Page 33 of Falling

* * *

The next morning is an early one. Geneva and I both retired to our bedrooms right after dinner. The van is picking us up before daybreak, so we both needed the sleep.

We head down early for a full breakfast before moving outside with our gear. I’m worried that Geneva will be cold on the river. She assures me again she won’t.

“You guys ready to raft?” a guy who looks too young to drive asks.

“We are,” she answers.

He helps load her gear into the back of a van, and I’m left to heave my own crap. She’s already chatting with him when I slide inside. He’s explaining exactly what levels the rapids are at. I’d rather just be surprised.

There are only four other guests at the raft when we arrive. There’s an older couple that I question can hold their own with a paddle. Then there’s a mother and young son who look terrified. I also question their rafting abilities.

Van guy takes off after unloading our gear, and we’re left with two men that look a lot more experienced. I breathe a sigh of relief. They review the safety rules, check that we have everything, and make sure that we’re still comfortable going.

Climbing in the raft, Geneva takes the spot in front of me. My mind settles a little. I’ll be able to keep an eye on her there. It doesn’t matter if we’re together or not, I’ll never stop protecting her.

“Okay, folks. We’re going to test your skills on one of the smaller rapids first. Ready?” Chuck, one of our guides, says and everyone cheers. Geneva leans back against me and shimmies. I guess that’s her way of showing how excited she is.

Then we’re being hurled through our first rapids. I paddle exactly as instructed.

“Whooo!” Geneva shouts when we are shot into calmer water.

“Yeah!” Chuck agrees. “Get ready for the next one.”

That’s how our morning progresses. The rapids grow steadily harder as we paddle like mad. Geneva cheers after each one. The rest of the guests join her every time. Hell, so do I after a while. It feels good to make it and still be living.

When the water calms again, the guides paddle over to the shore. We climb out while they produce lunch from one of the coolers.

“Are you enjoying it?” she asks, plopping onto the ground beside me.

“I am. Are you?”

“This has been amazing. I never knew how exhilarating it was.”

“So this was a good choice?

“The best,” she agrees, bumping me with her body.

“You two are so sweet,” the older woman says. “How long have you been married?”

“Oh, we’re not married,” Geneva says without missing a beat. “I’m just using him for sex.”

The woman looks shocked as she moves over by her husband. I place my head in my hand. She laughs when I shake it.

“Geneva,” I mumble. “She’s kidding,” I say louder. The woman just shoots me a dirty look. Her husband wags his eyebrows at me. “Can we not leave at least one older couple in the western United States unscandalized?”

“Nope,” she says. “But you know you love me anyway.”

“I do.” She’s kidding, but I’m not. It’s why I’ve decided I can’t just have a one-and-done with her. I love her too much to use her that way. I can finally admit it. If she wants to do this, I’m all in. I do want the house, kids, and a successful business. And I want it with her.

“Alright, everyone. We have more paddling to do before we’re done for the night,” Chuck says, and everyone piles back into the raft. Our guides load the trash in the cooler and set it in the boat. Soon, we’re right back in the rapids.

By the time the raft pulls back up to the bank, everyone’s energy is waning. We climb out and find our stuff. Geneva helps me pitch the small tent I brought. She arranges our sleeping bags inside while I fish out dry sleep clothes. We both have long underwear, socks, and watch caps to sleep in. It promises to be a cold one tonight.

Our guides cook dinner. We sit in a circle and eat out of bowls. Terry, our other guide, entertains us by singing camp songs. Many I know from all the times I camped as a kid. Geneva is enamored by them though. I forget that the idea of living in a tent and singing by a campfire is new to her.

Eventually, Chuck puts out the fire and we all head to our tents.

---