Rhett

Last night was the best night of my existence. I've only ever been in love one time and it was with the same woman. Leaving Winnie this morning was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I woke up 20 minutes before my alarm went off and all I could do was stare at her beautiful face so peaceful in sleep. I left her a note and programmed her coffee to start around the time I thought she would be up. When I got back today I would be asking her to move in with me. I never wanted to be apart from her, not even by a small metal fence.

Today, I'm going rafting with Colt and I'm going to tell him about me and Winnie. I'm not sure how he's going to take it or if Winnie will be alright with me taking the lead on this, but I can't hide it anymore and he needs to know. He's my best friend and I don't want that to change. The only reason it would is if he decides he can't be happy for his sister and me.

It's been a couple years since I've done this and I'm excited to get back on the water. I'm picking him up at our take out and driving back up the river where he already unloaded the raft so we can put in. I see his truck as I round the last windy corner of the canyon before I get to our meeting spot. He gives me the finger as a greeting as I pull up to the empty spot beside him. I shake my head but laugh.

"Yeah, you too, man!" I yell out the open window. He gets out of his truck, hops in mine and we're finally on the way. I'm getting pumped. I love this stuff. Growing up here, Colt and I have been on this river more times than I can count but it's always exciting. He pulls out his phone.

"Hey I gotta take this, it's the office." I nod. It"s interesting to see him taking care of business. Colt has found a way to make money doing what he loves and that makes me really happy and proud of him. As we're going down the road I'm thinking about how much I"ve been needing this. I love the rush that comes with trying to work with the rapids, it's the same feeling I get when I'm riding down the side of a mountain on my bike with too much exposure on a techy line. I've been chasing that feeling since I was seven years old and accidentally went down a Black slope on a family ski trip. When I made it down, my adrenaline was through the roof. I think one of the reasons I've loved hockey for so long is for the adrenaline.

Feeling like I'm flying across the ice and no one can catch me is one of the best feelings in the world. Well…it was. I guess it's not gonna be like that anymore. Sometimes the realization that I'm done playing professionally hits me out of nowhere and it feels like I've been injured all over again. I stop next to the boat and Colt already has the door opened, jumping out. I smile and rush to catch up and focus on the present. I want to be here right now and not thinking about the past. I'm shutting the door as Colt comes around the back, then comes up and grabs me by the shoulders. He gets a serious look on his face.

"You brush your teeth this morning?"

"Clean teeth, clean lines!" I say it like a battle cry. It's just a superstition but one we've lived by since we were 16. A guide told us once that clean teeth help you navigate the rapids, we fully bought into it.

"Woo! Hell yeah!"

"Let's gooo!" We get our boat set up and shove off down the river. Clear Creek Canyon is one of the most beautiful places to raft. After a few rapid sessions we hit a lull.

"How's it being back, man? I know it wasn't exactly on your terms, but I am glad to have you back."

"It's good. I mean it's only been a little over a month, but honestly it feels right. I always knew I wanted to come home eventually…my timeline just got sped up."

"I know your family sure is happy you're back." I smile at that.

"It's been pretty great to see them regularly. I didn't realize how much I was missing out on being away. We talked but it's not the same. I've facetimed Hazel once a week since she was born but getting to really be in her life is something else. She's the cutest thing."

"Huh…you know, I know your family means a lot to you, but I don't think I"ve ever heard you talk this seriously about them. Are you growing up or something?" He snorts. "What"s next? A wife and a baby?" I can't stop the image that my mind shows me.

Winnie.I gulp and try to clear my throat before laughing along with Colt. I'm not sure if that's something I should share with him just yet.

"I mean, a wife doesn't sound so bad."

"I didn't say it sounded bad, but it doesn't really sound like you." I can't blame him for thinking that. I haven't been a relationship guy since he's known me. A long time. He met Lacey, the only girl I've dated more than a couple months, when I thought things may be getting serious. He wasn't a fan and now I wish I would have taken his opinion a little more seriously.

"Well maybe I have grown up. I've never really tried to make it work long term with someone, but I really think I'd like to."

"That's great, Rhett. Honestly I'm kind of excited to see how this goes." He thinks he's so funny.

"Okay funny guy. What about you? You ever think about settling down?"

"No way, old man. I'm still so young."

"We're the same age, Colt."

"The way you're talkin' has me questionin' that." He can't contain his laughter at that.

I flip him off while he gets a hold of himself.

"Why do I even try?"

"Because I'm the only other guy in this town crazy enough to go do all the crazy things you want to do." I consider that.

"Yeah, I think that is why." He shoves me a little with his paddle but not enough for me to fall out.

"So, how's Winnie doing with the bakery and everything?" I decide to ease into this.

"You know her, she's gonna succeed in whatever she does. She always has." It never fails to amaze me how Colt talks about Winnie. They've been not only siblings but friends for as long as I've known them.

"Yeah, she's always been smart and talented. I remember she used to always pack the food she made when she came with us to raft or hike."

"Yeah and lay on the bank or hang out at the trailhead," he snickers. "She hasn't gotten any more coordinated. I can't count the times she's gotten herself hurt over the years. I genuinely worry about her some days." I smile.

"I think she's gonna be okay." I'll make sure that she's gonna be okay… I've always been protective of Winnie. She's just someone you want to shield from anything bad.

"I hope so. At least I don't have to worry about her dating."

"How's it been with her dating?" He lets out a short breath through his nose.

"Winnie doesn't really date. She had a boyfriend a month or so ago, and before that she had another one. She's never been one to have multiple dates a week or anything. Thank God she doesn't give every one who looks her way the time of day."

"I bet." That's all I can come up with to say. I don't know how to bring this up, but I feel like maybe I'm not going about it in the right way.

"Yeah, her last boyfriend lived a couple hours away and he was such a dud." He's laughing as he's talking now. "He owned a peach orchard and I know more than I ever wanted to about peaches now, having only talked to him the two times Winnie brought him around." That information helps ease the tension I can feel in my shoulders. I want to ask him more questions, but he's saved from my curiosity by the river. We have a stretch of rapids coming up before take out and we don't want to miss that. I get situated on the right just before we hit the first set. The water is up and running from all the rain this spring so we breeze right through.

A nice thing about having done this run multiple times and together was that we were like a well oiled machine, we saw the same lines. As soon as we're through we have another session waiting for us. I love when it's non stop and all I have time to think about is my next paddle. We thread between two rocks and catch the eddy turning us around. We haven't seen very many other groups out here today but we've caught up to a kayaker just a little ways ahead of us. We watch as he makes it through the next set with ease and follow suit, but when we look up to find him again, the blue kayak is turned over and its owner is nowhere to be seen.

We get closer to the boat and I'm able to flip it enough to see that the guy isn't inside anymore. We start paddling faster, hoping to find him. I'm scanning the water when Colt starts shouting that he sees him. He's floating downstream fast but we should be able to reach him before the next set. As we go by Colt reaches out to grab him but the guy starts panicking and grabbing onto him and thrashing trying to get into our raft.

"Easy man, we've got you, but you've gotta let me pull you in." No sooner does he get the words out that the guy slips on the side of the boat and then they're both gone. Shit. I barely have time to think it before the last set of rapids is on me. I paddle through as best I can but it isn't pretty. Panic is trying to set in but I know I have to remain calm. Colt will be fine. He's literally trained for this. Once I pull off to the side he'll be right behind me. I manage not to fall out and make it to the take out to the left.

I pull the boat up and wade out into the water, watching for them to pop up. Colt's red pfd comes into my line of sight followed by the other kayaker"s yellow one and I release a breath. I get the throw line ready and cast it out for them when they come by. Colt grabs it and then hands it to the other guy and they pull themselves in.

"Holy shit, Colt. Are you okay?"

"I'm really sorry, I panicked and pulled you in with me." Yellow vest says.

"Yeah you probably shouldn't be out here alone if you can't handle it." I snap.

"Hey, it's alright, we both made it out of the water, so that"s a win." Sounds like him. He's too easy going. "We'll wait for your kayak and help you get it out." I roll my eyes, not as easy to forgive.

"Thank you guys, seriously, I'm really sorry. After I flipped, it just all blurred."

"Hey, it's alright, we both made it out of the water, so that"s a win." Colt says again. I look at him then, really look at him. He's smiling and brushing his hands over his wet shorts. "We'll wait for your kayak and help you get it out." That confirms my suspicion.

"Colt, we're gonna have to take you to the hospital. I think you may have hit your head." He pulls his brows together and looks at me.

"I don't think I did, but it got pretty crazy once I fell in."

"Again, I can't thank you guys enough for helping me out." Yellow vest chimes in again.

"Hey, it's alright, we both made it out of the water, so that"s a win." Oh jeeze, okay.

"Yep, alright buddy, let's get you into the truck, I'll unhook the trailer and load the boat and we'll get you to the ER."

"Are you sure? I really think I'm fine, Rhett. It's not the first time I've fallen out of a raft, though it has been awhile."

"Yeah, I'm sure Colt. You've said the same exact thing, verbatim, three times in the last 45 seconds."

"Ah, gosh. Now I feel even worse about this." Good grief, this guy again.

"Hey, it's alright, we both made it out of the water, so that"s a win." Colt says for the fourth time now. That's not gonna get old.

"Let's go Colt. Get in the truck." He listens to me and gets in. I help yellow vest, Martin tells me, get his kayak and he calls his friend to come pick him up. I unhook the trailer, load the boat, strap it down, and use a lock I find to put on the hitch. I get in the truck and ask Colt multiple questions which he can answer so that"s a good sign, I think. I pull my phone out of the dry bag once we make it to the emergency room and they get Colt into a wheelchair. He fights them a little but Marigold is on duty and he makes the smart decision not to fight with her.

"Have you called anyone yet?" She"s looking at me.

"Uh no. Not yet. Just pulled my phone out."

"Well you better call Winnie, she'll wanna know he's here." She turns and starts wheeling Colt down a hallway, but calls over her shoulder "After his scans, he'll be in room 13." Great, now I'm calling for the first time today and it's to tell her that her brother is in the hospital with a concussion and I don't know how serious it is yet. Really not what I wanted the topic of our next conversation to be.