[IC] City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

[Tyler Night]

He smiles and pulls up alongside her, putting his hand on the handle of her tube, laying back and relaxing.

"This is always good to wind down with."

He keeps hold of her tube and drifts along with her at a casual 2 miles per hour.

[DELETED08735]

Leaning back and closing her eyes, Ele let her hand rest on Tyler's tube and they floated serenely. Dozing in the warm water, belly full and head still bubbly, Ele enjoyed herself.

"Where do you see yourself in five years?"

Ele asked, her free hand trailing in the water, eyes still closed.

[Tyler Night]

"Honestly? I hope I am in the same situation I am now just on a bigger scale. Instead of a shop in a mall, maybe I could have a full store of my own, 5 times the size of my shop now. Maybe, have myself a wife and a child. Definitely not getting any younger."

He chuckles.

"Maybe I could have a nice sized orchard even further out in the country than I live now."

He thinks some more.

"I would love more cars and maybe have more done to my house."

Going silent for a moment he nods his head.

"So, round about way, I would still be in my same situation just more financially stable."

[DELETED08735]

"Why rush having a wife and child though? What if you don't meet someone in that time?"

She asked, looking towards Tyler,

"Seriously, what's the rush?"

[Tyler Night]

"I have known I wanted a family since I was a teenager and since I am officially in my 30's I should be looking to settle down. But if I don't meet somebody in that time then I don't. But I know where I want to be at and lots can happen in 5 years."

He continues holding onto her inner tube, coasting along leisurely.

"What about you? You know where you are right now but honestly, if you could be anywhere in life doing anything you wanted, what would you be wanting in 5 years with your life?"

[DELETED08735]

Thinking for a bit, Ele pondered that question. With any option available to her, Ele bit her lip and let her head fall back again as she spoke,

"If I could have anything anywhere... I would have my own home, and I would have my own design firm that I could run remotely from anywhere I wanted. Marriage..."

Ele made a face and looked at Tyler, her eye haunted by past memories and guarded emotions,

"I'm borderline commitment phobic I guess, the prospect of being attached to someone legally is terrifying for me and it would take a very strong person to deal with my baggage. I never want to burden someone with that though, so I keep to myself."

[Tyler Night]

"I am sure you can get there. You are pretty driven."

Realizing she said marriage he cocks a brow and looks at her. Hearing her explain her situation he looks over at her and says.

"Need to find that special someone that can break that fear. You have been opening up to me more after all. I sure hope that you can get everything you ever wanted though."

[DELETED08735]

"I have no problem admitting that I am a baggage-laden, career-focused, commitment-phobic twenty-something white girl. I own that title whole-heartedly."

Ele said in a lighter tone, languidly dipping her toe in the river and flicking water up,

"And if I ever do meet someone who can convince me to marry them, well God bless them, and God help them because even I know I'm a handful."

The ride was coming to an end, and part of Ele was grateful. The two of them had been wading into deeper memories and emotions that shook Ele to the core. Letting go of Tyler's tube, Ele hopped out of hers in the shallow water and pulled her tube to the waiting stack. Turning and smiling at Tyler, Ele stretched her arms over her head and arched her back to get the kinks out,

"That was almost like a nap!"

[Tyler Night]

He climbs out behind her and smiles.

"You want me to crack your back for you? I am damn good at it."

He smirks, stretching out and cracking his neck, shoulder and back.

[DELETED08735]

Her heart thudded painfully in her chest for a moment as Ele's mind flashed with images of arms holding her tightly, squeezing her until she couldn't breathe, and lifting her off the ground. The young woman froze for a moment, her eyes wide with the flashback until she was able to pull herself back into the present. There were no arms around her, no one squeezing her, Ele was standing on her own two feet and they were still in the waterpark.

Inhaling deeply, Ele's vision cleared and she managed a shaky smile at Tyler as she shook her head,

"No thanks, I've got it."

She said simply before she turned away from him and hurried into the locker room. Once there, Ele sat on one of the benches, her stomach in knots as she fought to keep from vomiting. Breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth, Ele put her head between her legs and concentrated on her breathing.

[Tyler Night]

Seeing her take off so suddenly he looks confused. After she makes her way into the locker room he walks back to his locker room finally changing into his regular clothes. He washes up then dries his clothes under the hand dryer while drying his hands. He takes a while to get ready, finally walking out fully dressed holding mostly dry clothes. He waits by the door of the water park for Ele.

[DELETED08735]

It took a while for Ele to collect herself enough to put on a smile and get dressed again. Making certain that she had everything, Ele went out to join Tyler, her happy smile in place,

"Ready to go?"

She asked in a chipper voice, all traces of her previous breakdown gone. It was her carefully constructed wall, put in place and reinforced with years of practice. There would be no trace of a crack in that wall until Ele was well and truly alone later that night when she knew she would be safe enough to cry. Not a moment sooner though.

[Tyler Night]

"Yeah, let's get to Tuma's."

He says standing up and walking out with her.

"I think you will love this place. It smells so good in there with the herbs and truffles."

He walks out to the front desk, turning in the wristband. He walks back out after turning it in and opens the door for Ele.

[DELETED08735]

Handing over her wristband as well, Ele thanked Tyler as she passed him and waited for him to join her to walk to the car. Crossing her arms over her chest, Ele stayed quiet as they walked, focusing on one task at a time. She wouldn't allow one small panic attack to ruin her great day.

"What's your favorite dessert?"

Ele asked as they got in the car, once she was buckled in she pulled out her phone and opened the notes app to start jotting down what she would need to pick up.

[Tyler Night]

"I would have to say, tiramisu."

He licks his lips.

"Wafers soaked in coffee and rum or cognac and topped with custard and chocolate."

He straps in and fires the car up, no alarms going off this time.

"Aww, no alarms."

He takes off once again going the opposite direction this time. He drives up to a busy intersection, going straight through when the light turns green. Driving for a mile he comes up on the shop, as he pulls in he looks at the sign.

"Country Vineyard. Guess they changed the name."

He parks the car and shuts it off. The area though being in the heart of the city looks like country being surrounded by trees and vineyards. He walks around to Ele's side to open her door. After doing so he walks inside the store with her, the inside smelling like mushrooms immediately, displaying truffles ranging from $50 on up to $2,900.

"Amazing huh?"

[DELETED08735]

"I know that dish well."

Ele said with a smile, quickly looking up the ingredients she would need. Inside the store though, Ele's heart fluttered with joy as her mouth dropped open in shock.

"This is amazing!"

She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand as she grabbed a cart and began her shopping,

"You go get what you need... Leave me in heaven, I'll be fine."

[Tyler Night]

He chuckles seeing her reaction to the store. He follows her for a bit until he finds himself in the wine section. He begins looking over the section. He decides to get a bottle of Freixenet Cordon Negro brute and some marsala wine. Going with a bottle of Marsala that cost only 11.99. He puts them in a box for wines and continues his search.

[DELETED08735]

Her cart filling quite quickly, Ele made herself stop before she,completely blew her budget on exotic and rare foods. Satisfied with what she had, Ele went to the checkout line. Excited for what she was going to make that night, Ele found herself wondering if Tyler would like what she had planned.

[Tyler Night]

He comes up behind her, seeing a number of exotic edibles in her cart.

"Somebody is feeling adventurous."

He states with a chuckle. He shows her about $25 worth of wine and chocolate before walking over to the seafood and steak counters.

"I need a pound of Red Argentine Shrimp, 1 pound of jumbo tiger shrimp and an entire beef tenderloin, about a medium sized package."

The person at the counter begins packaging it all up handing everything over to him. Tyler takes the food and goes to checkout, spending only about $60. He gets it all bagged up and carries it out to the car. He opens the back and starts putting it away.

[DELETED08735]

The total cost was less than what Eke had been expecting, but then again she was used to city prices, so her shopping trip seemed like a steal. Happily leaving the store, Ele smiled brightly at Tyler as she carried out her four bags,

"That place is awesome! I can't wait to try some of this out later!"

Eke placed her bags next to Tyler's,

"And super affordable!"