“What?” she stutters.
“What makes him so perfect for me, Ri?”
“Well, he’s successful. He’s cute. He’s nice. He’s a good guy! You’re not even giving him a chance.”
“And won’t. I mean, that is the bare minimum, Ri. By that description he’d be perfect for literally anyone here, and there are plenty of single women at this wedding to choose from. So, get somebody else to do it and stop wasting my time.”
“Nelly, I just want…”
“Let it go, Ri. Before you get your feelings hurt.” I hurry to catch up with Dani and Evie, not sparing her another glance.
After everyone regathers, we enter the gorgeous cenote where Jaime shares details of Mayan culture with us and points out different rock formations. Dani, armed with her waterproof case, documents the journey, careful not to interrupt Jaime while he’s teaching. The water is freezing cold, my breathing slowing the farther we go, but I feel a gentle pressure on my back beneath the surface and without looking I know it’s Rome. My body recognizes the bliss Rome’s hands bring to it. His touch scorches my skin, leaving an imprint of him in its wake.
“You good?” he asks, low enough for only my ears.
I steady my breathing before answering him. I can’t let him know the effect he has on me. We can’t go back. No matter how much my body yearns for his touch. “I’m okay.”
He hums his agreement, but he doesn’t move his hand from my back for the rest of the tour, keeping the cold temperatures at bay.
We exit out of the cenote to find an oasis waiting for us. The crystal blue waters look up to a cylindrical rock wall about thirty feet tall. Different types of flora cover portions of the structure, making parts of the cenote appear shrouded in darkness while others appear to be bathed in the light of the sun.
We climb to the top where there’s a pier that hangs off the edge. From here, the water looks to be different shades of blue. Some of the plants have fallen into the water, forming a border around certain parts.
Jaime informs us we can jump off the pier and the rocks if we desire but makes it clear that it’s completely optional.
“I’ma sit this one out,” Dani announces, pulling her phone back out to record more footage.
Ri and Arnold break off to take in more of the rock formations while Cortez runs off in search of the highest rock to jump from.
“I’m jumping. Who’s with me?” Evie looks around the remaining crowd.
“I’m sorry but I gotta ask, you sure you’re good with this, Eve?”
“Yeah. Why do you ask?”
“You had to take medication to get on a plane but you’re willing to jump off a cliff?” Rome asks, dumbfounded.
She shrugs. “Don’t question the process, Rome. I’m a thrill seeker. Planes are just necessary evil death traps.”
Jalen chortles at that, completely enraptured by all that is Evie.
Micah nods his head with a smile. “She’s got a point.”
Rome lets out a laugh and holds his hands up in surrender. “Yes, ma’am.”
Micah and Troy head off to find the spots they want to jump from, while Evie takes her position on the pier and Jalen follows her.
Cortez, finally having found the highest point, announces his jump and does a backflip into the water, screaming like a bitch the whole way down. He receives a lackluster round of applause before Micah jumps next.
I look around, in awe of where we’ve ended up. “This is absolutely beautiful,” I sigh.
“Yeah, it is.” When I peer over at Rome, expecting to find him watching the scenery in front of us, I find him watching me instead.
“Rome,” I groan. When he looks at me like that, he makes me want things I can’t have. He makes me want it all.
“Just making an observation, J. That’s all.”
Needing to break away from the trance his stare has me in, I look away to catch my bearings. “Are you gonna jump?”
