“What doyousee when you make them?”
He takes a deep breath, pausing so long I’m not sure he’s going to answer. “Perfection.”
I look up at him again, but before I can ask him to explain he continues.
“Look at it.” He points to the landscape in front of us. “It’s completely untouched. No buildings or people. It’s an infinite paradise. Nothing people build will ever be more impressive than this right here, and most people drive by it on the way from A to B without even knowing it exists. It makes me sad for them. I want to see as many places like this as I can before I’m gone. Or before they are.”
I follow his gaze, trying to see what he sees. It’s hard not to. Imposing mountains set against the bright blue sky; a sea of green swaying in the wind; speckles of color where flowers are trying to grow. The sheer scale of it is overwhelming, but instead of being daunting it’s peaceful.
“You think views like this will disappear?” I wonder aloud, curious how that’s even possible.
“I think views like this aren’t a priority for a lot of people, so… maybe.”
“A view like this makes you feel like there has to be something bigger out there, like a higher power that makes it.” The words are out before I decide to say them, and I go still in his arms, not even sure where they came from. I’m not religious. I’m not even sure I’m spiritual, although that would be a better fit. I don’t usually get philosophical, so claiming to feel a higher power because of the view is totally out of character for me. I can’t say it feels wrong though given the impressiveness of the mountains before me.
“Exactly.” Axel rests his chin on my shoulder.
I feel briefly guilty, because like the people he mentioned, I sometimes get so focused on me and my goals I forget to appreciate what’s around me. Scenery like this that’s in my backyard if I only took the time to notice it. Yet the guilt fades as I take in vast beauty spread out before me, as if the landscape itself is forgiving me. Giving me a pass for being too driven.
“Thank you for showing me.” I squeeze the forearm draped over my waist.
“Why don’t you do stuff like this more often?” I feel him looking at me, though I keep my gaze forward.
My past isn’t something I share, though knowing that Axel has his own family secrets makes it easier to talk. “When my dad left, my mom had nothing. No money, no work experience, no job prospects.” I close my eyes, thinking back to how panicked she was, and how tense that made things around the house.
“She dedicated her life to taking care of her family, but that’s not a skill employers look for. I saw how scared and defeated she was, and Ipromised myself I’d never be in that position. That I wouldn’t rely on anyone else for support only to have it yanked out from under me.”
“That means you have to work twenty-four-seven?”
“It means, I’ll do what I have to, to avoid the mistakes she made.”
He kisses the spot just behind my ear, a gesture that doesn’t scare me as much as it should. “Why restaurants?”
“My grandpa. He had a restaurant I worked at when I visited over the summer. I loved the energy of it. Plus, it wasn’t the business field my dad always wanted me to go into. I wanted to prove I could be successful in the last industry he wanted me to choose, and I am. I’m even looking into opening a second location on the mountain. Why do you hide from your dad?” I don’t regret telling him all that, but it’s enough for one day.
He takes a deep breath and hugs me a little tighter. “I told you he’s a gambler and a drunk, right?”
I nod.
“I made the mistake of giving him money early on. I thought that would pacify him, but it only made him feel entitled to ask for more whenever he runs out. He bought me my first bike, so he thinks that makes him responsible for my achievements.”
“Does he come looking for you often?”
“Touring the country makes it hard for him to keep up, but sometimes he’ll manage to get a lift from someone and just show up demanding help. Most guys on the circuit know who he is and keep him away from me. So, he usually tries to get to me through my mom.”
“That must be hard.” I run my fingers along his forearm, loving the way it makes him pull me closer.
“It is. Sometimes I think I brought this on her by being somewhat famous and making enough to support her.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t feel that way.” I give his arm a gentle squeeze.
“Probably not. Fortunately, I’m able to take care of her without giving her access to cash he could steal. That way he doesn’t do much more than ask how to find me, since he can’t get to me on the circuit.”
“What is the circuit exactly? I have some idea, but I’m not overly familiar with how it works.” I feel Axel smile against the back of my head.
“It’s a series of events around the country. You get points at each event and the highest point total over the course of the season wins. I’ve won three times so far.”
“You’re the guy to beat?” I wonder if he can tell I’m smirking even though he can’t see my face.
