Chapter 12
When he sat down with Tom, Blaine, Chris, and Samantha, Scott recounted what had just happened, which elicited a round of laughs, reminding Scott that this group didn’t take anything seriously.
“Damn, so we missed the show?” Chris said, slapping Scott on the back. “Shoot, I’ll have to tell Jerry and Marjorie about this when I get back. They’re gonna be sorry they stayed in their room playing video games.”
Scott noticed Daniela talking to her bandmates on the other side of the room. He told the group he’d be right back.
“So, you’re alive,” Daniela said with a smirk. “Consider yourself the luckiest man in Acapulco.”
“I guess I am lucky,” he said, staring at her.
"I wish I was lucky,” she responded.
“What do you mean?”
“Living in Acapulco, you get used to these kinds of things. The cartels run everything, and the little people get squashed. Take me for example. I work almost every day just so I can afford to stay broke. And then I have to put up with harassment from guys like Cristiano.”
“I don’t think he’s going to bother you anymore.”
“There will be others. The dogs are all alike.” The bartender brought her a beer. “Thanks, Pablo.” She took a long drink. “Sometimes I wish I could just get out of here. Acapulco isn’t all palm trees, margaritas and yachts. Not for the people who live here.”
“Why don’t you leave?”
“And go where? And with what money?” she said, shaking her head. She looked off at the ocean, the moonlight now glittering across it, reflecting off her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m just frustrated. Anyway, my father would never leave here. He was born and raised here, and I can’t leave him. If I had more money, maybe, but that’s not going to happen.”
“Well, the margaritas are better here than in New York,” he said, trying to lighten the mood.
She smiled, showing her dimples. “What’s life like in New York?”
“It’s the greatest city in the world. But it’s different.”
“Different sounds nice,” she said.
“Daniela, I was thinking of going to see the cliff divers tomorrow. Would you like to go?”
"The cliff divers? On Christmas? That’s funny. I’ve never been but my dad always talks about it. I would go but I’m with my father on Christmas, so I can’t.”
“Bring him,” Scott said.
She smiled, then shook her head. “No, he doesn’t get around very well. He would be a burden.”
“Not at all.”
“Really?” she said.
“Of course. Everyone should see the cliff divers once in their lives, especially if you’re from Acapulco.”
She looked at him suspiciously. “Alright, Scott. It’s a date. Shall we meet at the lobby at 11 am?”
“See you then,” Scott said.
And just like that, an unfortunate encounter resulted in a date with the most beautiful girl Scott had ever seen. Scott was beginning to think Henry was right. Some of the greatest moments in life happen only in Acapulco.