AS THE sunrise tickled the lake, a flock of birds took majestic flight into the burning ocher sky. Brad and Dany had also risen early and were busy scrambling over moss-covered fallen trees through the lush green paradise of the forest. Brad stopped to rest against a towering fir and pulled a water bottle from his backpack. “I’m not saying it’s time yet. I’m just saying that I think it’s something to talk about.”

Dany caught up to Brad and wiped away the sweat from his face with his shirt. “If you want to talk about it, obviously you’ve been thinking about it.”

“Look, we know lots of couples who make it work either way,” Brad countered. “Randy and Zach, they’ve been together for nearly ten years and still monogamous.”

Dany shot him a weary glance, “We think.”

“Right well, and then there’s Bryan and Rick, they’ve been open nearly since the beginning,” Brad said, twisting the cap back onto his water bottle and taking off again, deeper into the forest.

Dany swatted away a fly buzzing near his ear, “And do you think that’s easy for them?”

“I don’t know if it’s easy but they’re together, they seem happy. I think it’s just about setting rules.”

“Like what?” Dany called after his boyfriend while carefully watching his footing, not taking his eyes off the forest floor.

Brad continued on in silence for a few moments, putting his thoughts together carefully. “I don’t know if I want to be with someone else without you, but choosing someone together once in a while could be….” He paused and turned back to look at Dany. “Fun?”

Dany couldn’t help but smile. “So this isn’t about me not being there?”

“No! I want you there. I think it could be exciting, something to share together.”

Dany slowly walked up to Brad and planted a kiss on him before turning and continuing his hike through the woods. “Okay, babe.”

“Okay?!” Brad asked, hurrying after him.

“Yeah, okay,” Dany called over his shoulder, “but we choose together.”

Brad hurried to catch up to his boyfriend, turned him round by the shoulder, and returned the kiss. “Whew, you stink. Being in the woods doesn’t excuse you from showering.”

“How romantic.…” Dany laughed. “I’m sorry, but my boyfriend doesn’t take me to five-star accommodations. It’s hard to stay fresh hiking in the woods.”

Brad took Dany’s hand and led him through a break in the tree line offering a stunning view of the lake. “Up for a swim?”