Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 32284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
"I have a better idea. There's something special I want to share with you."
"You don't need to go to any trouble or do anything fancy for me. I'm just excited to learn more about you."
Reaching for her hand, I bring it to my lips, pressing a gentle kiss on her soft skin. "Nothing is too much trouble for you, Beauty. But I need a couple of hours to organize a few things."
She smiles, a girlish blush tinting her cheeks pink. "Can't wait." She smiles sweetly, and we arrange to meet later. My Beauty couldn't be any more adorable if she tried.
I have a surprise in mind, but I need help from Atticus and Ma to pull the pieces together. When everything is lined up to my satisfaction, I send Dahlia a text with instructions. An Uber will pick her up from the house and drive her to a secret location.
Half an hour later, the door to the ancient theater swings open, announcing her arrival. "Oh wow," she coos, her voice echoing through the cavernous space.
"Beauty." Stepping forward from the shadows, I take her hand and guide her along the path I created with rows of tea lights.
"What is this place?"
"The town's old movie theater. Ma used to bring me here when I was a boy, but it's been closed for years. People go to the multiplex in the city these days."
She giggles as I guide her to a bean bag. "Thank you," she says as she nestles into its softness. I had two of them delivered an hour ago. The polystyrene filling whomps softly when I ease my heavy frame on the bean bag beside her.
Classical music pipes into the auditorium. Beauty glances behind her and sees we are the only two people here.
"There's no electricity. I brought the speakers with me," I explain.
"How will we watch a movie if there's no power?"
"Patience, Beauty." I switch on the LED lamp under the coffee table, revealing the hamper full of snacks.
"Wow," she gasps. "Popcorn, chips, candy, soda. What a feast!"
Ma packed it for me and drove like a bat out of hell to deliver it before Dahlia arrived. Bless that woman; she's a marvel. "I wasn't sure what you wanted, so I got an assortment."
"You are full of surprises," Dahlia grins before helping herself to a variety of treats. She looks as happy as a little kid breaking into Grandma's cookie jar.
"This is for you." I hand her a virtual reality headset before putting mine on as well. "Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the show."
She wiggles around, making the bean bag rustle while she settles in, but stops moving when I switch on the program.
I created an outdoor scene modeled after the forest behind our house and matched it to music designed to slow the wearer's brainwaves down to where you feel a sense of well-being and peace. It's an intro to a virtual reality program without haptics, allowing her to feel immersed without being overwhelmed.
Dahlia sits upright when the program starts, and even though she can't see me through the headset, she glances in my direction. I take my headset off and watch her naked delight as she experiences the scene.
She watches as sunlight filters through the tallest tree branches, shining brightly overhead. Dahlia glances up, lifting her hand to hold imaginary dust motes dancing on light beams. As her eyes adjust to the scene, she notices the deer camouflaged among the foliage, feeding. "Draven! It's beautiful. Is this how you see our forest?"
"Do you like it?" Reaching for her hand, I help her stand so she can move freely around the environment.
"I love it!" She sweeps her arms up, spreading her fingers wide, playing with the light and following the deer.
The smile spreading across her face makes me feel like the luckiest man on earth. She's a treasure, and I'm fortunate to have her. It's an unusual date but unique and memorable. I'll give her the world if I can. I'll do anything to make her happy.
"That was amazing," she says when the program ends. "I felt like I was really there."
"Are you ready for something more intense?"
"Uh-huh," she says, bubbling with excitement.
"We need to sit on the ground for this one." We put our headsets on again, and I load another program. We're in the forest again, looking at it from a different angle. At first, she's unsure what's going on, but she squeals when the psychedelic strains of the old Steppenwolf song begin to play.
Our one magic carpet takes off, and we fly over the top of the trees, dipping between them, swooping and soaring high above the ground. Dahlia grips my thigh, using touch to guide herself into my lap.
When the program ends, she removes the headset, placing it carefully on the ground.
"What did you think?" I'm not looking for praise, but her feedback will help me do better in the future.