her presence in the school. “Better?” Eva looked up at him and nodded, comparing his earlier self to his current one. She didn’t have any idea why he always used to ignore her earlier and suddenly started taking an interest in her now. Nevertheless, she was glad that he changed.
“I’m going to San Jose after almost twelve years.” Alexander closed his eyes as memories of the smiling faces of his grandparents flooded his mind. He knew he had been a little selfish not having visited them when he should have. Maybe he could make it up to them this time. If only his parents weren’t arriving at the same time as they were. His mind went into overdrive thinking of a way to avoid them. Knowing Eva, he hadn’t told her anything about his fight with his parents. They were going to San Jose with Beatrix in her private jet and had wanted him to accompany them as well but he declined.
“Twelve years? Why? They must have missed you so much! I wish I had grandparents of my own. I would never have left them alone,” said Eva with a sigh, making Alexander feel guilty for having neglected his grandparents.
“What about your parents? Don’t they ever call you?” he asked her with interest.
“No, they’re too busy to remember me,” said Eva, as a sigh escaped from her mouth. “I’m happy to forget them as well. They don’t deserve my love, so I prefer not to waste my feelings on them.”
Alexander gazed at her, wanting to reach out and comfort her, to tell her he would always be there for her, even if her parents weren’t. He wanted to pull her into his arms and ask her if she loved him like she used to. “Not all are like them. You could love someone who cherishes you.” He couldn’t say a word further and all he wanted to say remained in his heart.
Eva stared at him for a second, wondering what that could mean. “There’s no one but Alyssa.” Alexander blinked and looked away. He wasn’t sure what he had expected her to say, but it made him a little upset. Maybe he wanted to tell her he too cherished her since the time they were children. He couldn’t show her his feelings since she was six years younger and underage then, but now he needed to show her how much he wanted her.
“I’m sure if you look around carefully, you’ll find many who care for you.” Eva thought for a moment and then smiled, knowing that he was right.
“Yes, there are others, Sienna, Hayley, Skylar, who always have made up for the absence of my parents in my life,” she said, remembering her close friends and how much they had done for her.
“And?” he prompted her, his eyes seeking hers, holding her gaze. He wanted to realize and admit that he, too, was one of them. He wanted her to admit that he too cared for her.
“Ashton.” Alexander broke his gaze and looked away. He knew she would never take his name. He didn’t actually do anything special for her in the last four years, although he had thought about her every night when he lay awake in his bed. His heart was with Eva while he forced himself to please his family.
Eva waited for him to say that he cared for her, but he didn’t. The topic faded away, leaving both disappointed. However, it made Alexander think deeply about his relationship with her. How long would he live this way? How long would he bottle up what he truly wanted? Wasn’t it time to start living for himself, and do what he wanted? Yes, he would now try to show Eva that he was the one who cared for her the most. He would show her how much he wanted her! He would live for himself from now on.
Eva didn’t know what suddenly happened to Alexander after the discussion. He simply went into a bout of silence, frowning at his laptop all the while. “Can we watch a movie?” she asked him, hesitating a little in case he snapped at her. Strangely, he smiled and agreed and they watched a good romantic thriller together.
The flight landed, but instead of waiting for their connecting flight, he ushered her into a car that had arrived for them. “Where are we going?” she asked him as the car sped away from the airport terminal. “Don’t we have a connecting flight after 52 minutes?” She watched Alexander furiously typing into his mobile phone instead of answering her question.
His phone started buzzing continuously after that, but he refused to accept the calls. “Is anything wrong?” asked Eva, as they sped along the busy roads in Phoenix.
“Nothing.” From the grumpy and annoyed look on his face, Eva knew that something was up and he wasn’t telling her.
“Then why aren’t we waiting at the airport for our flight to San Jose?”
“We’re staying in Phoenix for a few days.” Eva’s jaws dropped with shock at his admission. Why did they need to stay here for a few days? What was Alexander up to?
“Why? I don’t think it’s necessary, Alexander,” she said, worried and confused by his strange behavior.
“It is necessary.” Eva gaped at him, waiting for him to explain, but he didn’t say a word further. The car drove in through the gates of a palatial resort in Paradise Valley where Alexander might have a booking. Too preoccupied with the towering structure in front of her, Eva forgot the topic and followed him out of the car. The staff welcomed them warmly with refreshing drinks.
“It’s an honour to have you stay here with us, Mr. Van Every. I hope you and ma’am are satisfied with our services,” said the manager, Mr. Clifford, welcoming them nervously. Who didn’t know Alexander, the famous CEO of the world-renowned restaurant chain, Rotterdams?
Mr. Clifford escorted them to their special suite room, and Alexander thanked him. “We would need a luxury car tomorrow for our road trip,” said Alexander, and the manager nodded.
“Sure, Mr. Van Every. You can choose the car you need any time.”
Eva didn’t say a word, although she was bursting with questions. What was going on? Where were they going? What road trip was he talking about? The man left and Alexander locked the door and turned to her, gazing into her eyes as if waiting for her to ask what she had been dying to.
“You can ask right away what you’re dying to know.” Eva stared at him, noting the way his eyes twinkled with amusement. He looked quite pleased with himself. All the initial tension had left his body now, and he looked relaxed.
“What’s going on? Why are we here? Why didn’t we take the connecting flight to San Jose as we had planned? What about this new road trip thing? Where are we going by road?” She could have continued if he hadn’t chuckled and gestured for her to stop already. Eva waited for his explanation, but it didn’t come.
“I’m waiting, Alexander. Tell me already or I’m going home.” She placed her hands on her waist and glared at him angrily.
“There’s been a little change in our plans as mom, dad, and Beatrix are headed for San Jose right now on a private jet.”