Page 60 of Buzzer Beater

I looked around at the glistening water that was surrounding us. Land was growing farther away.

“I want to, but what’s the point? I’m leaving in two days to go home to California and you’re going back to Utah. Why try to start anything?”

I wanted him to answer correctly. I didn't know what the right answer was, but I wanted so desperately for him to have it.

He took both my hands and faced me. “I lost you once, and it was the most terrible mistake I’ve ever made. I didn’t fight for you. I let you go. The second I saw you again I realized that I might have a second chance and I promised myself I wouldn’t make the same mistake.”

“So, this is you fighting?” I nodded my head toward the rest of the boat.

He chuckled. “I guess so.”

“Can’t say you never pulled out the grand gestures.” I blew out a breath. My wall just suffered another massive crack. If I wasn’t careful, I’d be a crumbled mess by the end of this day. “I can’t make any promises, Colin. I don’t know how things between us would work.” I closed my eyes as the persistent nagging in the back of my mind resurfaced. There was an obstacle, seemingly insurmountable, blocking us from having a real future. I’d tried to tell him at the cenote but couldn’t. “I don’t know.”

“That’s okay. Neither of us has the answers yet. Just promise me to keep an open mind for the day, okay? Let’s just enjoy ourselves.”

I nodded as a beautiful woman in a pale blue dress walked toward us with a tray. “Welcome, I’m Sara. The captain has told me we should arrive to our destination in a little over an hour, so please relax.” She said with a soft accent and offered us each a drink before retreating.

I took a sip of the bubbly juice and smiled. “I think I can enjoy this, but just for today.”

Colin laughed and slipped his arm over my shoulders. My skin immediately burst into flame. The contact was almost too much to handle, but I didn’t pull away. “I owe you. I can’t imagine having to tell them to turn around.”

“Are you going to tell me what our destination is?”

He shook his head. “You’ll find out in an hour or so.”

Normal me would keep asking, but Mexico me chose to relax and be in the moment.

We watched the waves disappear as the boat cut through. One perfect day might be enough to keep me going. I could hold onto this memory when I was stuck at work in a few months. Even a few years down the road when I’m at home, eating alone, again. I’ll have this time to remember.

* * *

When the boat stopped, I didn’t understand. We were in the middle of the ocean. No land in sight.

“Where are we?”

Colin just smiled and nodded behind me.

Sara and Samuel stood there with wetsuits and oxygen tanks in their arms. “Are they going somewhere?”

“No, we are.”

I turned back to him. “What? No. I didn't pack a suit.”

Ha! There. He couldn’t make me scuba dive without a suit.

“Elena packed you one.”

“What?”

He smiled. “I had her pack you a little bag and leave it outside your door last night. I grabbed it this morning.”

I would have to have words with my roomie later about conspiring against me.

“Why are we scuba diving in the middle of the ocean? Isn’t it better by reefs or land?”

Sara stepped forward. “This is where the shark’s migration passes through.”

She had to be confused. Maybe she got the word for tiny fishes and shark mixed up.