The kayakers begin collecting paddles. She grabs one from the pile, and I rush forward.
Finally.
I have an excuse to talk to her.
Our eyes meet and my smooth introduction runs aground. Hazel. Her eyes are hazel and so very pretty. Light brown with sage green flecks close to the pupil they shimmer like a holographic lure mesmerizing me as I turn into a babbling idiot.
"First time?"
She laughs nervously.
"Is it that obvious?"
I smile and she smiles back. And just like that, the rest of the world disappears.
The river, the tourists, and the summer heat burning the back of my neck. All of it. Gone.
For one beautiful brief moment it’s just us and I know this is the moment we’ll tell our grandchildren about.
Then she turns to look at the kayaks lined up by the dock. The paddle in her hand swings with her and straight into my face.
Crack.
Pain explodes across my cheek and nose.
"What the—"
My vision blurs as stinging tears fill my eyes. The woman gasps, dropping the paddle.
"Oh my God!" she shouts.
I touch my nose and my fingers come away bloody. Not a few drops or a small crimson smear. They’re drenched in blood.
She looks horrified.
"I am so sorry!" she cries.
Blood drips onto my shirt, but I barely notice, because she's still looking at me.
It might be crazy but getting hit in the face feels like the best thing that's ever happened to me.
Paisley
I’m a walking disaster.
Today is just one giant clusterfuck. My hair is on the fritz. I got lost and had to ask for directions, not once but twice! I forgot my sunscreen and I’m already halfway to a sunburn.
And to top it all off, I hit the most gorgeous man I’ve ever met in the face with a kayak paddle.
I think I broke his nose.
“I’m so sososorry,” I repeat for the third time.
“It’s fine,” he waves me off with a grin.
His nose is still bleeding but he doesn’t seem bothered by it. He’s wearing one of the orangeJohnson River AdventuresT-shirts that all the guides wear, a pair of blue swim trunks, and matching flip flops.
Another guide slaps a towel against his chest, and mutters something about him scaring the little kids. Considering the matching dark brown hair, green eyes, and the tiny ‘J’ tattooed on their wrists I’d bet my ass that they’re brothers.
