by Heather Beck
“Perfect timing,” Ava muttered under her breath, the boy’s parents now joining him at the top. They’d had the park all to themselves since arriving, so couldn’t they have gotten just one more minute of privacy? After Friday night and then now, it felt like she’d never get to kiss him.
Javier smirked. “Come on,” he said, leading her down the pyramid. “There’s more to see. Besides, I think we both need to cool off, don’t you?”
“Yeah, the sun’s pretty hot,” she answered, even though she had a feeling he wasn’t talking about the weather. “What did you have in mind?”
“That depends – did you remember to bring a swimsuit?”
She nodded, thinking about the fire-engine-red bikini she’d bought specifically for their date, the one that made her body look smoking hot.
“Perfect. You’ll be able to experience Cenote X’Canche firsthand then.”
“Cenote X’Canche?” she repeated, her eyes brightening. She’d read all about cenotes – natural swimming holes filled with fresh water – in her tourist guidebook, and since then, she’d been dying to visit one.
“Yeah,” he said, nodding, “and with any luck, we’ll be the only ones there.”
After getting refreshments and grabbing their swimsuits and towels from the car, Javier bought their tickets to Cenote X’Canche. They rented bikes and then began the mile-and-a-half trek to the cenote. The path, a mix of gravel and sand, was mostly shaded by trees, and as they went, Javier pointed out some tropical birds that perched on the leafy branches, singing beautiful songs. It was all so perfect that Ava felt like she was in a scene from one of her dad’s movies, something romantic with an exotic flair.
About ten minutes later, they came upon a sign that read Cenote X’Canche in large green lettering. Faced with a crossroad, they followed the directions to the waterhole, finally parking their bikes and then taking a short walk that led them to a clean but rustic wooden hut, complete with an outdoor shower.
“These are the changerooms,” Javier explained, taking his backpack off. “I’ll meet you back out here in a second, okay?”
“Sure,” she said before going into one of the stalls and then slipping into her bikini. When she came out, Javier was already waiting for her, wearing nothing but black swim shorts. Just like she’d imagined, he had a gorgeous, toned body – clearly, he liked to work out.
Ava wasn’t the only one feeling the attraction because Javier couldn’t keep his eyes off her. “You look amazing,” he said, hardly able to keep his gaze from going up and down her body. “That bikini really, um, suits you.”
“Really?” she said teasingly, turning sideways. “Because I thought it made my butt look fat.”
“Shut up,” he said, laughing. “We both know you’re gorgeous.”
“Gorgeous, huh?” She felt her heart skip a beat, even though she knew they were just playing around.
“Yeah, but even someone as gorgeous as you has to follow the park rules, and that means taking a shower before going into the cenote.” He walked her to the outdoor platform and then turned on the shower. “Wanna share?” he asked with a devilish smile. “It would be a shame to waste all this water on one person.”
“It would be a waste, wouldn’t it?”
They stepped under the shower, getting so close that she could feel the heat radiating from his body, despite the cool water that cascaded down them. She normally wouldn’t do something like this, especially on a second date, but there was something about Javier that she trusted, somehow knowing that he wouldn’t take advantage of her.
Feeling comfortable and safe, she reached out and ran her hand over his chest and then one of his shoulders, noticing a tattoo of an eagle on his inner bicep. “When did you get this?” she asked, tracing the black ink with her finger, admiring the details that made it look so realistic, like it could actually take flight.
“On my twentieth birthday. It symbolizes strength, wisdom, and freedom.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.”
She smiled. “I think you already told me that, and for the record, I think you’re pretty beautiful yourself – in a manly way, of course.”
“It better be in a manly way,” he said, pulling her in even closer, their bodies now touching, “because if it wasn’t, you might not want me doing this.” He tilted her chin up, looking lovingly into her eyes, and then he finally kissed her, gentle and sweet, his soft lips lingering on hers.
When they parted, Ava found herself needing to take a deep breath, her heart pounding, her knees weak. It was such a simple kiss, but it made her feel so good and so alive. She’d never been kissed like that before because she’d never been kissed by him.
Javier smiled almost shyly at her as he ran his hand lightly over her cheek. “That was kind of perfect,” he muttered.
“Tell me about it,” she muttered back, staring into his sexy hazel eyes, wishing she could kiss him all day long. She knew that wasn’t possible, though, so she cleared her throat, trying, as hard as it was, to come back down to Earth. “So, what do you say we hit up that cenote? You know, before it gets busy.”
“Um, right,” Javier said, snapping back to reality, too. “It’s this way.” Like a true gentleman, he picked up their bags that they’d left off to the side and then took her hand in his, walking until they reached a viewing platform at the top of the cenote.
“Oh, wow,” Ava said as she looked down. The cenote was large, round, and very deep, surrounded by rock walls that had spindly trees and plants growing from them. Long, thick tree roots reached into the water below, which was a vibrant turquoise color that looked almost surreal.
“Be careful on the steps,” Javier said as they began to climb down the steep wooden stairs that led to the cenote. When they made it to the bottom, they walked along a boardwalk that encircled the rugged interior of the cenote, coming to a small suspension bridge that allowed them to cross over the water and to a diving platform. As they’d hoped, they were the first ones there, the silence and beauty of the cenote creating a tranquil atmosphere.
“You swim, right?” Javier asked as he placed their bags on a rocky ledge near the platform. “If not, I can get you a lifejacket.”
“Thanks, but I’ve been swimming for as long as I could walk. I bet I can even swim circles around you.”
“Is that a challenge?”
She shrugged, trying to hide her smile. “Maybe.”
“Oh, really?”
As Javier walked toward her, the devilish smile returning to his face, Ava knew she was in trouble. “Hey! What are you doing?” she cried playfully, right before he lifted her up with surprising ease, one arm under her shoulders, the other under her knees.
“I thought you liked swimming,” he teased, getting closer to the edge of the platform.
“Javier, don’t you dare!” She tried to sound serious, but she couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “If you throw me in, this is our last date – ever!”
“Well, that’s a shame.” He continued forward, but instead of throwing her into the water, he carried her to the stairs, taking them slowly as they descended into the cool, clear water.
As she stayed in his arms and looked around, she couldn’t help but feel like they’d been transported to another world. Everything was quiet, except for the pitter-patter of water dripping from the long tree roots and the rustling of leaves in the light wind. Above them swallows swooped around the rock overhangs before disappearing into their hidden nests, and below, small black catfish swam peacefully around them, as if her and Javier’s presence was nothing to be feared.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Javier said.
“Yeah, it’s surreal – almost like something you’d paint, only a little less colorful, of course.”
“I actually come here whenever I need inspiration. Usually by myself, but I like it better with you here.” He smiled, running his fingers lightly over her shoulders. “It’s not hard to imagine the ordinary a
s extraordinary when we have places like this, with all its history and lore.”
“What’s the story behind Cenote X’Canche?”
“Well, the Mayans considered cenotes to be a connection to the gods, a gateway to Xibalba – land of the dead.”
“Land of the dead?” She wrinkled her nose. “Sounds ominous, not exactly fitting for a place as beautiful as this.”
“That’s the thing, though – the Mayans didn’t think of Xibalba as a bad, scary place. They saw death as a continuation of life, the underworld something to revere.”
“Like, there’s no end, just change?”
“Yeah, exactly.” Javier let go of Ava so he could get the goggles he’d put in his pocket before storing their bags. He handed one to her, putting the other one on himself. “Want to go exploring?”
“Definitely.” She put her goggles on and then took a deep breath before diving beneath the water. It only took a second for her eyes to focus, and when they did, she could see why the Mayans believed this was a sacred place. Streams of light pierced into the water, making it appear as if everything was glowing, including strange rock formations. Following the rocks, she swam deeper, the light finally giving way to darkness, like she was entering an endless abyss.
Running out of air, she swam back up and broke the surface, Javier right behind her, as if keeping a watchful eye on her. She took a few breaths and then dived down again, exploring all around the cenote with him by her side.
When they finally grew tired, Ava and Javier swam to the side of the cenote and found a large rock submerged a couple of feet below the surface, a perfect spot for resting. But before she could sit down, he pulled her in closer until she was sitting on his lap.
“I thought you’d like something more comfortable than a hard rock,” he said, his smile seductive.
“Or maybe you thought you’d make a move on me.”
“Are you complaining?”
“No.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, his facial hair tickling her face as her lips glided over his. Letting out the passion she’d harbored for him since the moment she’d laid eyes on him, she tangled her fingers in his wet hair and kissed him harder, feeling the heat coming from his body as he held her tight.
After a few minutes of kissing, Javier gently pulled back. “I think I need to catch my breath.” He sounded slightly amused.
“Oh, sorry,” Ava said, also a little out of breath. She nestled into his inviting arms, her racing heart starting to return to a more normal pace. “I’ve been wanting to do that so badly. I don’t know what you’ve done to me.”
“Probably the same thing you’ve done to me. I don’t know what it is, Ava, but there’s something about you that’s different – not like any other girl I’ve met before.”
“I hope that’s a good thing.”
“It is,” he reassured her, tucking a strand of fallen hair behind her ear and smiling at her as if taken by her beauty. “And, just so we’re clear, you can kiss me like that anytime.”
“I bet you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” she teased.
“Sí,” he said in a husky voice, his hand cupping her face as he brought her in for another kiss.
After what could only be described as a blissful morning at Ek Balam and Cenote X’Canche, Ava and Javier headed to the nearby city of Valladolid, exploring the historical streets, and when they wanted to get out of the hot afternoon sun, going into La Casa de los Venados, looking at the large, impressive art collection. Now, they were taking a stroll through the lively streets after having eaten dinner at a traditional Mexican restaurant.
“I never knew there were buildings like these in Mexico,” Ava said, sipping on a mock sangria as she looked upon the colonial structures that lined the streets.
“What? You thought it was all resorts and ruins?” Javier teased.
“And the occasional adobe hut,” she teased back.
“But of course.”
“Seriously, though, there’s a lot more to Mexico than I thought. Take this place, it kind of reminds me of some European cities.”
“You’ve been to Europe?”
“Yeah, a few times,” Ava said, thinking back to one particular trip to England when they’d filmed the TV special, The Riley’s Take Rochester.
“Man, I’d love to see Europe. All that history, and the mountains with views that go on forever, and the snow…it must be kind of, well, magical to have snow falling all around you.”
“I bet you’d like Switzerland. It’s one of my favorite places in Europe.”
“You’ve traveled a lot, I guess.”
Ava nodded. “I’ve been lucky in that way. How about you? Have you been outside of Mexico?”
“No,” Javier said, stiffening a little, making Ava wonder if she’d said something wrong. “But one day I will. I’ll make sure of it. Mexico will always be my home, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see new places and explore new things.”
“Then I’m sure you will.” Ava gave him a reassuring smile. “And who knows? Maybe I’ll even be your tour guide. To return the favor and all.”
“I’d like that a lot.”
As they approached a large fountain in the heart of the city, they came to a stop and looked upon it, admiring the way the early evening sun made the water glisten.
“I’m really glad you decided to go out with me,” Javier said as he faced Ava.
“Don’t be silly. I should be the one thanking you for taking me to all these great places.” She smiled at him again, but this time, it faded slightly when she caught sight of two teenage girls from over Javier’s shoulder. They looked like American tourists, sitting on a nearby bench, and they were staring straight at her. Ava’s heart started to beat a little faster, fearing that she’d been recognized.
“You know, I really like talking to you,” Javier said, not noticing the change in Ava’s behavior. “It’s nice having someone to do this with. Someone more special than a client who pays me to show them around, that is.”
“That’s sweet of you to say.” She tried to keep her focus on Javier, but it was almost impossible. The girls kept whispering to each other and looking at her. She was just waiting for the moment when they took out their phones and started snapping pictures of her or, worse, walk right up to her and blow her cover in front of Javier.
“It’s the truth,” Javier said, sounding a little nervous. “I feel like I’ve really gotten to know you over these last few days, but there’s still a lot you don’t know about me.”
“Uh huh,” Ava said, her heart beating even faster as the girls stood up and headed in their direction.
“And I want you to know me, like, all of me,” he continued.
Ava turned to face the fountain, hoping that it would somehow make the girls go away. She wanted nothing more than to make a run for it, but she knew that would only draw more attention to her.
“Is everything alright?” Javier asked, finally noticing the change in her behavior.
Ava looked over his shoulder again, holding her breath as the girls got closer and then walked right past her, deep in a conversation that she couldn’t hear. She let out a silent sigh of relief, glad but also confused. Had they recognized her or not? And if not, was she only being paranoid?
“Um, Ava?”
Ava turned her full attention back to Javier. “Sorry, the sun caught my eyes for a second,” she said, using the first excuse that came to mind. “I know what you mean, though, about wanting to know everything about each other. We’ll get there. What’s the rush, right?”
“Yeah, you’re right,” he said, nodding.
“Good. Now, come on, I want to see more of this city.” Ava led Javier away from the fountain, in the opposite direction the girls had went. Just in case she wasn’t being paranoid, she wanted to put as much distance between them and herself as possible.
They walked hand in hand, not saying much until they came to a busy street market a few minutes later. The marke
t seemed to sell everything, but what Ava noticed most was the wide variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs. Despite having just eaten dinner, she couldn’t help but hunger for the delicious-looking food.
“It all looks so good,” Ava said, stopping at a stall that had gathered a large crowd. It was filled with colorful produce, practically spilling over the top and sides of the wooden stall.
“It tastes even better,” Javier said.
“I’ll have to take your word for it because most of these foods I haven’t even seen before.”
“I’ll have to cook dinner for you sometime then.”
“You cook?” Now Ava was really impressed.
“I guess you’ll have to wait and see,” he teased as he started to pick out some vegetables. “Choose anything that catches your eye. I’m sure I’ll have a recipe or two for it.”
Ava picked the most colorful vegetables she could find and then waited as Javier went to pay for them, lining up in a long queue. It was such a simple thing – buying groceries together – but somehow it made her content and kind of excited for the things to come.
“I can tell you what your future holds,” someone said in a low voice right behind Ava, as if reading her mind. “The question is, do you want to know?”
Startled, Ava spun around, coming face-to-face with a very old man who had leather-like skin and deep-set eyes that peered out from underneath a wide-brimmed hat. She hadn’t heard him approach, and his presence gave her a chill despite the warm air.
“Ex…excuse me?” Ava said, taken aback.
“I can sense that you have questions. I have the answers you seek.”
“I’m, um, fine. Thanks, anyway.”
“Don’t be so hasty,” the man warned. “My canary has told many people’s fortunes, with great benefit to them.”
“Your canary?” Ava repeated, not sure if she’d heard him right.
The man nodded and then stepped aside to reveal a cart that he’d been wheeling around with him. On top sat a brightly colored birdcage with a little yellow canary perched on a post inside. “So, would you like your fortune read?” he asked with a wide, toothy grin.