Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
“So, Fernando, how long have you known my sister?” Daphne gives us her full attention, now wide awake.
“Oh, a few weeks. She saved my neck by helping my friend’s cat.”
My heart is hammering so loudly against my chest that I can barely hear Fernando’s words.
“You live in Sequoia Valley?” She drums her fingers against the table.
“I do now. I work at the ice skating rink. But I’m originally from Barcelona.”
My sister’s face relaxes and she lights up. “Wait a second, you’re Coach Fernando! You taught my son, Brody.”
“Brody . . . Brody . . . he’s about four years old, this tall”—Fernando holds out a hand—“and likes to hum the Mario Brothers theme song?”
“That’s him!” Daphne exclaims. “You were his favorite coach! He was really bummed to find out you weren’t teaching the next level. Don’t get me wrong, he likes Coach Leslie, but he loved you.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Fernando taught my nephew? And Daphne is suddenly fine with everything?
“He’s a great kid. One of my best listeners in the level-one group. A real natural on the ice, just like his aunt.” He winks in my direction. “Tell Brody I’ll be back soon. The only reason I’m not teaching this session is because I knew I’d be gone for a month.”
“I will! He’ll be ecstatic.”
He waves and steps out of the camera’s view. “I’d better get back up to the room so I can shower and change. I’ll see you up there, Ava. Thanks for the key.”
“I’ll, um, text you when I’m on my way up so you can let me in.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
He walks up the beach toward the lobby doors, his brown locks ruffling in the breeze.
The sunlight catches on his broad shoulders and the easy lines of muscle along his back.
His swim trunks sit low on his hips, revealing a glimpse of a lean waist and another peek at the abs you get from actually doing the core exercises the rest of the world usually skips.
I catch myself openly staring at the flex of his strong legs and the effortless way he moves, like the beach was made for him. I’m so distracted, I almost forget I’m still on a video call. I force my attention back to my sister before she notices.
“I. Can’t. Believe. You. And. Fernando. Are. A. Thing!” Daphne gushes, leaning closer to the camera.
“What?” If I weren’t already sitting, I would’ve fallen out of my chair. It’s the last reaction I ever expected Daph to have. “You’re not gonna give me a lecture on hiding things from you? Or being around men so soon?”
“No. Because I know Fernando’s a good guy and would never take advantage of you.
I didn’t recognize him in the Speedo, but the man is a legend among the moms at the ice rink!
He’s one of the most patient and friendly coaches on staff.
A real puppy dog.” Her eyes glaze over. “It’s common knowledge that he’s single and doesn’t date.
There have been so many people who’ve tried to be the one to break his dry spell.
But he always shoots them down. Until now.
If there were one guy I would ever set you up with, it’s him.
” She shakes her head and refocuses on me. “How serious are you two?”
“We’re just friends. We aren’t really dating. We’re putting on a show so we can get his family off his back,” I sputter.
“Whoa. Back up. Fake dating? Meeting his family?” She lowers her chin. “Tell. Me. Everything.”
And just like that, she goes from protective older sister wanting to tear Fernando apart to one of his staunchest supporters. I wonder if somewhere between the hotel’s driveway and the beach, I entered the Twilight Zone.
Daphne refills her coffee and listens intently as I fill in the gaps from earlier. I tell her about bumping into Dylan a few times, my chance meeting with Fernando at the Denver airport, and our adventure driving across Spain together.
“Your vacation sounds like the plot of a B- or C-level rom-com. I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t heard the details straight from your mouth.”
“Is that a movie you’d go and see?” I ask purely out of curiosity.
“If you were starring in it or if I wanted something running in the background while I was cooking, totally.”
I snort.
“You asked. I’m just being honest with you. Between work and the kids, I don’t have time for movies and TV. It has to be something that really entices me.”
“And that would include . . .?” Daphne does live a busy life. And with my niece and nephew being as active as they are, I don’t know how she has time to fit in as many activities as she does.
“Any movie with Chris Evans, something based off a book I love, or something with hockey.”
“Hockey? Not football or soccer?”
“No.” A blush creeps up her cheeks. “It has to be hockey. The players are”—she fans herself—“dreamy. Especially when they’re in suits.”
“Does Brian know you have a thing for hockey guys?”
She nods, not willing to let any more info slip out. That’s fine with me, because I don’t think I even want my brain to go there. I clear my throat. “Going back to Fernando, I need your advice. What’s your take on how I should handle his family? I want them fully convinced we’re the real deal.”
“Ava, as cliché as it sounds, be yourself. You don’t need to do anything special.
The way Fernando was looking at you earlier is totally different than the way he interacts with any other person at the ice rink.
It’s soft and tender. Not to mention the way you responded.
You can’t tell me you feel nothing for that man. ”
“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. Despite wearing 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, I could 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?”
“You never cease to amaze me with how smart you are Doctor B.” He shakes his head. “If it were a shark, don’t worry, I’d protect you.”
“My hero.”
We exchange twin grins.
Then, like somebody popping a cork of champagne off a bottle, we hear a sharp blast of air being released, followed by a few high-pitched clicks and squeaks as a pod of six dolphins pops their heads out of the water, joining in on our conversation.
“What do you think they’re talking about?” Fernando asks.
“I’m not fluent in dolphin, but if I had to guess, I’d say they’re wondering why these weird sea creatures have legs instead of tails.”
They come within a few feet of us but maintain their distance. Sticking our heads underwater, we watch the pod work together to hunt a school of silver fish. They’re wicked fast and able to change direction at a moment’s notice, just like how I imagine Fernando is on the ice.
Eventually, I start to get tired. Back on shore, we sit on the sand and continue watching the pod for a little while longer from a pair of beach chairs.
“They’re putting on a show for us,” he says.
“Yeah, they are.” I set my arms behind me and lean back, sighing in contentment. “Seeing animals out in the wild doing what they’re supposed to be doing makes me so happy.”
“That’s how I feel when I’m out on the ice,” he says in a low tone.
A comfortable silence envelops us for a minute.
“If you had to pick your favorite animal, Ava, what would it be?” Fernando asks eventually.
“My favorite? That’s a hard question. I have a lot.” I giggle.
“Like?”
“If it’s a domestic animal, I prefer dogs and cats. For small mammals, I’d say otters and red pandas. If we’re talking large mammals, my list would have to include elephants, lions, and tigers. Reptiles and amphibians are tricky.”
“I love how your brain works. I should’ve known you’d group all your favorite animals into categories.” He laughs. “What if I challenged you to pick just one?”
“Only one?”
“Yup. Only one.”
I sit up and bring my knees to my chest. “Um . . . I guess it’s red pandas. I love their little faces.”
He scratches his chin. “I’ve never seen a red panda. You’ll have to show me a picture when we get back inside.”
“I will. Your mind will be overloaded with cuteness. What about you? What’s your favorite animal?”
“Would it surprise you if I said koala bears?”
“Yes.” I pictured him as more of a wolf or lion kind of guy.
“When I was touring Australia, I was lucky enough to get up close and personal with a couple koalas for some of our media spots. They were so docile. It didn’t take much for them to win me over.”
“Are you aware they average twenty hours of sleep a day?” I snigger.
His eyes widen. “They do?”
“Uh-huh.”
He snorts. “It figures I’d pick an animal that enjoys naps just as much as me.”
I laugh.
“I hate to end it here, but we have to check out by one.” Fernando sighs. “If we want to fit a shower in, we should head back now. It’s almost noon.”
“Where did the time go?” We stand and brush the sand off our bodies.
“You, uh, still have a little sand on your cheek,” Fernando tells me.
I use the back of my hand to brush it. “Better?”
“No, it’s still there.” He glances at me. “May I?”
I nod.
Tenderly, he reaches up and brushes a patch of skin under my eye. His touch sends a shiver of delight through my body.
“There. It’s all gone now.” His voice is as soft and smooth as velvet.
“Thanks,” I whisper.
We stare at one another a few moments longer. The Adam’s apple in his throat constricts. “Ava.” He starts moving an inch closer to my body. “I’ve, um, been doing a lot of thinking recently, and I’m ready to, er . . .”
“Yes?”
“To, um . . .” He breaths deeply. “Why is this so hard?” His eyes flutter and he tries again. “I’d like to, um, make you my number-one friend,” he blurts out quickly. “And by that, I—”
“Fernando! Ava! What fortunate timing!”
We jump back from each other, and our heads snap in the direction of the pathway leading up to the lobby.
Sitting in the driver’s seat of a golf cart in a red pantsuit, like a fox who’s found a free meal, is a woman I recognize as Fernando’s aunt Yesenia.