Page 82 of Win Big

We reach the end of the street and find the path. It’s steep and uneven. We both have to watch our footing, and in a few minutes, Everly is breathing hard. I pause. “You okay, princess?”

“I’m fine.” She narrows her eyes at me. “I work out. Of course, I’m not a professional athlete like you.”

Pro athlete or not, it’s a workout, and even I’m feeling it by the time we get to the ridge.

“Let’s go see the tree,” I say, pointing to the sign with an arrow directing us to Burbank Peak.

“You’ve done this before,” Everly puffs.

“Once. Don’t tell me you haven’t. You’re a native Los Angeles... Angelesian.”

She laughs. “Angeleno. And no, I haven’t done this hike.”

“We can sit for a while when we get there.”

“Great.”

We arrive at the Wisdom Tree. We’re not alone here, with small groups of people walking around to check out the view.

“It’s nice,” Everly says, wiping her brow when we get to the top.

“Want some water?”

“Yes, please.”

I pull out an insulated bottle and hand it to her, then grab the second one to take a drink.

We stroll over to the big pine tree and take a seat on a couple of the rocks.

“Glad I’m not afraid of heights.” Everly surveys the view stretched out far below us.

“How about snakes?”

She actually jumps to her feet. “Where?”

“Relax.” I reach for her hand and tug her back down. “There could be snakes, though, so good to keep an eye out. Oh hey, look.” I point to a bird soaring, circling over us. “A hawk.”

“Oh.” She sits again, eyes darting around.

I slide my arm around her. “I’ll protect you from snakes. Just enjoy the view.”

“Itisbeautiful.”

The sky is clear blue above us, the city hazy beneath us.

Everly lets out a slow sigh and I feel tension ease out of her body. She hands me back her water bottle and I stow them in the pack again.

“Like it?”

“Amazing.”

I reach for her cheek and turn her face toward me. “Good.” And I kiss her.

We’re on top of the city, the world spread out around us, and I’m kissing her. Things don’t get much better than this.

Well, getting her in bed again would be better.

But there’s a lot to be said for moments like this... just a moment in time, but overflowing with something so beautiful and special and... Jesus, I’m getting so sappy.

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