Page 40 of Stay With Me

“Why’s that?”

“It’s just so, I don’t know. Majestic. Sort of in a different way than the mountains. It’s the rim of a sheer limestone cliff and it looks like desert and low hills in all directions, but then you look down and it’s this massive stone abyss. Something about that much expanse all around you makes you feel really small.”

He paused contemplatively.

“And that’s why I like coming out here whenever I get the chance. It’s easy to get all tied up in knots over the petty problems of day to day life. Being in a place like this kind of sorts all of that out. It makes all of the stress seem kind of insignificant and helps me refocus on what’s important to me.”

“Perspective,” she added as she joined him at his left side.

“Yeah. Perspective.”

He turned his face to smile at her, and she smiled back, giving his pinky a gentle squeeze.

It felt like a moment when kissing her would have been appropriate. Especially since the sun was hitting her hair in a way that caused it to be a rich, auburn shade, and her eyes to reflect deep amber tones. Not to mention the mountains in the distance behind her and the whole scene framed by a brilliant blue sky. It was as picture perfect a moment as anything could be in his mind.

There was also something about how he’d taken this hike many times in his life and this was the first time he had someone to share it with.

And that thought caused the lingering good slash bad feeling to be spliced with something else. Something that felt like a disappointment. Or even … sadness?

Whatever it was, it was confusing and frustrating and he didn’t like it.

Fortunately, Samantha was oblivious to the onslaught of feelings that was currently assaulting him, and she abruptly ended the moment.

“How high is the cliff?” she asked after turning her face away from his and scanning the landscape in front of them.

“About sixty feet. Thirty feet wide.”

“And it’s how much farther?”

“About three miles,” he said, then looked at her with a smirk and held out one of his hands toward her. “Can you handle it, Samantha?”

She tilted her head sassily and low-fived him before taking the lead. “Oh you know it.”

He laughed to himself and started following her.

This would probably be a lot easier if she wasn’t so damn cute.

* * *

Awhile later, the sun sat quite a bit lower in the sky, and they’d reached the faint section of the trail that led to their ultimate destination.

They trekked up a rise, huffing and sweating, both in desperate need of a short respite, which they would get in another hundred yards.

“You ready?” Nick asked feeling a bit ridiculous for feeling blatantly giddy about Samantha seeing the spectacular view.

“Yes!” she exclaimed. “Should I cover my eyes?”

He laughed. “Uh, no. No, definitely don’t cover your eyes. I’d hate for this to end in tragedy with you at the bottom of the canyon.”

“Nick! Don’t make me scared of this.”

“You don’t need to be scared. Just watch your step.”

At that moment, they arrived at the top of the rise and the limestone chasm of divided earth sprawled in front of them.

Her jaw dropped open and she gasped as she glanced at him briefly in utter delight before looking back at the canyon.

“Wow!”she squealed. “You weren’t kidding!”