We’ve already been hiking for an hour, and it’s been grueling. My legs burn, my chest heaves, and I’m all too aware that I’m no better at this than I was last time.
“Don’t look at it. Come on.” Misha grins at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief when I scowl at him.
“You said this one was easier. Three hours? I’m sorry, but this is not bloody happening. In no world or universe will I make it up to the top today, let alone walk back down again.”
I think it was the descent that left my legs aching for days last time.
“Who said we were going all the way up?” He grabs my hand, his grin widening. “It’s just around the corner. I found something yesterday when I was coming down from the top, and I wanted to show you.”
“You were at the top yesterday?”
And you can still walk today?
“It was spontaneous.”
Sure, who doesn’t take a spontaneous six-hour hike?
“Come on.” He tugs me along, and despite my half-hearted complaints, I let him lead me. We round a corner, and suddenly, the dense forest opens up, revealing a breathtaking meadow stretched out before us. Wildflowers in every imaginable color sway gently in the breeze, and right in the center, a field of daisies catches the sunlight, their white petals glowing against the green.
“This is beautiful.” The words slip out in a whisper as I step into the meadow, completely captivated by the sight. The air feels different here, fresher, almost magical, and I can’t help but feel like I’ve stumbled into a dream.
“I hoped you’d think that.” Misha comes to stand beside me, and there’s a quiet intensity in his gaze as he watches me take it all in. “I saw it and thought of you. It reminded me of the meadow in your favorite movie. And I’ve never seen daisies bloom this late in the season. Maybe it’s because we’re higher up the mountain. I’m not sure. But the moment I found this place, I just knew I had to show it to you.”
“Daisies are my favorite,” I whisper.
They always were.
He gently pulls me to face him, a look of surprise and delight in his eyes. “Really?”
“They are. They’re just… beautifully simple. Not screaming for attention.”
He looks at me for a long moment, and it feels like he’s memorizing every detail of my face, taking in each nuance, each expression. When he reaches up to stroke my cheek, the gesture is so tender that it sends a shiver down my spine. “I love that,” he murmurs, his voice full of admiration. “Come on. Let’s have our picnic.”
“Picnic?”
We walk into the middle of the meadow and sit on the blanket Misha lays out among the daisies. The wind playswith loose strands of my braid, and the sun warms my face. Misha drops his backpack and starts unpacking, pulling out Tupperware containers filled with fruit, chocolate, and croissants.
“I’ve been craving these croissants since I first thought of getting them for you,” he says, handing me one.
I take it with a quiet “Thank you,” feeling butterflies fluttering in my belly. His dark curls whip in the wind, and he looks so effortlessly handsome.
It should be illegal to look that good while hiking.
After I finish the croissant, I take a bite of a strawberry and then eat a piece of chocolate in quick succession.
“Interesting choice,” Misha says, watching me with amused eyes. “I wanted to bring Twizzlers, but I thought strawberries would be the better option for a picnic.”
I laugh softly, the sound mingling with the rustling of the wildflowers. “Strawberries are always the right choice, no matter what form they’re in.”
“Noted. Is that one of your truths?” he asks, sucking some strawberry juice off his fingertip.
My eyes zero in on his lips, and I can’t quite remember what he just said. “What?”
“Tell me two truths and a lie?” He grins, a playful spark in his eyes.
I’ve heard about this game but have never played it before. “You first.”
“Okay,” he says, thinking for a moment. “Two truths and a lie. Let’s see… I once ate an entire family-sized pizza by myself, I have a tattoo that no one knows about, and I can juggle.”
