Page 83 of Take a Hike

“Well, I’m going to kiss you again,” he said. “Then I thought we could figure out the rest later.”

And that’s exactly what they did.

Epilogue

Ten months later

There wasa slight chill in the air, and the briny scent of the lake wafted toward Silas on a breeze.

He and Raven were back in Cedar Lake, visiting his family and the Mountaintop team for the long weekend. They’d managed to get away for a sunset picnic on the beach and now lay on their backs, staring at the stars in the inky sky.

“You’re thinking about it,” she said to him.

“I’m not, baby,” he replied, pulling her closer to his body.

His journey to become an archery competition coach had been arduous so far—workshops, evaluations, and practicums, and he was expecting the results of a major review any day now. It had left him more than a little anxious, so Raven had suggested this outing to relax.

“I can feel your heart racing,” she said as she placed her hand on his chest.

“Okay, sure, but I’m still enjoying stargazing with you,” he said, tilting his head to look at her.

He couldn’t totally see her under the night sky, but they’d been together for almost a year, so he’d long memorized every contour and detail of her beautiful face.

“All right, get up,” she said, peeling away from him to rise to her feet.

“What’re you doing?” he asked.

“We’re going skinny dipping,” she said as she removed her hoodie and shirt. “It’ll help you get your mind off things.”

He sat up. “Raven, it’s fucking cold.”

She unhooked her bra and tossed it to him. “We’ll keep each other warm.”

“This is a public lakefront,” he argued.

“Yet no one’s here,” she said, shimmying out of her jeans and thong. “You’re not going to let me run into the lake alone, are you?”

She knew the answer.

He got up and took off his T-shirt, and Raven approached to circle her arms around him and meld their lips together. He held her tightly, embracing the buoyancy and heat she stirred with a simple kiss.

“I love you,” she murmured against his mouth.

“I love you,” he replied.

She pulled away after a final kiss, and Silas’s pulse quickened, looking at her silhouette against the moonlit sky.

“Come on,” Raven said with a laugh as she turned to run towards the gentle lake shore.

He dropped his pants and boxer briefs before sprinting to catch up to the woman of his dreams.