When it was done, neither of us said anything. We just kissed a final time, found our shorts, and then wandered back to our cots.
Chapter Four: Getting Ready for the Finale
I couldn’t fall back asleep once I was back on my cot. I just kept replaying my encounter with Lisa in my mind. Did I just cheat on Becca? Did the fact that I’d already had sex with Lisa twice in the last few days, with Becca’s knowledge, mitigate things at all? Why did it feel so right in the moment?
After an hour lost in my thoughts, it was truly dawn and there was some movement around the camp, most likely some early risers getting up to bathe in the river. Since I couldn’t sleep, I decided to join them. When I got down to the river, towel over my shoulder, there were already seven or eight people in the water, all of them in various states of undress. None of them seemed a bit self-conscious about it either. What a difference a week had made.
Just as I’d stripped down and entered the cold water, Lisa appeared on the bank. She looked startled at first to see me. But she didn’t turn away. She’d clearly come down to wash off too. Before long, we were both naked, standing in knee deep water about five feet apart from each other. I finally broke the silence, speaking in a soft voice so as not to be overheard, “should we talk about it?”
She sighed, replying, “I don’t know, Clint. I’m not sure what’s going on anywhere. This is all so strange. Do you think we can just have a ‘what happens in the canyon, stays in the canyon’ rule?”
I chuckled. “Yeah, I’d vote for that. Not sure it will work, but…” I trailed off, not sure what else to say. After a bit of silence, I finally asked what I’d been meaning to ask: “So should I assume from your answer that you’re not planning on telling Brent about what happened earlier?”
She looked at me for a moment before replying, “Not yet. Maybe when this is all said and done. I don’t know… I just have a feeling that we’re not done with the craziness. We’ve still got another day and night of this, and if I’m gonna have to confess my sins, I’d rather do it all at once, when we’re all home and away from this craziness.”
I was so glad she said that. It was exactly what I was thinking. I knew there would likely be a reckoning at some point, but I just didn’t want to face it out here, where there was no privacy and so much craziness. And selfishly, part of me really wanted at least one more chance to be with Lisa. “Okay,” I said. “I won’t say anything to Becca, either. At least here in the canyon.”
The rest of the day went by relatively uneventfully, at least from an interpersonal standpoint. We had a lot of river to cover, including some major rapids, so we spent the vast majority of the day in the boats, only stopping for lunch and for a brief pitstop in the afternoon. There were no side excursions or other opportunities for mischief. But the guides really built up anticipation for the evening. Being our last night in the canyon, the guides were planning a major luau type feast where we would use up the remaining food and alcohol. They said there would be music and dancing and that we should change into our best remaining clothes for the occasion.
BOOK FOUR
Chapter One: The Grand Finale
The final night was one I will never forget as long as I live.
Almost as soon as we’d beached the rafts, people began changing into nicer clothes. Because most of us had stayed at least one night in Vegas at the beginning of the trip and many planned to stay there a night or two afterward, just about everyone had something other than river clothes packed deep in their bags. I opted for a polo shirt and khaki shorts, as did most of the other men.
But the women really put us to shame. Most wore skimpy dresses or short skirts and plunging tops, the kind of outfits that women somehow feel compelled to wear when going out for a night in Vegas. It was quite a sight after a week of river attire. Becca looked gorgeous in a skimpy red dress that laced together in the chest area. Alesha wore a sexy summer dress with a floral pattern. And Lisa opted for a short skirt and sleeveless top that showed a ton of cleavage. The other women in the camp looked amazing too. Jen, the guide, was wearing a cute little romper outfit that clung to her petite frame. Candy, fittingly, wore a backless dress that looked like something a flower child would have worn during the Summer of Love. Krista, perhaps most shockingly, wore a top with a neckline that dropped well below her breasts, exposing an absurd amount of cleavage. She’d really come a long way since the beginning of the trip.
As we all started drinking beer and wine and waiting for the food to cook, I couldn’t help noticing several of the men pulling out Viagra packs, which they must have got from Alan. I discreetly did the same, chasing my pill with a swig of beer.
In the center of the camp’s common area, where all the food was being cooked, the guides set up a cluster of lanterns, as they typically did, as well as a large portable speaker. None of us had heard any music since the trip began, so when the music started, it had an almost hypnotic effect on everyone, particularly to those of us who had already had a few drinks and were feeling buzzed. There’s really no feeling quite like that initial buzz of the night, particularly when you’re outdoors in a beautiful setting.
The feast was incredible. There were all kinds of freshly grilled meats and vegetables, deliciously seasoned and cooked to perfection by Jen, who wore an apron over her her skimpy outfit. Something about eating outdoors, particularly somewhere so beautiful, has a way of making everything taste just a little better.
After dinner, as the sun began to set, Jim, who was playing DJ, turned up the music and led us through an eclectic playlist, one that had something in it for people of all musical tastes.
After a while he paused the music. There was some tapping of glasses, and Aaron stood on top of a cooler to address everyone. “Guys, this is our last night. Tomorrow we only need to go a few miles down the river before we’ll get to the spot where the helicopters will pick you up and take you up to Bar Ten Ranch for lunch and a well-deserved hot shower.” The group cheered at the mention of the hot shower. Aaron smiled and continued, “But that’s tomorrow. We’ve still got tonight, so let’s live it up.” Another cheer from the group. “I can tell you truthfully that this has been a trip unlike any other I’ve been on. I don’t know if there’s something in the water or what, but ya’ll are crazy.” He smiled as he said that. “Normally, I’d encourage the group to dance and live it up, because you might never have an experience like this again. But I don’t think this is a group that needs any prodding. Anyway, it’s been one hell of a trip and I’m gonna miss you guys when it’s done.” He raised his beer in the air, making a toast, “to us!”
Everyone cheered back in unison, “To us!” And, with that, the music began playing again.
We’d all had a decent amount to drink by that point and still had a fair amount of energy, given we’d done little all day other than sit in the rafts. So before long, nearly everyone was dancing, barefoot in the sand. Everyone was very loose and playful from the beginning, and we were all so familiar with each other by this point in the trip, that we didn’t just pair up with our spouses. In fact, it was Alesha who first pulled me off my seat and onto the sandy dance floor. She wrapped her arms around my neck and shuffled up close against me, being very flirtatious. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that Brent and Becca were dancing together, also very closely. She was whispering something in his ear and smiling flirtatiously. The intimacy and familiarity of their body language caused a momentary flash of jealousy. Then the rational side of my brain reminded me that I had fucked her best friend, Brent’s wife, that morning and therefore had no right to be jealous.