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This wasn’t just a trip for nothing. Or even a trip for an easy adventure.

Monti threaded her fingers into Athena’s hair, keeping their mouths close and together. Monti had picked this place specifically, spending hours trying to find someplace that was secluded and beautiful, where they could do this, just the two of them.

“Are you ready?”

“No,” Athena mumbled. “But I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

Monti kissed her again. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.” Athena laughed, putting her hands on Monti’s shoulders. “Stop asking that already.”

“You know me. I always have to make sure.”

“It’s only a small part of what I love about you.” Athena slid her thumb over Monti’s lips and then down her neck to her breast. Monti held back her moan, though barely. She loved how confident Athena had gotten in the last couple years. How willing Athena was to touch her. Kiss her. Love her.

“Hold that thought.” Monti let go of Athena so that she could rummage through her pack. She had everything they needed.

She set it up on the higher part of the hill and then indicated to Athena to sit next to her. They faced each other. Monti had never been so elated in her life. There hadn’t been peace every moment, but she’d found enough signs of it that she believed it was there. Perhaps more than that, she believed that she had experienced it.

“Now are you ready?”

“Yes.” Athena fluttered her fingers over Monti’s hand. “I’ve been looking forward to this.”

“Have you?” For some reason that surprised Monti. She’d figured that after agreeing, Athena would have avoided thinking about it in her best fashion.

“Absolutely.”

As if on cue, Athena took hold of Monti’s wrist, wrapping her fingers tightly in a squeeze. Monti turned her wrist and mirrored the grasp. Monti used her free hand to pull the ribbons closer. She’d spent hours weaving the fabric together into the rope it had become, choosing the material and the colors so that it would specifically represent them.

“This is for us, binding us together in a new way.”

“We’re already inextricably tied together,” Athena responded.

Monti warmed at that thought. It was so true. In two years, she had learned more about Athena than she’d ever dreamed possible. They’d spent countless hours together, in each other’s arms, talking, reading, sharing.

“I love you, Athena. You’ve shown me a world I never imagined existed.”

Athena smiled brightly, her eyes lighting up. She leaned in and kissed Monti quickly. “I love how intuitive you are, how you take such good care of me when I don’t even realize I need it, how you’re always there.”

“I love your strength and tenacity.” Monti wrapped the rope she’d made around each of their hands carefully, following the pattern she’d learned and practiced. “I love how you’ve changed me.”

“You’ve changed me in amazing ways. We’ve grown so much together.” Athena caressed Monti’s cheek, not dropping her gaze from Monti’s face. “I love how you love me.”

Monti couldn’t wipe the grin off her face. Opening her heart to Athena had been the best decision she’d made in years. She finished the tying. When she looked down at their hands, she felt nothing but hope.

“We’re in this together. Whatever this is. Wherever this is. Wherever this leads us.” Monti started to pull her hand away and Athena released her grasp. They each snagged the end of the rope and pulled tightly, forming the knot perfectly. “This knot binds us together, our lives, our pasts, our futures.”

“You and me,” Athena answered, still holding onto the knot. “I’m never going to let go.”

Monti sucked in a deep breath of fresh air. The grin lit her up, light filling her soul. Holding onto the knotted rope, she pulled Athena in for a deep kiss. Their tongues swept together in a tease of what was to come, but Monti knew they weren’t done yet. She pulled out the small water bottle she’d packed, the one with the wine in it.

She twisted off the top and held it between them. “This is a sign of us coming together, of the work, the time, the effort that relationships take. And it’s a sign of our commitment to each other to always come together when we’re struggling, to give each other grace, to be joyful, to remember to take time to relax and take comfort in each other’s arms.”

Athena pulled the bottle from Monti’s hand and took a sip. “This is a sign of our commitment to each other, from when we first met to when we part.”

Monti took her sip, the red wine hitting her tongue, the flavors lingering in her mouth. She twisted the cap back on the bottle and set it down. This time, when she pulled Athena toward her, she wasn’t going to stop kissing until she had to.

They stayed there for hours, laughing, talking, enjoying this peaceful moment for the two of them. No one knew. No one had to know. Monti dragged in a deep breath and blew it out when the sun started to go down.