The Pretend Fiancé
Bella marveled at the breathtaking desert views and rugged mountains. Cactus plants, wild shrubs, and sand stretched as far as the eye could see.
The sun shone brightly,
and the sky was a brilliant shade of blue. The wind whipped through their hair. She glanced over at Harvey and loved seeing him so happy and carefree. The trip was extremely bumpy but still exciting and thrilling. What an adrenaline rush! They sped through puddles, sliding over rocks and boulders.
The desert rocks were rough and steep, but it was well worth the teeth-jarring and jolting ride. They loved
every minute of it! At times, it was fast and exciting, and other times were slow and leisurely, giving them the best of both worlds.
They stopped and went for an amazing hike around the rocks.
When they slowed down to turn a bend, Bella saw her first roadrunner!
“They’re nothing like the typical Roadrunner cartoon.” She pulled out her phone, and tried to capture a picture. The first one was blurry. But she got the second pic just before it jumped back into the cactus.”
“Not like the cartoons at all. I’ve never seen one in person.”
She sipped from her canteen. “Me neither. I was hoping to see a desert bighorn sheep, but I’ll take this.”
The hike started off with a gentle incline as it wound its way through the rocks. They walked through the crack in the rocks and were careful to keep their footing. Harvey was fit and in shape, so he hiked like a pro. A few times they needed to use their hands to climb up a rocky spot.
Harvey reached his hand down and helped to pull Bella up. Once up top, they enjoyed the panoramic views and all the fresh air.
Bella grinned as she lifted her hands up in victory to their accomplishment, and shouted, “We’re the kings of the world!”
Smiling, Harvey lifted her up and spun her around as they burst out in laughter.
“We did it!” he said.
“We rock!”
She held up her phone and they both took a selfie to post on social media later that day.
After their hike, they took off in the Jeep once again. They drove on and over the red rocks while magnificent canyon walls surrounded them. The canyon exploded in color as the sun shone brightly.
Bella parked the Jeep and pulled out stuff for a picnic. She had packed a red and white blanket and a big picnic basket. She even brought a cooler with cold water.
“Now I have one condition,” she said. “You can’t bring the cell phone.”
“I haven’t opened it once.”
“But you could be tempted, now that we’re stopped.”
“I’ll put it in the glove box.”
Harvey laid out the blanket under the shade from an overhang, and they ate sandwiches.
“Is this a date without the paparazzi?” he asked.
“Not really a date.”
“Really? It feels romantic to me. I’m sitting here with a beautiful woman in a remote spot enjoying a picnic lunch. We’re surrounded by breathtaking beauty. What’s not romantic about that?”
She nudged him with a smirk. “Not a date. But thanks for the compliment.”
“Not a date? Wow. You sure know how to hurt a man’s ego. So no hot make-out sessions?”
“I’m afraid not. Try not to look so disappointed.”