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they realized they were running out of traversable land and would have to double back.
    â€œMaybe we could let the current take us downriver,” Hope suggested, and bit her lip in distress. Thinking better of her own suggestion, she said, “Or we could just find an alternate route.”
    â€œThe current is moving pretty fast. I wouldn’t want to take the chance if we didn’t have to.”
    Hope agreed, sighing heavily. As they turned to go back the way they’d come, they heard the distinct sound of voices speaking Spanish heading their way and froze.
    â€œWhat do we do?” Hope asked fearfully, swallowing as she stood rigid. “They’re going to see us any second!”
    J.T. did some quick thinking and came up with two possible scenarios. Stick around and die, or jump in the water and possibly drown—only one option had a slim shot of survival. Grabbing her hand, he yelled, “Jump!” right as a bullet split the air by his ear and they went feetfirst into the fast-moving river.
    If he hadn’t been choking on river water, the sudden cool of the water would’ve been refreshing, but the brutal current was tossing them around like rag dolls, pulling them under as they went, only to spit them out again as they drew quick lungfuls of precious air.
    â€œJ.T.!” Hope managed to scream before going under again. He swam toward her and managed to grab her hand and pull her to him, but the waves buffeted them, doing their best to tear them apart.
    â€œDon’t let go!” he yelled, gripping her hand so hard he would’ve feared under normal circumstances that he’d snap bone.
    J.T. popped out of the water in time to see the worst-case scenario materialize before his eyes. Awww, shit. A waterfall loomed and they were heading straight for it.
    He knew they had seconds before they went over, so he used the time to shout quick instructions.
    â€œWhatever you do, try to go feetfirst into the water. With any luck...we won’t hit rocks!”
    â€œRocks?” she cried, ending with a shrill, “OHHMYYGOD” as they plunged over the side.
    It would be a miracle if they survived.
    And J.T. worried...they might be plain out of miracles.
    * * *
    H OPE SURGED TO the surface with a huge gasp as her lungs screamed for air. Mist from the waterfall sprayed her face as she tread water looking frantically for J.T.
    Oh, God, please don’t be dead. “J.T.?” she called out, desperately hoping that some kind of luck—even if she didn’t believe in luck—was on their side.
    J.T. popped up from beneath the water and she nearly cried with relief. She swam to him and immediately went into his arms, so grateful that he was alive that she didn’t care that he was a relative stranger. Immediately aware of the strength rippling in his arms as he held her afloat, she found herself a little breathless.
    â€œYou okay?” he asked, and all she could do was nod gratefully.
    â€œYou’re alive,” she said, smiling through tears that had suddenly appeared without warning. “I thought you were dead when you didn’t surface right away.”
    â€œMore weight...went deeper,” he grunted, his arms tightening around her, water spraying all around them.
    â€œI was scared,” she admitted, pushing away the wet hair clinging to her face. “I thought for sure we were both dead.”
    â€œNot dead yet,” he said with a ragged smile, showing no signs of letting her go, and she was okay with that.
    More than okay.
    Was it bad that she wanted to wrap herself around him and never let go?
    Of course it was.
    â€œWell, glad you didn’t die,” Hope said, reluctantly pulling away so she could gather her wits before they floated away along with her self-respect.
    â€œThat makes two of us,” he said from behind her as they swam away from the falls to climb onto the rocks lining the bank of the river.
    Hope cautiously