“Don’t worry.” I turn to face him, forcing him to lean over so I can wrap my arms around his neck. It’s much more difficult with the bulky life vests between us. “I promise this is going to be fun. You’ve spoiled me with a concert and trip to the festival; it’s my turn to give you an experience you won’t forget.”

“You don’t need to try hard for that.” He leans in closer, looking at me over the rims of his glasses and giving me the perfect view of the way his eyes sparkle from the reflection of the sun and the water hitting them. “Every time I’m with you is an experience I won’t forget.”

My heart spasms in my chest.

It’s times like these when I wonder if this is all too good to be true. If this is the real Jasper and not some character he’s portraying. I don’t know how somebody could possibly be this perfect. How he can make me feel the way he does.

I want to figure out a way to hold on to him forever.

“All right, lovebirds, enough of that.” Jason brushes past us, high-fiving our preteen group members. “Let’s go over the rules and regulations so we can get out on this water and have the best day ever.”

We all climb into the raft, Jasper and me in the front, the brothers behind us, and their parents in the third row, with Jason and a solo rider at the rear. We aren’t in the water yet, so it’s easy to focus as Jason shows us how to secure our feet—which are encased in rented booties—into the raft. He hands out oars and makes us complete a dry run as he shouts out different commands. We all catch on quick and our paddles slice through the crisp air, which is already starting to warm up. By the time we drag our raft to the mouth of the river, Jasper’s nerves seem to have disappeared.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this.” His grin is practically taking over his entire face as he looks at me from across the raft. “Thank you for planning this.”

“I figured what better way to learn about Colorado than to experience it?” I’m so relieved he seems excited for this. I would’ve hated it if he only did it for me. “Plus the views from the water are so different from the views of hiking. I wanted you to get them both firsthand.”

“I can’t wait.” Something shifts on his face. His smile gets smaller, but not any less dazzling.

I want to ask him what just happened, what he’s thinking, but our little rafting partners who aren’t really little—one is definitely an inch or so taller than me—pull our attention to them.