"Eleu gave me directions. It's only one block off of the main road here. I think we'll be fine."
"Do you bike?"
"Not so much anymore. I've got a road bike and a mountain bike, and I'll take one out for a spin occasionally. What about you?"
"Not since ... well, since I met Katherine. When I was still in Lubbock living in the dorms, I rode all over campus. And even when I first moved to Austin, I'd go out to the greenbelt. But Katherine, well, as you can tell, she's not exactly the sporty type. That kinda fell by the wayside, and by the time we moved in together, I'd gotten rid of my bike." Truth was, she had given up a lot of things for Katherine. Things that, at the time, didn't seem all that important. But Katherine was never very flexible when it came to how they spent their time. She had a much more domineering personality than Jay and it was simply easier to agree than to argue about it. Which is why, over the years, they had stopped doing as much together. Jay found little enjoyment in shopping for hours on end and was more than happy to send Katherine out alone on one of her sprees. And season tickets to the theater? No, thank you. An action film with surround sound at the new movie theater, a bucket of popcorn and a large Coke was much more to Jay's liking. And as she'd told Audrey many times, she'd rather have a root canal than sit through another boring lecture at the university. The lone activity they both enjoyed doing—walking the hike and bike trail at Town Lake— came to an end years ago when work took up more and more of their time.
Drifted apart? That was an understatement. Although, if she were honest about it, she was the one who had drifted. Not Katherine.
"Here we are," Drew said, interrupting her thoughts.
Haleakala Bike Tours was lit up, the parking lot bustling with activity. "Do you think we're late?"
"No. We still have a half hour."
Drew pulled in next to a red Jeep and cut the engine. Jay turned, smiling at her. "I can't remember the last time I've been this happy at three thirty in the morning."
Drew laughed. "I'd have to agree with you. Now if only the sunrise cooperates."
They grabbed their backpacks and headed inside, where they were met by an enthusiastic young man with long beaded hair and a tidy goatee.
"Welcome, welcome to the morning," he said, urging them inside. "You have reservations?"
"Yes. Drew Montgomery, Jay Burns."
"Of course, of course. I am Gregory. Come quickly. We will get you fitted. The sun will not wait on us." He hurried them to a wall of bikes, all different colors and sizes. He looked Drew up and down. "Five-nine, yes?"
Drew grinned. "Yeah."
"Good, good." He pulled out a sleek bike. "Perfect for you." He turned to Jay, studying her much like he'd done Drew. "Five-seven?"
Jay smiled. "Thanks for the extra half-inch."
But he frowned and shook his head. "I never miss. Must be the shoes." He walked down the row, bending to inspect two bikes before selecting one for Jay. "Here. Perfect for you." He pointed across the room. "Go. You'll need a jacket for the summit. And gloves, if you wish. It's cold at the top. Okana will help you. You'll get water bottles and a map once we're there."
"I think he's had too much caffeine," Jay teased as they headed to die jackets.
It was still completely dark when their van pulled to a stop near the summit. There were two vans with ten riders on each. Drew and Jay were the first ones off and they stood near the back, waiting for Okana to unload their bikes.
"Two water bottles, everyone," Gregory announced. "Once it is daylight, you can check your maps. There is a spring about halfway down. It is safe to drink. The locals come to get water there. You may fill your water bottles without worry. Don't drink the water anywhere else though, no matter how clear it looks. Our vans will meet you at the bottom. You have until noon to explore the mountain. And take your time. You'll be down the mountain in a flash." He looked them over in the low lights of the van. "Any questions?"
"How many miles is it?" someone asked.
"Thirty-five from here. All downhill. You will rarely even need to pedal. The summit is about three miles up ahead. Feel free to explore it. All uphill." He waited, but no one else asked any questions. "Great. After the sunrise, daylight comes quickly. Have fun, my friends. And be careful."
As soon as the red taillights of the vans disappeared, die group of bikers dispersed. Some already beginning the trek up to the summit, but most others staying to catch the sunrise. Drew led Jay away from the others, finding a flat rock to sit on. They leaned their bikes against a tree, then sat side by side, their gazes looking out over the ocean to the east, far below them.
"How high are we?" Jay asked quietly.
"I don't know. I think I read where the summit is around ten thousand feet, so I guess we're about eight or so."
Jay leaned closer. "Because it's cold."
"Yeah. Hard to imagine we'll be shedding these clothes before long."
Drew opened her coat and slipped an arm around Jay, pulling her nearer to her warmth. Jay didn't hesitate as she snuggled closer. She wasn't that cold. But damn, it felt good to be this close to her.
They sat quietly, the sky lightening now, hinting at the colors that would come. Jay tried to concentrate on the sunrise, tried to keep her mind in a sane place, but her body wanted to get closer, and she shivered, not from the cold, but from the heat of Drew's body.
"Still cold?"
"No. This is nice." Jay reached between them, taking Drew's hand. It was as cold as her own, but she was thankful they hadn't bothered with gloves. She ran her fingers across Drew's skin. Her hands were smooth, but her fingers hinted at calluses, evidence of her occupation. "I like your hands," Jay said.
"They're not very soft. Working hands."
"Yes. That's what I like."
They were quiet again, both staring at the sky, watching as the very tip of the sun broke the horizon. Drew squeezed her hand, both waiting for the explosion of color they knew would greet them. They didn't have to wait long. The dull red orb rose out of the water, the dullness changing to a brilliant shine as the color turned to burgundy before taking on a hint of orange. Colored light blasted out in every direction, shooting across the ocean in waves, turning the placid blue-green into a fiery cauldron as the colors raced to the shore.
"So beautiful," Jay murmured. "My God, so damn beautiful."
"Mmm."
Jay leaned closer, resting her head on Drew's shoulder as the sky came alive with colors. "I think I want to be on a date," she said.
Drew squeezed her hand. "Is that right?"
"Yeah. I feel... normal with you. Does that make sense? I'm more myself. I recognize me when I'm with you. I'm not just some foreign entity drifting about, trying to be something else. I'm just me."
Drew turned, brushing her lips across Jay's hair. "You can always be yourself with me. There's not anything you need to hide."
Jay smiled and moved away. "Yeah, right now I have to hide the fact that I want to kiss you. Kiss you a lot." She stood, her gaze traveling to the sun, the deep red colors being replaced with orange. Soon it would rise higher, the colors fading completely. And Gregory was right. Daylight came fast up here. The shadows had disappeared and so had some of the riders. There were only a handful of others still about, some discussing whether they wanted to climb to the summit, others looking at the map, deciding where to explore first.
She felt Drew walk up beside her and she turned, liking the contented look on Drew's face. She held up the map.
"The first waterfall trail is not too far from here," she said, showing Jay the map. "Interested?"
"Yes. Anything."
"Anything?"
Jay cocked her head. "Yeah, anything."
"Well, I'd really like to swim in one of the natural pools. Three of the waterfalls have them. What do you think?"