“Okay, Hollywood, let’s swim.” Preston takes the phone from me and secures it in his pack. We wade into the small pool carefully to avoid sharp rocks on the bottom. The waterfall creates a mist around us from the water ricocheting off the surface.
Preston dives under the surface when the pool deepens. I wince until he resurfaces proving it’s safe. He smiles at me, extending his arms out in a silent request to hold me. Swimming towards him, I let him pull me in until his strong forearms secure me to his body. My arms tangle around his neck and my legs lock behind his back. Preston effortlessly treads water, peppering kisses along my jawline and neck. I rake my hands through his hair, pulling his head back. His lips meet mine in a gentle caress. The perfect remedy for my troubled mind. Preston’s hands knead my ass beneath the surface. A groan leaves my mouth.
“I’ll never get tired of kissing you.” He murmurs against my lips, ending the kiss too soon. He brushes hair out of my face, pressing another kiss to the tip of my nose. “Ever made out in a waterfall cave?” He waggles his eyebrows and swims us closer to the fall.
As we settle back on the rock for lunch after making out behind the waterfall, my mind wanders back to the texts with Taylor this morning. I haven’t made a statement or a post of any kind. My phone is still on Do Not Disturb, so I have no idea if Taylor has been trying to reach me.
“Relax,” Preston says, reading my mind. He leans back on the rock with his hands propping him up and his chest puffed out. “Enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, Hollywood.”
So I do just that. I lie back on the warm rock with the sun beating down through the trees, listening to nature’s soundtrack around me. It eases my worried mind. Preston stays beside me, talking about my script and our respective charitable efforts.
He misses the game and his team, that much is evident. Mostly I sense he misses Miller and the brotherhood forged on the baseball field. From what I’ve witnessed, Miller and Preston’s friendship is a lot like my own with Gabby and Tay. I can’t wait to meet him. The thought surprises me because I mean in real life after leaving Belize. Not just meeting him through a screen when he and Preston talk.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Preston
May 24
Our time in San Pedro Columbia passes quickly, filled with trips to the coast exploring the small beach towns and into the jungle following hidden trails to large waterfalls. We picnicked on the beach while watching the sunset. We hiked. We laughed. We toured the ancient ruins.
I studied history in college and the Mayan Culture always fascinated me. The Mayans were one of the most advanced civilizations. They were masters in construction and known for innovative tools and techniques without the use of modern technology. Two of the most popular sites are located in this region. Lubaantun is a ceremonial center with pyramids made from stones with no mortar holding them together. Nim Li Punit is believed to have served as a worshiping place where the second largest piece of jade was discovered. It was mind-blowing to see Mayan architecture still standing more than 1,300 years later. Ivory made fun of me googling the history and wanting to take in every single artifact or tidbit of information.
In the past week, Ivory has opened up more, sharing her vision for her new project and even a new business venture ideathat has been stirring. We reminisced about our childhoods and things we missed from back home. Ivory asked me as many questions as I asked her. She was interested in my charity work. How I felt about the season potentially starting in a month. What I wanted to do after baseball. How I felt playing in Tampa and for her dad. There was no limit to what we learned about each other.
All the while, we kissed. We touched. We had sex. And each day I fell more and more in love with Ivory. I haven’t used those three little words yet, but each day I’m getting closer.
Ivory posted more on her social media—different sites and stories from our travels. She left me out of the pictures though. I’m trying to not let it bother me. The scrutiny she faces on a daily basis was something I can barely comprehend. Though I understand why she keeps me a secret, I still wish I could shout that she’s mine from the rooftops.
It didn’t stop her from taking pictures of us together though. There are pictures of us holding hands in the car. Videos of us singing along to the playlist she programmed every day. Photos of us standing on the tops of ancient ruins, mountains, under waterfalls, in the ocean, cuddled in the hammock. If there is an opportunity for a snapshot, Ivory is taking it. I love that she wants to document all of it. And that she created a shared album so I have all the pictures as well. Pictures of every single moment as I fell madly in love with Ivory Crenshaw.
“What are you doing?” Ivory climbs on the bed drying her long wet hair with a towel.
“Calling my parents. I haven’t checked in with them in a while.”
“Oh okay, I’ll give you some privacy.” She starts to get up but I stop her with a hand on her wrist.
“Stay.”
“You want me to stay while you talk to your parents?”
“It’s not like they haven’t seen you before. We’ve been living together for a while now, Hollywood.”
“Well I know that but I haven’t really talked to them.” There's been a passing ‘hello’ here and there but we’ve never sat down together and called my parents.
“I want to introduce you.” Pulling her to straddle my lap, my hands rub the tops of her thighs. “Officially.”
I want her to meet my parents. The most important people in my life. Ivory doesn’t say anything. She stares at me. Maybe I should have talked to her about being my girlfriend first before asking her to meet my parents.
“If you don’t want to meet them, that’s?—”
“No,” she cuts me off, lifting her hand to my hair. “I want to.”
“Yeah?” A hopeful smile breaks out on my face.
“Yeah,” Leaning in until our lips meet, she kisses me gently. “I would love to meet your parents, officially. I know how important they are to you and it makes me nervous.”
“You make me nervous every day. Excited, thrilled, turned on, but nervous too. I don’t want to mess this up. I don’t want to scare you away. They already know you are important to me. This is just a conversation. No pressure at all.”
