Page 84 of Zeke

“Make me. I love you, too.”

I close the office door behind me and walk through the house to the outside, where the sun is setting. I check my phone and see a notification from Julia:

Heading your way.

Perfect.

I sit astride my bike, waiting for Kira to get home. She’s riding on the back of Julia’s bike, and when she pulls up next to me, she looks surprised to see me out here.

“Hey,” she says. “Are you going somewhere? I was hoping we would have some time together tonight.”

It is almost laughable since we have time together every night, but it doesn’t bother me. I love spending time with her. So much so that I’m ready to take her for a surprise.

“We are,” I say in response to her question. “You and me. Hop on.”

“Oh, Zeke,” she says, looking down at herself. “I’m such a mess from working all day. Do I have to?”

“Absolutely yes,” I say, patting the seat behind me. “Do you trust me?”

She rolls her eyes and grins. “With my life and you know it.”

“Good,” I say as she gets on. “Because I have a surprise for you.”

“What kind of surprise?” She pulls on her helmet.

“If I told you,” I say slyly, “it wouldn’t be much of a surprise anymore, would it?”

“You’re infuriating, Zeke,” she says, but I can hear the smile in her voice.

I rev my engine and we take off. I love feeling her hands on me as we ride, feeling her pressed against me. It’s intimate in a completely different way than having sex with her, but no less intense. Sharing my rides with her reveals a huge piece of who I am. It makes me surer than ever that she is absolutely the one for me.

I drive for a while until we reach a place I used to visit alone. I’ve never brought anyone here, not even Kira. Until now.

I park the bike and help her off. She pulls her helmet off her head, then looks around, confused. “Where are we?” she asks.

“Come with me,” I tell her, taking her hand, something she seems to greatly enjoy because she’s practically skipping as she follows behind me.

Where I parked is along the sheer edge of a cliff that goes up about forty feet. There’s no road to get to the top, but as I guide her around the corner, a trail appears.

“Up there?” she asks, looking up the cliff.

“Up there,” I confirm.

We start off on our walk, and it only takes about ten minutes to get up to the top. Before we walk to the edge, I cover her eyes.

“Zeke,” she shrieks, giggling. “What are you doing?”

“I want you to be surprised,” I say. “Can you keep your eyes closed so I can guide you?”

She sighs but nods, and I release my hands. She does indeed keep her eyes shut. I lead her toward the edge of the cliff, then around a few trees.

“Sit here,” I say, helping her onto a large stone that functions as a sort of natural chair. Her eyes are still closed, which is perfect. I quietly walk around so I’m behind her and not blocking her view, then I tell her, “Open your eyes.”

I have to assume she does because a second later, her hands go to her mouth, and she gasps.

“Oh, Zeke…” she says happily. “It’s amazing.”

The top of the cliff overlooks a huge lake, and at sunset, especially at this time of year, the forest around the water looks like it’s on fire. The lake is so still and clear that it looks like a golden mirror.

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