“I’m sorry.” He pulls me back against his chest and kisses my neck.
“Don’t be. It was a long time ago. Are your parents still alive?”
His chest rises on a deep sigh. “My mom died when I was ten. I was raised by my aunt and uncle.”
“Your brothers too?”
“Yeah, we were lucky to have Aunt Linda and Uncle Logan.”
“What about your dad?”
Relief floods his features when we’re interrupted by shrieks and laughter as a group of four canoes filled with teenagers come into view, saving him from answering. They paddle to the shore with the same idea as us, a break at the halfway point. “Thank God!” One of the girls cries, darting into the woods. “I really gotta pee!” The others laugh at her and plop down on the bank. So much for our peace and quiet.
“Let’s go, love,” Mason says, pulling me to my feet. The last hour of our canoe ride is peaceful and soothing. I can’t help but think how close Mason came to growing up like I did. He lost his parents as a child too. What a thing to have in common. I’m sorry for him, but I also feel closer to him. I wonder how his mother died, and what happened to his father, but I don’t want to push.
As we float around the last bend in the river, we enter some rapids and our speed increases quickly. “Woo!” I yell, loving the thrill of it, the wind through my hair.
Mason laughs. “Hold it steady, Evie.” We’re fine until the right side of the canoe catches on a large underwater boulder. The next thing I know I’m submerged in the freezing water. A split second later, I’m floating in the calm pool at the foot of the rapids, and Mason’s swimming toward me.
“You okay?”
“That was amazing!” I cry, and he snorts. When he puts his hands on my shoulders, panic grips me. “Don’t push me under!”
He stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “I wasn’t going to.”
“Shit. Sorry, I…can’t stand being dunked. I didn’t mean to freak out.”
“It’s okay. I’m sorry I scared you.” He points to our canoe, now upside down and beached on a shallow area. “I can see the return area. Let’s get going so we can get dried off.”
“Sounds good.”
The boy collecting the canoes laughs as we drag it ashore. “I saw you go over. You’d be surprised how many people make it all the way, then flip right there. Come on, I’ll drive you back before you freeze to death.” He drops us at our campsite, and we gather our clothes and race for the showers, giggling like kids.
“Hang on,” Mason says, and enters the men’s side. Finding it empty, he grabs my hand and tugs me inside, locking the door. Two grimy stone shower stalls stand side by side.
“I’m so not fucking in here.”
“I just don’t want you in the women’s side alone. Some creep could come in.” Mason adjusts the water and gestures for me to go first. “I’ll use the next one.”
The hot water feels amazing. Mason is washed and dressed by the time I finish rinsing my hair. “Sorry.” I hurry to dress when we hear a knock at the door.
“One second,” Mason calls. I yank my sweatshirt over my head and nod at him to unlock the door. We’re met by two smirking men, obviously amused to find us there. “All yours, guys,” Mason says as I stare at the ground and make a quick exit. Mason catches up with me. “Aw, you’re embarrassed.”
“You know what they think.” I slap him.
“Good. Everyone should know you’re mine.”
“Neanderthal.”
“You better believe it, baby. You hungry?”
“Starving.” My stomach chooses that moment to growl, and Mason chuckles.
“I’ll make dinner.” Mason removes the cooler from the car while I build a fire. He pulls out a few wrapped packages and proceeds to slide chunks of beef, peppers, and red potatoes onto metal skewers before laying them on a rack over the fire.
“Anything I can do?”
“There’s a bottle of wine in the cooler.”
