by Heather Beck
“Poco alborotador?” Ava repeated.
“It means little troublemaker,” Esmeralda explained. “Mateo used to call Javier that when he was young because he always seemed to be getting into trouble. It’s stuck ever since.”
“And it’s definitely not my favorite thing to be called,” Javier said quickly, like he wanted to change the subject.
“I think it’s cute,” Ava said, surprised he didn’t like a nickname his dad had given him, regardless of what it meant.
In response, Javier shrugged.
“So, Ava, tell me about yourself,” Esmeralda said. “I hear your family is from Hollywood. That must be an exciting place to live.”
“It has its perks,” Ava said, the question too close to home, making her feel uncomfortable, “but I’m really loving Mexico. It’s more my scene.”
“Oh, Mexico is a very beautiful country, but it must be so different for you and your family. Hollywood seems so glamorous.”
“I’m actually more into exploring nature and new cultures,” Ava said, trying to steer the conversation in another direction. “I guess that’s why I’m liking Mexico so much. It’s hard for me to stay indoors when there’s so much to see and do here.”
“Hmmm,” Esmeralda said thoughtfully. “Maybe that’s where I recognize you from.”
“Ex…excuse me?” Ava was hardly able to choke out.
“Well, from the moment I saw you, I thought you looked so familiar. If you’ve been out and about in Mexico a lot, there’s a chance I’ve passed you on the streets or seen you at the markets. Wouldn’t that be a funny coincidence?”
“Um, yeah,” Ava said a little shakily as she studied Esmeralda, wondering if it really was a coincidence or if Esmeralda knew exactly who she was and this was some sort of game.
“Or if not that,” Esmeralda continued, “maybe you seem familiar because of Javier. He’s talked so much about you that a part of me feels like I know you already.”
“Really, Mom?” Javier said. “Why don’t you just break out my naked baby pictures and show them to Ava? You know, take away the little dignity I have left?” He shook his head, but it was clear that he was only playing.
“If that’s what you really want, then I’ll go get the albums,” Esmeralda joked.
Ava forced herself to laugh, her tension easing a little. She doesn’t know who you are, she told herself. Just relax and enjoy dinner. But, try as she might, she couldn’t relax completely, her paranoia running high.
After dinner and a dessert of homemade Mexican spice cookies, Javier walked Ava to her car, the night now dark and the stars twinkling in the sky.
“I’m sorry about tonight,” Javier said, leaning against the side of Ava’s car and pulling her in close.
“Don’t be. Dinner was amazing. Where did you learn to cook like that, anyway?”
“Necessity, but I’m not talking about the food. I wanted it to be just you and me tonight.”
“Me, too,” Ava said, running her hand along his chest.
Javier sighed. “But then my mom showed up, and I know what a handful she can be.”
“I thought she was sweet and very open.”
“Yeah, too open. I swear, the things that come out of her mouth sometimes…” He shook his head. “She has one of the biggest hearts I know, though, and that’s why I’m not surprised you two got along so well.”
Ava nodded, realizing that it was true. Apart from Esmeralda’s comment about recognizing Ava and the paranoia it had caused, they had gotten along great – better than great, actually.
“I could tell you had a lot on your mind, though,” Javier said, brushing aside a strand of hair that the wind had blown in her face.
“What do you mean?”
“You seemed a little uneasy during dinner. Not that I blame you. All this shit with Miguel and your parents’ divorce must be stressing you out. I wish there was something I could do to help.”
“You do help,” Ava said, “just by being with me.”
“I think I can do better than that,” Javier said. “Don’t get mad, but I know how much you like nature and animals and how you really need something to take your mind off things, so I booked us a boat to take us snorkeling to see all kinds of sea life at the barrier reef tomorrow. I know I should’ve asked you first, and I can cancel if you want, but I just wanted to surprise you with something good for a change.”
Touched by his sweet, thoughtful gesture, Ava leaned in and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his waist, pulling her body tight against his. They stayed that way for several minutes, kissing passionately until they finally had to part for air.
“I take it you want to go then,” Javier said with a laugh.
“Of course I do, but it’s more than just that. You’re always looking out for me, doing what you think is best.”
“I care about you.”
“I care about you, too,” Ava said. “And you’re absolutely right – I need something to keep my mind off things. It just so happens that I can’t think of anything better than spending the day with you.”
“Don’t forget about the sea life.”
“And the sea life, too,” Ava agreed with a laugh, going in for another kiss. She was already excited for tomorrow, counting down the hours until her date with Javier, because she knew it would be just perfect.
* * *
Chapter Fourteen
“Hey, sexy,” Ava said, slipping into Javier’s waiting car.
“Hey back,” he said, leaning in and giving her a deep, prolonged kiss.
It was the following day, early in the afternoon, and Javier was picking Ava up for their date. As Ava had imagined, the day was beautiful, the sun shining in the light blue sky and the clouds white and wispy. There was even a gentle wind picking up, keeping the temperature cool and comfortable and making the leaves on the palm trees sway in perfect unison.
“Did you remember to bring your swimsuit?” Javier asked after their lips had parted.
“Of course,” Ava said, flipping her hair over her shoulder, revealing part of her black bikini that peeked out from under her loose-fitting tee. “Nothing’s going to stop me from getting into the water and seeing the barrier reef with you. Did you remember yours?”
“Yeah,” he said, his eyes lingering on her bare shoulder. “I was just, um, making sure.”
Pleased with his reaction, Ava smiled to herself and then put on her seatbelt. “So, where exactly are we going?” she asked as Javier started to pull out of her driveway.
“Puerto Morelos.”
“Puerto Morelos? I think I’ve heard of that town, but I’m not sure.”
“It probably didn’t get too much attention in that tourist guidebook of yours, but it’s pretty special. It’s not as busy as some of the other places on the Riviera Maya, and it has more of an old school Mexican vibe. Not to mention that it’s really easy to get to the reef from there.”
“Sounds perfect.”
He laughed. “You know you’ve said that about pretty much every place I’ve taken you, right?”
Ava shrugged. “I call them as I see them, or maybe it’s the company that makes everything seem that way.”
Javier glanced at her as he reached for her hand, brought it to his lips, and then gently gave her a kiss.
“What was that for?” Ava asked, touched by his simple gesture.
“That’s probably the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“Well, it’s true,” she said, casting him a warm smile.
As Javier continued to drive, a comfortable silence falling over them, Ava turned her attention to the scenery outside. They passed through Mar de Lágrimas’ upscale neighborhood and then Cancún’s lively streets before coming to a quiet highway, which was lined by several large, lush swamps.
“Wow, look at those,” Ava said as she practically stuck her head out the window. The swamp’s murky waters rippled, caused by goodness knows what kind of animal, and the calls of birds, which we
re hidden in the trees, echoed all around them. She had to admit it was a little creepy, but it was also fascinating, like something from a world untouched by civilization.
“Those are the mangrove swamps,” Javier explained. “They’re protected here – unlike other parts of the Yucatán that have destroyed them for development.”
“Like they really need more condos and villas. That’s awful.”
“Yeah, I know. I think protecting the mangroves is what keeps Puerto Morelos so special. They say these mangroves are vital for the health of the reef. It’s also home to some rare species of birds and, of course, a lot of crocodiles. Think you’d like a tour of them after our dive?”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll admire the mangroves from the safety of the car,” Ava said.
“Come on,” he teased. “Where’s that adventurous spirit I love so much?”
Ava’s cheeks flushed at the mention of the word love, even though she knew it was just a figure of speech. “It’s still there,” she promised him, turning to face the window again, so he wouldn’t see her blush.
The mangroves stretched along the road for what seemed like a long time until a small town, nestled on the edge of the mangroves, came into view. The buildings were older and not as big as some of the ones Ava had seen in Cancún, but with restaurants, banks, grocery stores, local artisan vendors, a bookstore, and even spas, it had everything that anyone could want.
Javier turned down another street lined with even more restaurants, the smell of cooked fish lingering momentarily in the air. There were also several low-rise villas and beyond that the sea, still and impossibly blue, peeking out from between the buildings.
“Welcome to Puerto Morelos,” Javier said as they drove past large, colorful letters that spelled out the town’s name. “That is, if you couldn’t already tell.”
“It’s charming,” Ava said, admiring the town. She watched as people strolled leisurely along the street, stopping to say hello to one another. “And it’s definitely got that laid-back feel I’m loving right now.”
“I thought you’d like it,” Javier said. He came to a stop to let a man and his young son cross the road, both of them smiling and waving at Javier as they went. “Not to mention that they’re really friendly here,” he added.
“Yeah, that’s easy to see,” Ava said, already feeling the welcoming vibe.
A few seconds later, Javier pulled into a small parking lot that faced the sea, luckily finding the last available spot. They got out of the car, Javier leading Ava onto the white sand beach, his hand in hers. Small boats lay at the edge of the water, almost too numerous to count, and every couple of hundred yards or so was a long wooden pier, where larger boats were docked and loading with passengers.
“They really like their boats here, don’t they?” Ava said. “Not that I blame them. If I lived here, that’s the first thing I’d buy, too.”
“A lot of the locals are fishermen. That’s how they make a living. But for others, it’s more about the tourism, taking people out to snorkel at the reef.”
As if on cue, a middle-aged Mexican man with a potbelly and the widest, brightest smile Ava had ever seen waved to them from a nearby pier, where a white and turquoise boat was tied. “Are you Javier and Ava?” he called.
“Sí,” Javier called back as he and Ava walked onto the pier.
“Ah, welcome to La Explorador!” the man said, his smile never fading as he gestured enthusiastically to his boat. “I’m Fernando, and I’ll be taking you on your trip today. Please, step aboard. Ladies first.” He helped Ava over the threshold of the boat and then turned to Javier, who politely declined his help, effortlessly stepping onto the boat by himself.
“There’s a lifejacket on both of your seats,” Fernando said. “They should fit, but if they don’t, I have more.” He left them for a moment as he began to untether the thick rope that anchored them to the dock.
Ava pulled her tee off over her head and then slipped out of her jean shorts, having worn her bikini bottoms underneath. She could feel Javier’s eyes on her, but when she looked at him, he pretended like he was looking somewhere else. Ava couldn’t be as discreet, though, her eyes devouring Javier as he took off his top, revealing those ripped abs. Now that’s a sight I’ll never get sick of seeing, she thought.
“Wanna help me tighten this thing?” Ava asked as she pulled on her lifejacket, even though she was capable of doing it herself.
“Sure,” he said, not missing a beat as he stepped closer to her, putting his arms around her to get the lifejacket’s straps and then fastening them. “All good?”
Ava nodded. “So, is it just going to be us?” she asked, looking around the boat, noting how they were the only ones there even though there was seating for six.
“Yeah, and Fernando, of course. I thought it would be more intimate that way.”
“It is, but...” Ava hesitated, “I hate that you’re spending all this money on me. You work so hard and…”
Javier interrupted Ava by gently placing his index finger on her lips. “It’s not as much as you probably think. Besides, I want every day we spend together to be special, something you’ll never forget.”
“Then you’re nailing it. Seriously, Javier, this is really awesome, and I’m not just talking about today but all of it.”
“Good, because all I want to do is make you happy.” Javier leaned toward Ava, about to kiss her when Fernando came aboard.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Fernando said with a belly laugh, “but we’re ready to go. You’ll probably want to sit down.”
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Ava and Javier took their seats by the side of the boat, sitting as close to each other as possible. Javier slipped his arm around her shoulder, and she couldn’t help but snuggle up to him just a bit.
“Make sure you keep your lifejacket on at all times,” Fernando said, putting one on himself before turning on the boat’s motor. “I know these waters seem calm, but the currents can be a little unpredictable near the reef.”
“Unpredictable?” Ava repeated.
“Sí, but it’s nothing to worry about as long as you follow some simple rules.” Fernando started to take the boat out to sea, causing a pelican that had been resting in the water nearby to fly out of their way. “Have you ever snorkeled before?”
“Once, like ten years ago,” Ava answered.
“I’ve done some freediving, but I’ve never snorkeled,” Javier said.
“Well, it’s pretty simple,” Fernando began, “especially if you’re a good swimmer.”
“We both are,” Ava said.
“Perfect. The first thing to remember about snorkeling is to breathe slowly. It might feel weird at first, but you’ll soon get used to breathing through a snorkel. The second thing is to kick gently as you swim and go with the current. You’ll want to save as much energy as you can, so you can explore longer. The most important rule to remember, though, is to always stay close to each other.”
“My favorite rule yet,” Javier whispered into Ava’s ear, making her smile.
For the next couple of minutes, they fell silent, riding over the gentle waves, mists of water spraying them as they went. Ava could hardly wait to get into the water, and when Fernando brought the boat to a stop, she felt a flutter of excitement.
“This is our first stop – the seagrasses,” Fernando explained. “When you’re out there, you’ll see a diverse range of sea life, but first things first, let’s get you into the gear.”
Fernando took out masks, snorkels, and fins from a large trunk and then instructed Ava and Javier how to put them on, making sure they fit properly. Once they were ready, he led them to the diving platform, giving them a couple of last-minute pointers. “If you get water in your snorkel, blow air to clear it out, and if you get water in your mask, press the mask against your face and blow through your nose. You guys got it?”
Since they already had their mouthpieces in, Javier nodded while Ava gave Fernando a thumbs-up.
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br /> “Good, now go have fun. Just remember not to go too far. I want to be able to keep an eye on you two.”
Ava nodded to let Fernando know that she understood. Then, she took Javier’s hand in hers and together they jumped into the water. For a moment, they were fully emerged in the crystal clear, pristine waters, but their lifejackets soon brought them back to the surface, where it was comfortably warm. Ava put her head back under, admiring the long, green grasses that covered the sea floor and how they swayed rhythmically back and forth. A sense of peace and calm came over her, the only sounds coming from the lapping water and her snorkel as she breathed.
With their fingers still intertwined, Ava and Javier began to swim with the current. It didn’t take long to spot schools of small, brightly colored fish, weaving effortlessly in and out of the seagrass and then darting away in perfect unison when Ava and Javier got too close. They were mesmerizing to watch, like little neon lights flickering with every sharp turn they made, but suddenly they all disappeared, like something other than Ava and Javier had startled them.
The sea floor, just six feet below, was now eerily deserted, the anticipation of what was coming steadily building. Then finally, they saw what had scared all the fish away as a group of stingrays appeared beneath them. Their wings swept over the sea floor, stirring up clouds of sand, but despite this, Ava could still see that there were five of them, their bodies black and covered with white spots. Ava and Javier followed the stingrays, who showed no fear of their presence, and after some time, they even came across another group of stingrays, these ones brown with tan-colored spots.
Deciding that it was time to let the stingrays swim on without them, Ava and Javier turned around, going to explore a long patch of seagrass that was much taller and thicker than the others they had seen. It was like being in an underwater jungle, trying to navigate around the seagrass so they wouldn’t become entangled in the tops of the plants, some of which reached all the way to the surface. Amongst these grasses were some broken off pieces, floating at the top of the sea. This seemed to be a delectable treat for the fish because they would swim up to nibble on it and then go back down, only to do it all again.