Page 46 of Bastard Bartender

“I’m warning you now. There’s a really good chance that I’ll complain at some point on this hike, so you can’t give me shit about it because I’m not going to try to hide my discomfort if this is too much.”

“Duly noted. But why would you try to hide anything anyway?” he asks as he gathers his water bottle that was hooked to the back of the bike.

“If this were a date, I’d make sure not to come off as too whiny. Complaining isn’t sexy either.”

“You’d act differently if this were a date?”

“Hell yes.” I laugh.

“But because my name doesn’t start with a R, S, or T, I get the real you?” he says with a slight chuckle. “Should I be scared?”

I run my hand through his elbow as we walk toward the trailhead. “Yes. Very!” I kid. “But also proud. There aren’t many people who get to see the real me. You’re the lucky one.”

“I’m lucky because I get your bitchy, whiny side?”

“Yep!” I answer proudly.

He rubs my head like I’m his cute little sister. “Then, let’s see what you got, oh whiny one. I’m going to take it as a challenge to get all of you.”

He struts off, and I roll my eyes.

Twenty minutes in, and I’m huffing and puffing. As I step up a steep slope, I place my hand on my knee, using it as leverage to bring my body up the dirt hell I’ve found myself in. Sweat drips down my forehead, and I swipe it clean. Yes, it might only be May, but in the desert, it’s always hot.

Nic turns around to see me struggling. Reaching out, he gives me his hand to bring me up the rest of the hill we’re climbing. I take deep inhales as I try to calm my breathing.

“You doing okay?” he asks.

I nod. “I’m good. Just dying a little, not too bad yet though.”

“Glad to hear it. That was the first section. We have just a slight incline for a little ways, and then you can catch your breath.”

“Oh, thank God!” I say in relief, earning me a laugh from Nic.

He continues and I follow, staring down at every step so I don’t twist my ankle on an uneven surface or trip over a rock that comes out of nowhere.

It takes me a few minutes, but I notice he turned around at some point and started walking backward.

I stop my movement and stare up at him. “What are you doing? You’re going to fall and hurt yourself.”

“Why do you only look down?” he asks, not answering my question.

I give him a duh expression. “So I don’t trip.”

“But you’re missing all that’s around you.” He holds his arms out to the sides, and I stand up straight to look around.

That’s when it hits me. I haven’t even been paying attention to our surroundings the entire time we’ve been out here. I’ve been so focused on making sure I don’t fall on my ass that I wasn’t enjoying where we are.

I steady my feet and really take in where he’s brought me. The massive red rocks overwhelm the area. It’s like I’m in a painting with the reddish-brown rocks in stark contrast with the bright blue sky.

I feel my body relax as I let out an exhale. “Wow, Nic, it’s … absolutely beautiful.”

“It is,” he says. When I look over to him, I see his eyes are on me and not the mountains. “Do you feel that?”

I narrow my eyes in confusion as to what he’s asking me.

“That thumping in your chest? It’s not from being out of shape; it’s because your blood is pumping.”

I place a hand on my chest and feel the heavy beating. “My body is shaking a little.”