Staff Feature: Jordan Millsaps
BE BEAR AWARE.
A flash of movement a hundred feet ahead steals my attention from the warning sign marking the trailhead, and I look up to see a scraggly brown bear ambling across the trail. The trail I was just about to embark on. My jaw drops, and I stumble backward.
Listen, I know there are bears in Grand Teton National Park. I have a can of bear spray clipped to my belt, and I thought I was ready.
I am not ready.
How can I start this hike knowing that there’s a bear right there? The idea of bears isn’t theoretical anymore—it’s a reality. I stand frozen, agonizing between my desire to complete the Delta Lake hike I was so excited about and my desire to live, when I hear footsteps and voices behind me.
It’s a quartet of guys about my age, laughing and talking, bumping each other’s shoulders and goofing off. One guy with dark blond hair and a blue T-shirt that says Nashville Dragons FC on it makes eye contact with me as they approach. He slows, causing the rest of the group to pause with him.
“Are you okay?” A furrow appears between his brows as he addresses me, and I wonder how stressed I must look right now to make him ask.
“Uh, I’m not sure yet.” His eyebrows go up, and I hasten to explain. “I was about to start hiking toward Delta Lake, but I saw a bear crossing the trail just up there.” I point to where I saw it, and the guys collectively turn to look. “So I was just kind of…waiting a minute. To decide if I thought it was safe, you know?”
Understanding dawns on his face. “Gotcha. How long ago was that?”
“Maybe three or four minutes?”
He nods and holds out a tanned hand. “I’m Geo. These are my friends Nick, Warren, and Janner.”
“Nice to meet you.” I shake his hand, which is strong and warm in mine. “I’m Millie.”
“Millie, we’re headed to Delta Lake too. Bears rarely mess with groups of people, so if you don’t mind hanging with a bunch of strangers, you can hike with us.”
“Some of us are stranger than others,” another guy jokes with a goofy grin, nudging one of his buddies playfully.
“It’s okay, Nick, we don’t hold it against you,” Geo quips. “Anyway, no pressure, but you’re welcome to join us.”
“I…” My thoughts race as I weigh the situation. The idea of giving up on the hike—one I’ve been planning as a graduation gift to myself since I saw a photo of the lake my first week of grad school—before I’ve even really started makes my heart sink. But is this safe? Geo waits patiently while I wrestle with indecision. Any guidance for me here, Lord?
“I don’t know if this makes a difference, but we have snacks,” Warren—I think—says. “And they’re good snacks. We sprang for the name-brand protein bars.”
I laugh, feeling the knot of tension in my belly ease slightly. My eyes find a pink stuffed rabbit fastened onto the backpack of the only guy who hasn’t spoken, and Geo follows my gaze. “That’s Fluffy Bunny. Janner’s niece told him to take a picture with her when we reach the lake.”
Well. That’s adorable.
“Look, I understand if you aren’t comfortable coming with us,” Geo says. “If you’d rather, we can wait here with you until a different group arrives, or we can walk you back to your vehicle if you want.”
The nods and sincere smiles chase away any lingering doubts. These guys seem to be walking green flags, and I have to believe this feeling of peace is the answer to my prayer from a moment ago. I mean, I’m mostly at peace. There’s still at least one bear somewhere ahead, no matter how confident and unbothered these guys appear.
But life is about more than safety, so I muster up my courage. “Let’s do this.”
The guys cheer. Nick and Warren start up the path, and I fall in step behind them with Geo. Janner brings up the rear with Fluffy Bunny.
Over the next two hours, I slowly forget my bear-anxiety while Geo and I chat as much as the ever-increasing elevation on the switchback trail allows, marveling at the incredible views of wildflowers and wildlife as we climb and get to know one another. I tell Geo about my recently earned MFA in literature, and he tells me he’s a professional soccer player for the team I noticed represented on his shirt earlier. Apparently, the others are his teammates.
I have no trouble believing Geo is an athlete with his lean, powerful frame and the fact that I’m out of breath way quicker than he is. Of course, it could also be his gorgeous smile that’s stealing my breath.
The last mile of the hike is a boulder crawl, the trail unmarked, and I’m thankful for Geo’s strong hands helping me scramble over the jagged rocks. Just when I think I’m not going to make it, he pulls me up over the final dirt bank at the top.
Sweeping out before us is the most beautiful lake I’ve ever seen, a milky turquoise with evergreen trees and snow-capped mountain peaks surrounding it on three sides.
“Wow.” The word leaves me on a reverent sigh. Geo squeezes my hand, and I realize that he never let go. And that I don’t want him to.
I gaze around me in awe. “I guess this view was worth the risk of being mauled by a bear, huh?”
“I think so.” I look at him and realize he’s admiring me rather than the scenery. My face heats in a blush, but I don’t look away. The warmth in his gaze makes me think maybe this won’t be our last hike together. Who’d have thought a bear scare could lead to meeting a handsome soccer player?
You can read more about Geo and his teammates in Midfield Meet-Cute, book one in the Love Is the Goal soccer rom-com series.
Jordan’s titles include the Boyfriend in the Bargain series, featuring five lighthearted stories of couples who strike unconventional deals and find love in the process, and the Marriage on My Mind series, featuring three stories of friends who all have marriage on their minds for wildly different reasons.
When she’s not writing, Jordan enjoys reading, baking, trying new restaurants, and traveling with her family.
Connect with Jordan at her website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter (X).
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