Page 67 of Cavern of Silence

He's known my ex-husband forever.Once again, shame over my failed relationship and divorce floods me.

"I just do," I quietly reply and stare straight ahead, too embarrassed to look at anyone.

Ryker stops the vehicle about twenty feet away. The river is about half a football field wide. The water is moving, but it wouldn't sweep us away if we stood in it.

Ryker turns to Hunter. "You ready to push if needed?"

"You won't have to, promise," I blurt out. I've traveled across this river at least a hundred times.

Hunter groans. "Julieta, I hope you're right."

"I am," I insist.

Why can't he give me the benefit of the doubt? This is one thing I'm sure of.

"Honestly. The bottom is always hard in this spot," I tell Ryker.

"I'm just preparing Hunter to go for a swim." He winks at me.

At least Ryker believes me.

He's the only one who matters anyway. If Hunter doesn't want to like me, it's his problem.

But I do want him to like me.

Hunter snorts. "Funny."

"Floors empty?" Ryker asks.

"We're good back here and ready!" Vanessa chirps.

"Why do you seem excited about this?" Hunter asks.

She beams. "This is an adventure! I do hope you don't have to go in there, though...that water looks disgusting."

"No one is going to have to go in," I claim again.

"Hit it, Ryker!" Vanessa calls out.

"I think you better go slow in case there are any stumps on the bottom. We don't need our tires blown out," Hunter advises.

"There aren't. It's gravel and maintained," I inform them.

"Is this a drug route or something?" Hunter blurts out.

No. It's a little old man farmer who makes extra cash letting people through.

But you're such an ass, I'm going to let you sweat it out and eat crow later.

"Ouch. What? It's a legitimate question," Hunter says after Vanessa elbows him.

"Stop hounding Julieta. Come on, Ryker, let's see what you've got!" Vanessa encourages.

Ryker squeezes my hand and wiggles his eyebrows again. It's a boyish look he gave me before we went down the mud hill, and my insides pulse.

"Hold on!" He moves the gears into four-wheel drive and puts his foot down on the pedal. We fly across the river with water spraying several feet on both sides of the vehicle and get to land.

"Welcome to Honduras!" I hold my arm up in a victory pose.