The green neon light illuminated the room while Max coded and ate Spaghetti-Os. He was exhausted from the poker tournament the night before and hadn’t slept in a couple of days, but he needed to finish this project before the deadline. 

“Are you coming out tonight?” 

‘Depends if I can get this project done on time. We can always ride this weekend, I know of a spot past Aspen that I want to take you’ he replied. 

They had met at a motorcycle convention, Max was on his 8th bike that summer. His current favorite was his 2025 Indian Scout ABS — Spirit Blue Metallic cruiser. He collected and sold them as a pastime. 

Metal played in the background as he coded and adjusted his Saint Laurent eye glasses. He loved to indulge in junk food from time to time even though he is a talented cook. Ever since he met Delaney at the convention in Denver he had been unusually excited and wanted to do all the things with her that he had never wanted to do by himself.

Max had been single for four years and passed the time reading books on psychology and fine art. He was obsessed with his career and gambling and had given up looking for love. He was especially sensitive that June because he had just lost his beloved poodle, Sadie. In a way he knew something new was bound to come into his life. 

“I am clearing my schedule for you, we can get lost all weekend.” Delaney said.

‘I can’t wait’ Max set his phone back down and fixed his eyes on the screen. 

Delaney was upfront with Max and disclosed her lifestyle with him before anything got serious. She was married to Zach. Max was secure and open to the opportunity to get to know Delaney in any capacity friend or otherwise.

She couldn’t help but to feel jealous if that meant Max was talking to other people. What they have is so sweet and unique, Max was also prolific and brilliant. Delaney might change her circumstances and leave who she was already close with and take a chance on a totally monogamous lifestyle with Max ~ she had be secretly dreaming of divorce and a new life.

Whatever they shared, it was new and different and the emotions were running high, they obviously clicked. Max finished his project and grabbed his brown North Face backpack to meet Delaney at the base of Shadowspire; a fourteener they had spotted on a ride back from Pound Ridge Springs. 

“I am coming out tonight, but are you sure you want to do this?”

‘I would do anything with you ~ Max’ Delaney replied. She grabbed her industrial flashlight that she had bought from Home Depot and stashed it in her floral leather backpack. She smiled out of excitement then made her way out of her Cap Hill mansion and got on her Harley-Davidson Sportster 883. 

Max arrived at the base of the mountain in his Jeep Wrangler. Delaney was already there brushing snow off her hot pink leather jacket. The moon was out and it was illuminating the path perfectly. She greeted Max with a kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. His hands glided down her back, past her waist and stopped there. He combed his fingers through his hair and his teal eyes met hers.

“I am going to ask you to be obedient tonight, because we are going to have to work as a team if we are going to pull this off” Max said. 

‘I’ll be honest with you and ask for help if I need it.. Who came up with this idea again?’ Delaney looked up at the peak and snow flurries dances in small tornados in the air. She was starting to back out of this expedition in her mind, but it seemed like too much fun with Max onboard. 

“I think this might be a really bad idea” Max said as he still held her close and was inches away from her lips “but I know we can do this together.”

They left their Jeep and bike in the parking lot and the inclement weather died down as soon as they started off on the trail together. It was a passing storm and now the weather became a warm 80 degrees and the moon was still generously lighting the way. The trail was smooth and surrounded by tall grass and daisy’s on the sides. Delaney guided her flashlight beam back and forth illuminating daffodils and toads ribbiting as they hopped out of the way. 

Delaney started to sing Gavin DeGraw songs to Max, all of her favorite love songs that were within her vocal range. Max tapped his fingers as he gripped his water bottle and listened. He walked behind her and she was 10 feet or so ahead of him. 

Normally she would have been afraid to be out in the wilderness, but accomplishing this goal with Max made her feel optimistic and serene. As Delaney sang and guided the beam of her flashlight she kept spotting soft grass areas and fantasized about pulling Max to the earth and undressing him. She was usually always fantasizing about sex during most of her workday because she was born hypersexual.

Obviously she let the thought pass and just kept singing songs until she finally stopped and waiting for Max to catch up to her. She started to pound the flashlight on her hand and it began to flicker and go out. 

“Looks like it’s all out of juice” She said as he approached her looking at it and then at her. “We should turn back now anyways, the truth is I never planned to make it to the peak with you” Max said.

Delaney held her breath for a second in anticipation. “I want you to know I’ll be there for the peak with you, but more importantly the valleys.” Max said as he grabbed her hand and walked her over to the trail sign. He pulled out his phone and illuminated the sign for her to see and it read: DELANEY’S VALLEY. 

They made their way down the trail and back to the parking lot.