Austin Adventureswas a popular tourist destination from what I’d researched. Experts in the ways of wilderness exploring, river rafting, and tree top courses, among whatever else was buried under the tabs of options I’d grown bored of clicking through the last time I’d been on their website and had actually pulled the plug with signing myself over to their mercy.
Coming from a background of casual workouts to keep my body in shape and sitting behind a desk all day while only occasionally getting up to pace around my office while I convinced yet another client not to jump ship at the slightest drop in their stock value, I knew I was going to have plenty of sore nights ahead of me. Which is the exact reason I’d stuffed plenty of topical cream and a travel sized heating pad into my bag before I’d left.
“Marlow Knight?”
My head snapped back, my hand raising automatically like a first year school boy. “Present!”
A few people around me laughed to themselves, which only led to stroking my ego and shooting them a wink. I was used to being the life of the party, the class clown as it were, and proudly carried that title well into my adulthood while the rest of my peers were content with dampening their personalities in order to fit in with our homogeneous society.
I had a good chance at finding someone as high energy as me while I was here, and if not in my group, then among one of the several others.
How hard could it be to make friends among a bunch of outdoorsy extroverts?
“Thanks, everyone,” the man addressed us again. “Make sure to stick with your partner during the first day. There’s going to be a lot going on that you both will need to be present for before activities start tomorrow.”
Around me, my group began to break off into pairs without any of them discussing the logistics behind picking their partner. Almost like it was all preplanned and I was simply that idiot who forgot to put his name down on the signup sheet.
Huh...
I flagged down our guide. “So, what happens if youdon’thave an assigned partner?”
“You didn’t come with anyone?” he asked, his brow perked up over the rim of his aviators.
“Nope. Just little old me.” My comment was meant as a joke, one I figured he’d appreciate considering it was going to make his job easier when assigning me to whatever group activities were available for any given day without the hassle of having to coordinate between two people’s schedules.
However, he surprised me when a frown tugged at his lips. A well-manicured finger glided over the tablet, tapping a few times while bringing up some sort of list I couldn’t quite see from where I was standing. It was long by the looks of it, extensive like my stock portfolios.
I could appreciate a man who was organized. Just as much as I could appreciate one willing to come undone once the bedroom door was locked.
“That’s odd,” he mumbled—more to himself than to me. “You were supposed to be paired off.”
Paired off?
Aw, fuck.
Don’t tell me this was some kind of couple’s retreat weekend or whatever. “Can’t say I got that memo.”
All that came with my welcome packet was an extensive list on how to keep your food safe from bears while out hiking and camping, a reassurance that CPR training that was mandatory among the staff and was strongly encouraged to obtain before coming toAustin Adventuresfor any newcomers, and the type of safety equipment used for overnight stays outdoors.
There were probably other things I’d skimmed over, but nothing had told me a plus one was mandatory.
He sighed. “I’m going to have to call the director.”
I had half a mind to joke about offering myself up for mercy to whatever crotchety director was about to come stomping down here from their air-conditioned office and ream me out for fucking up their program, but considering how stressed this guy suddenly seemed, I kept my lips sealed for the time being.
Even if I’d somehow caused a rift in their plans, or whatever the fuck, the ball was in my court. I’d paid handsomely to be here and anyone with half a brain and a hankering to keep my money from being yanked from their pockets was going to be encouraged to figure it out.
“Hey, Blake,” the guy spoke into his walkie. “We’ve got a situation down at drop-off. You mind coming down for a sec?”
The other end crackled for a brief moment before another voice answered. “Yep. Be right there.”
Now, a radio was nothing to go off of but to me, he at least sounded younger than fifty. A good sign.
“Sorry about this,” the guy said. “You were booked for a different package in our system.”
“Does that matter?”
“Well, the pay is different, for one.” Not that I cared, I was swimming in more funds than I knew what to do with. “And two, the pre-selected activities all require a partner.”
