A few minutes later, we come to the trailhead and read the big sign that describes the hike.
“A five hundred feet gain, over two miles,” Heidi reads. “That’s not too bad.”
“Gain in elevation?” I ask.
“Yes,” she replies. “But it’s over the course of two miles.”
That’s not too far. Hell, I walk more than two miles when I shop through the French Quarter. I got this.
“Let’s do it,” Violet says and smiles widely. She’s a pretty woman, much taller than me. She has a lean body, jet-black hair, and eyes that match her name.
We all nod enthusiastically and begin to climb. There’s a rushing river to our left, and when we get to the top of a small hill, we stop to watch it rage down through a canyon.
Todd and Simon are talking to each other, but I can’t hear them over the loud water. It’s cooler in here, under the trees and beside the river, and I just take a deep breath, soaking it all in.
Boy, if my family could see me now. They’d laugh their asses off, and ask where their sister Charly is.
The others begin hiking again, and I fall in behind them, bringing up the rear. Heidi and Todd are chatting away, showing each other photos on their phones, the hike not seeming to bother them at all.
And here I am, already winded. Jesus, I might die up here in the middle of the wilderness.
Simon and Violet are just ahead of me, chatting.
“So you’re going back to school in the fall, then?” Simon asks her.
“I am. I took too much time off. I’m ready to be done with it already and start working.”
“You took time to find yourself. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Except for the fact that I’m almost thirty and I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up,” she replies with a laugh, then punches him in the arm. “Unlike you, who seemed to know from the time you were in nappies.”
What the hell is a nappie?
“That’s not true,” he replies, and I can’t take my eyes off his ass. I mean, I might die on this trail, but at least this will be my last view. “I was at least sixteen when I decided.”
“See?” she says.
“You’ll figure it out,” Simon replies and pats her on the back. My eyes are drawn to the sleeve tattoo covering his arm. It disappears into his grey T-shirt, and I can’t help but wish that he’d take his shirt off so I can see if there is more to it. He’s been wearing long-sleeved button down shirts during the classes, so getting a glimpse of the ink is a treat.
“How are you doing back there?” Simon asks and turns to look at me. “Whoa, are you okay?”
“Fine,” I pant, ready to pass out. “This is harder than I thought.”
“You’re bright red,” Violet says. “Maybe you should take a break.”
None of you need a break. I’m not too proud to admit that I’m just being stubborn, but damn it, I’m not that out of shape. Surely I can handle a two-mile hike.
“I’m fine,” I repeat and keep climbing, but finally I sit on a tree lying next to the trail. “Jesus, I can’t breathe.”
“Go ahead with the others,” Simon says to Violet. “I’ll stay with her.”
“Just take it easy,” Violet says with a grin and jogs—jogs—ahead to catch up with the others.
“Show off,” I mutter, trying to catch my breath.
“We have all day, darling,” Simon says and pulls a bottle of water out of his bag and offers it to me. “There’s no hurry.”
“I don’t understand,” I reply and gratefully accept the water. “I don’t think I’m that out of shape.”
“You have a lovely shape,” he replies, his eyes suddenly hot. “But there’s quite an altitude difference up here, and you’re not in hiking shape.”
“I run almost every day.”
“Probably on a flat sidewalk,” he says with a knowing smile.
“Okay, you’re right.” I take a deep breath, thankful to finally be feeling somewhat normal again and stand. “Let’s keep going.”
“We can go back to the car,” he offers, but I glare up at him.
“If you think I’m stopping now, you’ve lost your damn mind.”
“My apologies,” he says and gestures for me to go ahead of him, a satisfied smile on that handsome face.
The pace is slower now, but it’s still up and down. The trail is rough, with loose rock and dirt, making it difficult on my balance. It’s kind of like walking through dry sand.
A pain in the ass.
“Talk to me,” I say, already beginning to breathe hard again.