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"That depends on your definition of far."
"And that's not an answer."
"Now, you know how I feel when you won't answer any of my questions," he retorted.
"Funny."
"Relax, we're almost there. You're going to love it."
"You're awfully confident considering you don't really know what I love."
"I have a good idea about some things," he said pointedly. "Although, I might need a refresher course later on."
"We'll see how well the first part of this evening goes."
A moment later, he took the first exit into Sausalito and drove down a winding road to the bay. At the end of the road stood a small building and a helicopter pad. A bright red four-seater helicopter awaited, along with his friend, Randy Cruz.
"Oh, my God, we're taking a helicopter ride, aren't we?" she said.
"You're riding. I'm flying."
"That's your helicopter?"
"No, it belongs to my friend. He flies helicopter tours over the bay, and he was happy to let me use his helo for our date." He paused. "You're not scared, are you?"
"I've never been up in one, but I'm game."
He'd known she would be. Ria wasn't one to shrink from a challenge.
They got out of the car and headed over to the helicopter. Randy had it gassed up and ready to go. After introducing Ria to Randy, his friend handed her a two-way headset and helped her into the right front seat while Drew got in on the left. He adjusted his headset and said, "Everything okay?"
"I'm trusting you to let me know if it's not okay."
"You don't have anything to worry about. You showed me your world. I want to show you mine, and there's nothing like flying over the city when the night lights start coming on."
"What are we waiting for?" she asked.
And on that note, he took off. Ria gasped as the helo left the pad, and she seemed to have a good grip on her armrests for a minute or two, but as they gained altitude, she started to relax.
"What do you think of the city from up here?" he asked her.
"Beautiful," she said, her gaze on the lighted skyline.
He flew her around the city, past the skyscrapers and the Bay Bridge, around by the new Giants' Ballpark and McCovey Cove, and then he reversed the route, flying past the various islands in the bay, Treasure Island, Angel Island and Alcatraz.
"I thought it would be louder," Ria said. "But it's quiet. It's like we're alone in the sky. Just you and me."
"Just you and me," he echoed, a warm feeling rushing through him as the words left his mouth. "And now for the grand finale."
"It's over already?" Ria asked with disappointment.
"Unfortunately, Randy could only give me thirty minutes," he said. "But no trip over the bay is complete without a fly under the Golden Gate Bridge."
"Fly under?" she echoed.
He took the helicopter down, hearing her catch her breath again, and then flew her under the magnificent bridge, out towards the ocean. The skyline was a dark purple as twilight fell over the city, the fog bank miles off shore.
He wanted to keep going. He wanted to stay in the air forever with Ria at his side, but reality forced him to turn back toward Sausalito.
A few minutes later they were back on the ground.
They got out of the helicopter, and handed their headsets to Randy who asked Ria how she'd enjoyed the ride.
"It was awesome," she said, her face lit up with pleasure. "I only wish it was longer."
"We'll do it again," Drew said. "Thanks Randy."
"Any time," Randy said.
When they reached the car, Drew moved to open the door for Ria, but she caught him by the arm. He gave her a questioning look. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she said with a smile. "Everything is perfect. The ride was perfect. And this is going to be perfect."
She kissed him, her mouth warm in the cool evening breeze. He wanted to deepen the kiss, but she was already moving away.
"Thank you," she said. "That was an amazing experience. I can see why you love flying."
"That was just a taste. Next time we'll do it in the daytime. We can fly up to the Napa Valley or over to Lake Tahoe, really see the landscape."
