Jennifer Chastain
Of all the places on earth, a river rafting expedition was the one location he hadn’t expected to see her again.
Seth lifted his face to the heavens and exhaled. Paige Hanson. His English literature tutor. He’d filed away their time together under lessons learned the hard way. Because what would a gorgeous girl see in a computer nerd like him? The night before graduation, Seth worked up the courage to tell her how he felt in sonnet form. Instead, she had “friend-zoned” him. He shook his head.
Ten years and the memories still haunted him.
A bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face. It was only eight in the morning, and the sun hadn’t heated the cool mountain air yet. Why was he so hot?
“Hey boss, all the guests are here. Ready to divide up?” Dylan, his most experienced raft guide, broke his concentration.
Seth cleared his throat and took a swig of water. “Uh yeah. Supplies ready?”
“Yep.” Dylan tugged six paddles off the supply truck and handed them to Seth. “You okay?”
“Fine.” Seth grunted and tossed the paddles into his raft. If he could stay away from Paige, he’d be super.
Dylan pressed the air horn once and grinned as the group turned en masse toward the obnoxious sound. “Hey everyone. Listen up…” He explained how to paddle into the wave. “Oh, and one more thing, don’t lose your paddle.” Dylan held up his and wielded it like a broadsword, ready for battle. “Keep one foot planted under the seat in front of you.”
Paige’s dazed look made his heart flop. She looked…lost.
“Alright, split up into two groups of six,” Seth said.
Three couples drifted over to Dylan’s boat, which left Paige with Seth. Fantastic.
Her high ponytail moved in the soft morning breeze. She studied him, a small “V” forming between her brows.
“Looks like you’re with me.”
A slow smile lifted her lips as recognition dawned. “Seth Markham. Wow. I didn’t recognize you.”
Of course she didn’t.
She bit her lower lip. “You’ve changed. A beard. And…muscles.” She waved her hand at his torso.
Rafting helped him bulk up. He opened his arms. “In the flesh.”
A small laugh escaped, and she dug the toe of her sneaker into the soft earth. The buzz of voices and the gentle flow of the river drifted among the adventure-seekers. Seeing her was more difficult than he’d expected.
“Everyone grab a life jacket, helmet, and a paddle.” Both groups followed his instructions except Paige, who stood rooted in place. Seth plopped a helmet on her head. “You’re gonna need this.”
“Thanks.” She grimaced and tugged the helmet into place.
Man, he hated how they’d left things. So much left unsaid.
Within a few minutes, both groups launched and headed downstream, the water deceptively calm.
Paige sat in the back of the raft, resting the paddle across her knees.
Seth directed the raft toward the middle of the river. “Who twisted your arm to come on this two-day river rafting excursion? Friends?”
“Not really.” She shrugged. “I promised myself I’d explore the area, since the New River is the destination for rafting.” She bit her lower lip as she concentrated on paddling.
“Are you out of your comfort zone?”
“Totally. I’d rather be reading a book.”
“Persuasion, by Jane Austen.”
Their gazes locked for a moment and then she cleared her throat. “What about you? I thought you were going to set the tech world on fire.” She glanced over her shoulder as if he didn’t find the look she gave him sexy.
“I sold a few apps. Made a lot of money. I wanted something…” He grinned as he steered the raft away from an outcropping of boulders. “Different. So, I purchased this rafting company two years ago.”
“That’s unexpected.”
“Maybe. Becoming a big shot in Silicon Valley was my dad’s dream, not mine.”
She rolled her shoulders. “I get it. Mom and Dad wanted me to go to law school. Instead, I became a librarian.” Her eyes shone bright like the sun. “I love this small town’s library.”
Wait a minute. “Here in Hinton, West Virginia?”
She nodded. “Yep. Moved a year ago and bought a cute bungalow near town.”
He didn’t have time to respond as they approached the first rapid. “Remember, paddle into the wave.” The team worked in rhythm as they successfully navigated the white caps.
“Why work if you own the company?” Paige asked.
“Where’s the fun in that?” He smirked. “Class Three rapids up ahead. Paddle…now!”
Their raft hit the rapids, hard, the impact causing the rubber raft to bounce and shudder with every crest. A huge wave slammed into the raft, splashing them with cold river water. Paige squealed as she flew over the side and his heart skipped a beat. “Paige!” Two women in his raft screamed.
Paige bobbed to the surface and sputtered, eyes wide.
“Keep your feet pointed downstream!”
She nodded, and he steered the raft toward the only woman who’d captured his heart. “Paddle faster!” His team dug in, their expressions grim. They pulled up beside Paige and he reached over and hauled her in, cradling her against his chest.
Seth checked her for injuries. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“I’m fine.” She shivered in his arms.
“You scared me,” he whispered.
“I scared myself.” She frowned. “I lost my paddle.”
He laughed. “That’s the last thing I’m worried about.”
She glanced shyly at him. “I’m sorry.”
“What for?”
“Breaking your heart.” She bit her lower lip. “So, do over?” She smiled, and it was the little bit of encouragement he needed.
His heart thundered as he leaned forward, cupped her cheek, sealing their promise with a kiss. Her cold lips warmed under his. She tasted like coming home. The entire raft cheered as they broke apart.
“How about a real date? One where I don’t drown you.”
She laughed, full and rich. “I’d like that.”
Jennifer is a member of ACFW, ACFW-NC, Blue Ridge Reader Connections, Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers, and Novel Academy. Several of her stories were finalists in the Blue Ridge Mountains Foundations contest, and she was a finalist in the Touched by Love contest sponsored by the Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers. Her stories contain themes of redemption, grace, forgiveness and second chances. During the day, she works for a research center at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. But on nights and weekends, she is a writing ninja, cramming in as many words as possible.
A hopeful romantic, Jennifer loves dark chocolate, Diet Coke, and a good rom-com. She and her husband have been married for over twenty-five years and are permitted to reside with their black rescue cat.
Connect with Jennifer on Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, Goodreads, or her website.
Spark Flash Fiction 