The morning air was crisp as Jake tightened the straps on his backpack, glancing over at Lauren. She stood a few feet ahead, the wind gently tugging at her hair as she looked out toward the towering mountain in front of them.

“You sure you’re ready for this?” Jake asked with a teasing smirk. “It’s not exactly a walk in the park.”

Lauren turned around, her eyes gleaming with determination. “Please. I’ve been waiting for this hike all week. Let’s go before you chicken out.”

Jake chuckled, shaking his head. “Me? Chicken out? Never.”

The two started up the winding trail, their shoes crunching against gravel as the world around them grew quieter. The city was far behind now—nothing but nature, trees stretching high, and the mountain ahead like a challenge calling their names.

About halfway up, Lauren paused to catch her breath, placing her hands on her hips. “Okay… I underestimated this,” she admitted, laughing softly.

Jake grinned, handing her his water bottle. “Told you. But hey, look at that view already.”

Lauren turned to see the landscape opening up behind them—rolling hills, patches of forest, and in the distance, the glimmer of a lake under the sunlight. Her face softened. “Wow… that’s beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as you,” Jake said, unable to resist.

Lauren rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. “Cheesy. But I’ll allow it.”

Finally, after another hour of climbing, they reached the top. The wind was stronger here, cooler, brushing against their skin as they stood on a rocky ledge overlooking everything. The world felt endless.

Lauren dropped her backpack and sat down on a flat rock, pulling Jake with her. “This was worth it,” she whispered, leaning into him.

Jake wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close as they both stared out at the horizon where the sun was just starting to set, painting the sky in orange and pink hues.

For a moment, there were no distractions, no noise—just the sound of the wind, the view of the mountains, and the warmth of Lauren in his arms.

“Promise me something,” Lauren said softly.

“What’s that?” Jake asked.

“That we’ll keep doing stuff like this. No matter how busy life gets.”