“Yeah, that makes two of us.Trail is closer to you, anyway.I’ll see you in an hour or so?”
“Sounds good.See you soon.”
He wrapped up the conversation and then sat on the edge of his bed.Would staying in be a better plan than hanging out with Alex?This hike would be the longest they’d been alone together in years.He shook his head and laughed at himself.He wanted this.
Ry got up and unpacked his clean clothes, and worked on tidying up, though he stopped after a few minutes.There wasn’t anything to clean, especially with a housekeeper who came more often than necessary.
With time to kill, he grabbed some colored pencils and a book from his backpack.He turned on his speakers and started a playlist put together by a fellow musician.He’d been terrible at putting songs together.At the dining table, he flipped the book to a page of a castle made of clouds and continued his work.
The music energized him, and the lines and colors occupied his mind.In no time, Alex rang the doorbell.He rushed to answer the door.
“I forgot how monstrous your place is,” Alex said, looking up at the building.
“Yeah, it’s an asshole building.”He blushed, letting Alex in.“Lost track of time coloring.Let me change real quick.Want any water?I’ve got some in the fridge.”
He hurried up the stairs.
“Sure,” Alex called back, rummaging through the appliance.
He quickly threw on some athleisure shorts and a lightweight top, and sturdier shoes.
Alex waited at the bottom of the steps with two bottles.“Shall we?”
“Yeah,” Ry said, heading out to the car and jumping into the passenger seat of Alex’s truck.
Once they’d pulled out of the driveway, Ry continued, “Thinking of moving and selling the place.I don’t like it anymore.It’s too much.”
“Really, why now?”Alex said, checking the traffic before turning.
“I want a fresh start.You know?Doesn’t have many memories.”
“Understandable,” Alex said.“My place has been a sanctuary lately.”
“I think it reminds me too much of my family estate back home.I need something more me.”
Alex laughed.“Yeah.Well, don’t rush things.And find a better agent than that sleazeball you had last time.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me.”Ry sighed.“Shit for brains.”
Alex smirked in response.
The trail was closer to his place and on the way, if you squinted.Ry could have easily met him here.They got out of the truck.A cool breeze brushed the day’s heat away, exposed as the trailhead was.Alex threw him a water bottle and started out on the trail immediately.
Ry jogged to catch up.He’d almost forgotten about Alex’s love of the outdoors and hiking.This must have been the third hike they’d ever been on together.Ry had only gone twice because, “outside is icky.”His stance had since changed.
Ry chuckled at his past absolutes as he followed Alex up the trail.
“Hmm?”
“Nothing.Ruminating.”
Alex gave him side-eye.“Less thinking, more hiking.”Then he stuck his tongue out.
Under the next tree, Alex paused and drank some water, resting for a bit.Ry stopped too, panting more than he had anticipated.The trail was steeper than he’d been expecting.
“So, what’s on your mind?”Alex asked.
“That it’s been a while since we went on a hike,” he laughed, then coughed, trying to catch his breath again.“I’m winded, and I even did the exercise program.Guess I should have done more.”
