Page 33 of Wild Love

"Aren't you glad you woke up early for this?"

"Eh," I said stubbornly.

He wrapped an arm around me, squeezing me to him, and I think my heart stopped. "You're giving me a hard time. No one would want to miss this."

"I don't think anyone knows about it because they're still sleeping," I said cheekily.

"I like to come up here often to see the sunrise, but I get busy with work and my routine. It's a good reminder that there's something bigger out there than us."

"That's true." When had I ever stopped to admire the beauty of nature? I was so quick to move from place to place; I never stopped to appreciate where I was. Yet Eli did, even though he'd stayed in his hometown.

We sat quietly until the sun rose higher. Then he got out containers of fruit and small pancakes.

"These are still warm," I said as I held one of the pancakes in my hand.

"I got up early to make them." Eli's voice rumbled through my body.

"You woke up even earlier to cook pancakes for me?" I asked incredulously.

"I mean, they're for both of us, but yeah. Do you like them?"

I took a bite, enjoying the sweet flavor. "They're perfect." I couldn't remember a more satisfying morning. There was something about taking the time to go out in nature and enjoy it. I felt alive and energized.

Eventually, the air warmed up a bit, and Eli cleaned up our trash, putting it in his bag. He stood and held out his hand to me. "You ready to keep going? The way down is more difficult. You'll need to avoid tree roots and rocks. I don't want you to tumble down the mountain."

I brushed off my pants. "That doesn't sound reassuring."

"I'll call out any hazards I see. Just make sure you're watching where you're going."

The way down was more precarious than the way up. I'd thought it would be easier, but my body was drawn taut, and my hands gripped the handle bars tightly.

As we moved down the mountain, my arms vibrated from the rocky terrain. I did my best to avoid any rocks or tree roots, but it took careful concentration.

I didn't breathe a sigh of relief until we got to the bottom.

Eli slid to a stop in front of me. "How was it?"

"Slightly terrifying," I admitted, eager to get off the bike and stretch my muscles. I hopped off the bike and collapsed on the ground.

Eli fell onto his back next to me, gazing at the sky. He was energized, content to be in nature.

"I was holding on for dear life." Sensing Eli was disappointed with my answer, I quickly added. "But the sunrise was worth it."

He grinned, and everything inside of me finally woke all the way up. "I told you."

"What's our next adventure?" I asked, wanting to keep that smile on his face.

"We should go rock climbing."

"Why?" I asked, unsure what the point was of scaling a mountain by hand and foot when we'd just done it on wheels.

"You'll get an added sense of accomplishment with each new adventure we go on."

I frowned at his confidence. "How do you know that's what's going to happen?"

"It makes you see things in a different way. You'll appreciate the world around you more."

"And that's what happens for everyone?" The slight breeze ruffled my hair, tickling my cheek.

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