Chapter 11

Evie

The early morning clouds part the moment I park near the trailhead. I stopped for a short break on the drive from the hotel to fill up and buy two roast beef sandwiches at a Subway I found off the exit. Lunch and dinner.

I grab my backpack and all geared up, tap open my TrailsTrack app. It will keep me on the trail even when the Wi-Fi kicks off or the trail markers are hard to find. My smartwatch will log my steps, heart rate, and elevation.

Several other bleary-eyed hikers are starting out as well, some with dogs on a leash.

A young couple with a Shepherd mix greets me. The man is wearing a Cincinnati Bengals t-shirt.

"Hi there," he says. "I'm Troy. This is my girlfriend, Sarah. Looks like we're not the only early risers."

"I'm Evie. Nice to meet you."

"You also staying on the campgrounds?"

"Nope, I just drove an hour from my hotel." I know I sound like a spoiled city girl. Can't be helped. That's exactly what I am. But with my heart in the mountains.

The dog sniffs the ground, fascinated by whatever scent he's picking up.

"Far from home?" Troy asks me.

"Is it that obvious?"

He points to my head.

"Oh. Well, I went to Columbia Law a lifetime ago." Probably his lifetime. "But I do still live in New York."

"Never been," Sarah says. She's in her early twenties and soft around the middle. "We hope to get there someday. Actually, this is our first time out of Ohio."

I find it remarkable when other Americans rarely leave their home states. The country is so diverse and beautiful. I know it's a big city—possibly, entitled—mindset, but it's how I think. "New York is great but this is prettier," I say, gesturing to the breathtaking scenery, aware of the understatement. To our right is a wide lake surrounded by a carpet of yellow wildflowers. Ahead of us, a mountain of evergreens, its trail to the top yet to be conquered.

"You got that right."

Sarah, Troy, and I turn to see who's joining the conversation.

He's head-to-toe in pricey Gore-Tex, dark wraparound sunglasses are perched atop his shaggy hair.

I feel a flutter in my belly. "Hi, Adam."

"Good morning, y'all," Adam says, brightly, as if he'd slept for a solid eight hours which I know he has not.

The young couple smiles as Adam lets the pup sniff his hand, gaining canine approval. Adam gives the dog a thorough scratch behind the ears. "Who's a good doggie?" he coos, checking the collar tag. "Percy, aren't you a sweetie?"

Percy licks Adam's hand, then sprawls, legs splayed, asking for a belly rub. Adam obliges.

"I'm surprised to see you," I say, interrupting the love fest.

"Why? I said I was taking this trail today."

I'm flummoxed. Was that his real plan or did Adam come to find me?

Irrelevant. I'm not in his dating pool and he's not in mine. Truth is I have no pool, precisely how I like it.

Sarah says, "Maybe we'll see you two later. Have fun." The dog seems to understand and pulls her toward the trail, Troy waving goodbye.

I watch as Adam begins stretching, arms above his head, then bending at the waist, finally lifting and pulling each leg behind him until they touch his tight, adorable butt. "Ready?" he asks.

I look away, feeling the flush in my cheeks. "What do you mean?"

One corner of Adam's mouth lifts in amusement. "The hike. Are you ready to start?"

"Are you suggesting we do this together?"

"Am I being too presumptuous?"

I can't help but laugh. "If we keep asking each other questions rather than offering answers, we will never leave the parking lot."

Adam laughs along. "You have a point. Let me clarify. I'd prefer to experience this trail with another person. It will take most of the day and doing it with someone else will be a lot more fun than alone. Given that we're both set on conquering this trail, why not do it together?"

He sounds perfectly logical. And it doesn't sound like a come-on. I can't think of a good enough reason to refuse. Actually, the thought of spending the day with Adam is growing on me.

"I'm game if you are," I say, hoping I won't regret it.

Adam grins broadly. "Awesome! Come on. Let's see which one of us is tougher when there's no pool table involved."

"No question on that one," I say, and bound right past him.