Melody smiles with thin lips, rubbing the apple against her chest and taking a bite. “I'm ready when you are. I've been itching to get back out there for a real hike. No more of these casual walks in the trees. Give me something with a climb.”
“I think this hike will give you what you want.” Nodding my head, I set my cup in the sink and move for the door. “Let's go.”
The air is already hot and muggy. It smacks me in the face the second I open the door. A light sweat beads up across the back of my neck as the sun hits me from behind. But it feels so good to be here. To be hiking with Melody for real. Just the two of us, no one else.
Mel stops after a few minutes, adjusting her boot. She's still wearing a bandage around her ankle, which makes me a little nervous. I know she can handle this trail, but I don't want her to push herself too hard.
“You all right?”
“Yeah, I'm fine. Why?” she asks, popping back up and tightening her ponytail.
My eyes drop to her leg. “Does it still hurt?”
“A little, but I'm okay.” She gives me a reassuring smile, pressing on ahead of me. Spinning around, she walks backward. “I think you might have a hard time keeping up with me.”
“Is that right?” My tone drops playfully, and I take off in a sprint, darting past her. “Look who's in the lead now.” Turning to face her, she's laughing.
“I'm not running,” she says with a shake of her head. “I might feel better, but I'm not stupid.”
Stopping, I wait for her to reach my side. “Seriously though, this is a bit of a tough hike, you sure you're up for it?”
Eyeing me, she purses her lips. “Yes, Bran, I can do this.”
“Good. Don't be afraid to let me know if you need to stop for a break.”
“I won't.”
The first half the trail is easy. The path is wide and flat, only sloped uphill a little bit. Once we hit the second part of the trail, it changes completely. It's steep as shit, thinning against the wall of the mountain.
It's wide enough you don't need to press your back or chest against the mountain, but high enough that one misplaced foot could send you tumbling down into a pretty deep ravine.
“Careful over her, it's a little rocky and uneven.”
“I can see that,” she says over her shoulder.
I follow closely behind her, aware of every step she takes. I don't want to be the reason she gets hurt again.
“It's a little tighter around this bend, stay closer to the inner edge.” Giving her directions, she shoots me an annoyed glare over her shoulder, but doesn't say anything.
Pressing herself in closer, she steps on a rock and it wobbles.
“Careful,” I bark quickly, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her closer to the rock wall.
“Bran!” she yells, prying herself free. “Stop treating me like I'm made of glass! I don't need you protecting me like this.”
“I'm sorry, I just don't want you getting hurt again.”
Looking back at me, her eyes soften. “I know that, and I appreciate it, I really do, but I know what I'm doing here.”
“You're right.” Holding up both my hands with my palms out. I wave the white flag. “I'll stop. I'm taking a step back.”
“I know you want to keep me safe, and I love that about you. I just need you to trust me when I say I'm fine. Yes, I fell hiking. Yes, I could have died, but I didn't. I just hurt my ankle and it's much better now. I wouldn't even be doing this if I felt I couldn't.”
Hearing her say that comforts me. She's right. I need to trust her. She doesn't need me standing over her, hovering like an overprotective brother. She already has one of those.
“Okay, I totally understand. I won't do it again.”
She smiles back at me, and we keep hiking.
It takes another hour for us to reach the falls, but you can hear them long before you see them. The sound of rushing water echoes through the trees, growing louder and louder until we’re almost standing under it.
The trail opens to a large grassy platform at the base of the waterfall. Everything around us is so green and lush.
Mel walks right to the water's edge. “Oh my God, this place is so beautiful.” Her eyes are wide and the smile on her face is simply stunning.
While she's staring at the waterfall, I'm staring at her.
“You're beautiful,” I say, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her body. Resting my chin on her shoulder, I kiss her cheek.
Twisting her head, she leans in. Her lips are right there, so close I can already feel them on mine. My eyes start to close and I tip my head ready for her.