“Yes,” I say, trying to focus my attention on the clouds drifting lazily in the sky, completely at odds with the fierce rapids around me.
Jordan lets a burst of water pass between us before speaking again. “Do you see that stretch of calm water to the right of the rapids?”
I tuck my chin to my chest, quickly glancing forward and spotting the patch of docile water. “Yes.”
“Good. When we get there, we’re going to flip onto our stomachs and swim as hard as we can to the shore. Don’t let your legs down until we get to the shallowest part of the bank. Okay?”
“Okay.” I try not to sound as panicked as I feel.
Jordan finds my hand and squeezes. “We’ve got this.”
His words give me the courage I need to silence my panicked thoughts, and when he tells me to go, I swim my heart out.
Chapter 16
PAIGE
Jordan gets to the river bank just before I do, and he instantly turns around and wraps an arm around my back, pulling me up the slippery bank and onto the shore. When we get to solid ground, he reaches for both my arms and looks me up and down. I can tell he’s scanning me to make sure I’m not hurt—I can see the sheer terror in his eyes.
“I’m okay, Jordan,” I say, hoping to reassure him. “I’m fine.”
His frantic gaze bores into mine, and he breathes heavily as river water trails rivulets down his skin. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” I’m a bit breathless too. I take a step back, and Jordan’s hands fall from my arms.
He nods and runs a hand down his face, wicking away the river water, but then his eyes are on me again.
“I’m fine, Jordan. Really.” I stretch out my unscathed hands and arms as if it will give him firm proof.
Jordan nods and blows out a breath before turning toward the river we just escaped.
I follow his gaze and can’t help the smile growing on my face.
“What?” Jordan asks, looking back at me with a frown.
“We just did that.” I laugh as I take in the churning rapids we just swam through, adrenaline coursing through me all over again.
Jordan shakes his head and huffs out a chuckle. “You crazy girl.”
I smile in response then take a moment to rest my hands on my knees, catching my breath as I scan our surroundings. Evergreens seem to stretch on for miles on both sides of the river, but several yards away from us, I spot well-worn tracks in the dirt that weave in and out of the trees.
“Mitch said if something like this happens, we should stay put and wait for someone to come get us,” Jordan says. “Hopefully, that road is as well used as it looks.” He sits on the riverbank and takes off his helmet and life jacket, tossing them on the ground, then leans back on his hands, letting the sun warm his face. He seems at ease, but I don’t miss the way he keeps sneaking furtive glances at me like any moment I’m going to scream out in pain.
After a second, I remove my life jacket and helmet and look down at the mass of sopping-wet hair fanned across my arms and shoulders like clingy tentacles. So much for the braids—my hair ties must have fallen out in the wash cycle that was that class-four rapid.
I gather my hair and wring out a pint’s worth of river water. “You don’t happen to have a hair tie, do you?”
Jordan opens the pockets of his swim shorts. “Dang it, I’m fresh out.”
I smile, about to make a snarky comment, when out of nowhere, Jordan jolts upright. He shoves his hand into his left pocket, then his right. Then he pats his hands down his gray athletic shirt, his face quickly turning from worried to panicked.
He repeats the pocket search twice more with nothing to show for it. “My phone. It’s gone.” His breathing escalates, and I quickly scan the water’s edge, though my gut tells me his phone has likely gone to a watery grave beneath the rapids.
“Do you have your…” Jordan’s breaths grow shallow. “Your phone.”
Myphone? “I left it back in my car.” But even if I did have it, I’m sure it wouldn’t work out here. My phone carrier always has the worst reception.
One look at Jordan’s swiftly paling face tells me this is not about losing his phone at all but being unable to connect with his mom.
