“I . . . I like him. A lot.”
Daphne raises an eyebrow. “Your face says it’s more than a lot.”
I puff out my cheeks. “Fine. I have a serious crush on the man.”
She smirks. “Use that to your advantage. Don’t force what isn’t there. The chemistry you share will be enough.”
“Do you think Fernando can get there on his end?”
Daphne shoots me a “do you really need me to point out the obvious to you” look.
“Never mind,” I mutter.
We chat a little longer, then I call my parents. After I disconnect with them, I take a few moments to stretch and listen to the calming sound of the ocean waves breaking against the beach. Is Daphne right? Does Fernando see me as a woman he might consider breaking his rules for? I guess I’ll just have to wait and find out.
Our two nights at the resort pass too quickly. Despite my first impulse of wanting to try all the amenities, I spend most of my time relaxing beachside.
“The initial plunge is the worst. The key is to keep your body moving. It’ll adjust,” Fernando says as we walk into the water.
I inhale sharply. It’s like I’ve stepped into a freezer. Despitewearing booties and a full-body wet suit, the chill still seeps into my bones. “Cold,” I say, shivering.
“It’ll be worth it once you see what’s under the water.”
I rub my hands over my arms and will myself keep walking. The water is just above my belly button.
Fernando lowers his face mask. “This is a good spot. There’s a steep drop about thirty feet from here. It’s tempting to go and explore the reef, but don’t. The resort equipment manager warned me yesterday that the current is strong and unpredictable.”
My thoughts flash to getting pulled out to sea and surrounded by sharks. “I’ll be a good girl.”
“Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
Fernando and I stick the breathing tubes in our mouths and duck under the water. Another gasp escapes from my lips. My face goes numb. But I quickly forget about it all as a sea turtle flaps its fins, effortlessly gliding past us. Its amber orbs are trained on us as if we’re the best source of entertainment it’s seen this year.
As I continue to study my surroundings, I notice red and orange sea stars and purple urchins lying out among the thick patches of green seaweed swaying with the waves, as well as schools of colorful fish.
Fernando swims up beside me and taps my shoulder, pointing to the surface. “How are you doing?” he asks, releasing his snorkel.
“Really good. It’s hard to believe that a world so different than ours can exist twenty feet off the Spanish coastline.”
“So it’s worth braving the cold?”
“So far, yes,” I admit.
“Glad to hear it.” He chuckles. “On the next dive down, see if you can spot some of the seahorses in the seagrass. They camouflage so well that I didn’t notice them until today.”
We pop back under. Fernando moves through the water quickly, pointing out the seahorses. He’s so agile. If he weren’t an ice skater, Icould see him being a swimmer. He has the height and lanky build for it. I wonder if that’s a sport he ever considered.
It’s scary just how many thoughts I’m having about Fernando these days, and lately, even dreams. Last night, we were ice skating together again. This time, it was an outdoor rink under the stars. Fernando was so handsome in a fitted black shirt and pants. Holding hands, we glided together side by side as he whispered in English about how much he loved me, followed by Spanish.
It was a dream that felt so real. I could feel the chill through my clothing, hear the sounds of our blades crunching against the ice, and sense the warmth of his body next to mine. The Ava in my dream was a much better skater than I am in real life. I’ve never been more motivated to take up ice skating as a hobby.
I lose track of time snorkeling. We spend the remainder of the morning in the water. Eventually, a few gray dorsal fins appear above the waves about twenty feet from us. I swallow hard and point to them. “Fernando, look,” I say, my voice shaking. “Do you think that’s a shark?”
“No.” He squints. “I think they’re dolphins, unless sharks travel in groups, which I don’t think they do.”
I breathe a little easier. “Animals can surprise you. They’re resilient and don’t always follow the rules, like lions. Did you know non-alpha males have formed coalitions with other males to make hunting easier?”
