The afternoon sun, mixed with Tori’s intense climb, caused her to miss the cool mountains of Park City. Tori closed her eyes and tipped her head back, allowing the cool water from her water bottle to flow over her face and down her neck.

“I have more water if you need it.” Annie’s chipper voice personified her happy demeanor.

Why was Annie always so happy? Tori had to work at being moderately content these days. What would it be like to wake up every morning singing? Had Tori ever been that optimistic and content? It didn’t seem natural, but it was an attractive quality. Tori could see why Paxton adored her. After Tori’s climb, she and Annie had helped Paxton coil his rope and pack his gear back into his pack, but she hadn’t seen Zee in awhile.

Tori took another swig from her water bottle, then looked around for him. She had noticed him walk away when she was about mid-way through her climb.“Where’s Zee?”she questioned Annie.

“I think Nature called. I’ll go find him,” Annie said, taking off down the path.

Zee had been acting strange since they started up the canyon. Could he be upset with her? Did she say something to offend him?

Tori contemplated the silence of the red mountains. It was a different silence from her Park City neighborhood, which was relatively quiet. Here, there wasn’t any street noise, no humming clothes dryer, or clanking dishwasher. She closed her eyes, rested her back against the rock, and meditated on the sounds of the red cliffs. There were rabbits hopping across the sand, and whooshing bats capturing mosquitos as they flew across the afternoon sky.

“Tori, Annie told me you were looking for me.”

She felt a slight thrill, hearing him call her name. She opened her eyes to Zee’s warm smile. Why had she grown so anxious? She needed to relax. She’d make it a point not to guess what he was thinking, or feeling, in the future. “You okay?”

“Yep.”

“Thanks for bringing me today. I can’t tell you how enjoyable this day’s been. Today, and the chalk run, have been the two best days I’ve had in months, maybe even a year.”

“I can’t take all the credit,” Zee said, packing the remaining gear into the backpack. “Actually, I can’t take any credit. Annie arranged everything.”

“Where are Annie and Paxton?”

“Disappeared again.”

“I’ve enjoyed spending time with you, Zee. I want you to feel like you can tell me what you’re feeling. What you’re thinking.”

“Sure. What I’m feeling. Of course. And what I’m,” Zee cleared his throat, “thinking.”

“You feeling good about us?”

“Absolutely.” Zee turned his back to Tori and moved his head from side to side as if he were searching the tips of the mountains for something. “I’m also feeling like we’ve lost our guides.”

Tori wrinkled her forehead as her brows knit together. “You think they went up there?”

“Quite possibly,” he said, nodding.

Tori shook her head. “But Annie was just right—”

“Here?” Annie said, circling around a large boulder.

Zee raised a brow. “Were you standing behind that rock this entire time?”

“Quite possibly,” she said, walking past them and down the trail. “Follow me. Paxton is preparing the final event for the day.”

The whistling breeze brought relief from the scorching heat as it blew across Tori’s soaked chest and tousled her hair. The wind also brought with it the light scent of desert flowers.

As they trekked out of the canyon, in the opposite direction from where they had come in, Tori searched the ground for flowering plants.

“Look, Annie,” Tori said, pointing to a patch of woody, green bushes that were topped with bright purple flowers. “I never knew desert flowers could be so beautiful, or fragrant.”

“I agree,” Annie said. “What do you think, Zee?”

“About the flowers?” Zee looked perplexed. “Those yellow ones are nice.”

Tori observed the light-yellow flowers he had gestured to. Their thin, long stems pointed straight up, and produced a single yellow puff on top of each stalk, reminiscent of a character in a Dr. Seuss book. The base of the plant was a mix of green, blue and gray; an aquamarine with a hint of gray.

“Those match your eyes!” Tori exclaimed.

Zee appeared even more confused. “My eyes look yellow to you?”

“No.” She laughed. “The base of the plant is a beautiful smoky aquamarine, like your eyes.”

Zee came to her side. “How’s Rambo doing in this heat?”

Tori pulled the doggy sling away from her chest to afford him a better view of Rambo. “He’s fast asleep.” She suddenly realized that her white t-shift was wet and clingy.

Zee whipped his head back to the trail and stopped abruptly, causing Tori to travel alone a few paces in front of him.

“Has he been drinking enough water?” Zee asked, coughing. “Because, I don’t think I have. Where is that water?” He shook his head, feverishly ransacking his pack for a water bottle.

A deep, low melody echoed off the shaded, rock walls.

“Zee, is it just me, or do you hear singing?”

“I could be wrong,” Zee said, “but that sounds like the music from Cats, the Broadway show.”

Their brief walk out of the canyon led them to the back stage of an outdoor amphitheater. The large structure comfortably rested against the red mountain backdrop.

“It is,” Annie trilled. “Surprise!”

“Got you there.” Zee shook his finger. “I’ve seen Cats in New York. Not a first for me.” He turned to Tori. “You?”

“This must be the Tuacahn ampitheatre. I’ve heard of this place. They get the traveling Broadway shows, just like San Francisco, or Chicago. It wouldn’t be a first for me either, but I’d love to see it again.”

Annie clicked her tongue. “Not see a Broadway musical. Perform in a Broadway musical.”

“No way!” Zee threw his hands up in the air. “And even if I did agree to do it, they’d never allow us to ruin their musical, no matter how much we offered to pay them.”

“But.” Annie blew on her fingertips. “For the right donation, they might allow a few groupies to dance and sing on stage with them during one or two songs during a dress rehearsal for elementary school-aged children.”

“How much of a donation,” Zee closed his eyes, “are we talking about?”

“Not too insane,” she responded. “I checked with Max, our accountant, and he thinks you can deduct most of it.”

“You called Max?”

Annie motioned for Zee to lean down. “He also said, Go get her, tiger,” she whispered, not so softly, into his ear. “Get it, tiger, cat?”

“You really think that your Navy SEAL guy is going to dress up like a cat and sing?” Zee laughed.

“No,” Annie replied flatly. “We are going to be sitting in the audience. You and Tori are going to have a once in a lifetime first.”

“No.” Zee shook his head, “Not doing it!”

“It actually sounds fun.” Tori felt a flash of excitement. She’d be taking the stage with world class singers and dancers. She ran her hand down Zee’s arm. “I would love to have them dress me in one of those cat costumes and turn my face into a feline with their professional theatre make-up.”

“Really?” Zee’s face looked pained.

“And think, no one will recognize us.” Tori said with encouragement. “It’ll be our secret.”

Annie got between them, pulling them each by an arm. “I’ll take you to the costume trailer.”

Zee reached his head around Annie to speak to Tori. “And this will make you happy?”

Tori released herself from Annie’s grip and began jumping up and down, screaming like one of those schoolgirls waiting in the courtyard.

“You understand,” Zee smiled, “that me doing this is only about you about your happiness, right?”

Zee was incredible. Tori couldn’t think of anyone she’d rather be with for such an exhilarating experience. “Yes, you’re doing something you don’t want to do, for the sole purpose of making me happy. Got it.” She giggled, touching his face. “Can’t wait to see you as a cat. I love y—.” Her heart raced. In the thrill of the moment, she almost told him what? She regained her composure.“I love this intimate, platonic, best friend relationship.”

“Right. Intimate, platonic, best friend. My thoughts exactly,” he said, clomping up the stairs of the costume trailer.