They rode all through the night only stopping once to refuel the gas and to pick up some terrible clothes from a highway store. Jenny had chosen some shorts and the only t-shirt that they had in her size, which was a hideous shade of green. Diesel had waved it all off and said he’d rather go without.

“I’ll get something when we’re there babe.” He’d laughed as he’d surveyed the horror of the things aimed at tourists or rednecks.

The further they had ridden, the fresher the air became. It had been such a long time since Jenny had left Slate Springs it was almost as if she had forgotten how clean the air could be. It wasn’t laced with humidity or the aridness of the desert. It was crisp and fresh, and even though they still couldn’t see the coast, she was sure she could smell the ocean.

Dawn broke around them and Jenny clung to Diesel for dear life. Her eyes were heavy and her body felt broken after sitting on the back of the bike for so long. All she could think about was sleep, but being so exposed and in danger, travelling so fast and unruly, there was no way she could let her eyelids drop even for a moment.

“We’re almost there,” he called to her over his shoulder as he nodded ahead to instruct her to keep watch.

The roads had widened and palm trees were beginning to work their way into the landscape. The sun was rising and the sky was alight with gold and pink hues. Birds flew overhead and she could tell they too were out to find the ocean. She smiled as she saw parts of nature that she hadn’t seen for years. It was good to remember what the world looked like. She had almost become institutionalized by her own town.

As they began to descend over the top of a rise in the road Diesel squeezed her forearm and she gasped as she looked out ahead of them. The ocean was spread out all along the horizon and it was glittering gold with the morning sun. It was so beautiful, she was in complete awe. After only seeing the dry desert for so many years, it was as if all of her senses were igniting and she was living properly for the first time.

Diesel weaved them up and down the coastal roads and, before long, buildings began to appear beside them. He slowed as they made their way through a small town, their Main Street not a lot dissimilar to Slate Springs, but with a much better view, and then out again toward the south. 

When he slowed and pulled off the road and into the parking lot of a small motel, it was so idyllic Jenny actually clapped her hands together and kissed him.

“How did you even know about this place?” She beamed as she let him help her down from the back of the bike and walk with her toward the edge of the Cliffside to look out over the beach beyond and the ocean.

“I came here once, long ago,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her from behind and held her there as the sun broke overhead and illuminated the world in front of them. “And I’ve always wanted to come back since.”

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered as she closed her eyes and felt the warm sun on her face. “It’s just what I needed.”

“Come on,” he whispered into her neck. “You must be exhausted. We should get a room and try to get some sleep.”

Jenny nodded and let her head fall against him as he walked backward with her and rested her up against the bike.

“I’ll be right back,” he said as he kissed her on the forehead and walked toward the office door of the motel.

Jenny looked around her and she couldn’t believe that any of it was real. A few days ago, she had been dreaming and making up fantasies of something like this happening, and now she was living it first-hand. Everything had twisted and turned so much since she had had that dream, it was almost as if it was her subconscious way of preparing her for what was about to come. She knew what she wanted and her dream had shone a light on it. It was as if she had manifested it and made it true.

The scenery around her was so beautiful that she felt as if she was in a dazzling dream still, and she was surely about to wake up at any moment. But she wasn’t. It was all very, very real.

She heard footsteps and a door closing behind her, and when she turned, she saw Diesel heading back her way with a key and a wide grin.

“I’ve got us the beach hut,” he said. “It’s a bigger room overlooking the ocean, set a bit further down there.” He pointed down a small side road that looked as if it weaved down the Cliffside and toward the beach.

“Wow,” she giggled. “That sounds amazing.”

“It is,” he raised his eyebrows. “Let’s go.”

They walked together holding hands and Diesel looked back over his shoulder toward the bike.

“I’ll come back for it,” he assured her as they continued. “I couldn’t even think about getting back on that thing right now.”

He rubbed the backs of his legs and Jenny laughed because she knew exactly what he meant. They had been riding on it for almost six hours and she was aching all over.

When they reached the hut, she gasped and looked up at him with a wide smile.

“This place is beautiful,” she said as she let her head roll onto his shoulder. “Honestly, I didn’t think anything could be as perfect.”

The hut was nestled along the side of the beach with a lush green garden around it. Palm trees were blowing in the breeze all along the edges of the gardens and it felt as if they were somewhere completely exotic and miles away from home. She never would have believed she could have been there in a six hour drive.

“Come on,” he said as he took hold of her hand and led her forward.

They approached the hut and its little red door and Diesel unlocked it and let them inside. The air was clean and cool in there even in the darkness and he led her through the living area and to the back where there was a huge king sized bed waiting.

“You should sleep,” he whispered to her as he lifted her up and placed her down. “I’ll be on the couch.”

He kissed her gently on the lips and rose to his feet. She didn’t want him to leave her side, but at the same time, she knew they had to take it slow. Already, things had moved so fast her head was in a spin.

She closed her eyes and pulled the blankets up around her. Her tiredness was making her delirious and she hadn’t even really taken in her surroundings properly. But she would have plenty of time for that when she awoke again.

She heard Diesel kick off his boots and collapse down onto the couch. And even though there was at least ten feet between them, it didn’t matter. She knew he was there and it was a comfort. He was protecting her and putting her needs first.

She rolled over and breathed in deep. Within a matter of seconds, she was fast asleep.