The waters of the cenote were cold and deep.

The trip to the ruins was hot and exhausting.

Bump wasn’t happy about any of it.

By the time we were in the van heading back to Mexico City, I’d made a decision. No more playing tourist until long after Bump was born, and old enough to remember the visit.

Still, I didn’t completely regret going. Even Neal had behaved and left me alone the entire time. The vista around the cenote was beautiful, vines draping down from the open entrance, birds flying in and out, the sun reflecting on the still water. It was almost surreal how stunning and pristine the place was.

The ruins weren’t as enjoyable or notable as I’d hoped, but I was hot and tired with swollen ankles, with the extra passenger along for the ride who kept bouncing on my bladder.

The trip back to the city passed in a blur of sleep, odd dream fragments, and mumbled conversations with Yvetta when I managed to remain awake enough. It wasn’t until about thirty minutes away from the school that I started to wake up. 

“It’s about time,” Yvetta teased, nudging me with her elbow. “I was starting to think we’d have to ask Neal if he’d carry you to your apartment.”

“Not funny.” I made a face at her. 

Out of habit, I checked my phone, half-hoping I’d have another message from Mac, but there wasn’t one. I’d replied to his last text while we were on the road and told him I was heading off for a weekend trip out of town, but it took a while to go through. If it went through at all.

I needed to switch to a local carrier at least temporarily if I wanted to have anything resembling normal service outside the city. At my apartment, I’d use a phone card on the landline to speak to my parents because of the poor reception on my cell. Even with the international roaming upgrade to my plan, the service sucked. Texts could take five seconds to send, or twenty minutes. Sometimes, they sat idling on my phone screen with a little pop-up message that read, currently unable to send until the service is available. 

I wanted to call Mac and talk to him, but the phone tended to cut in and out. Besides, he was avoiding my calls. I wasn’t dumb. I wanted to wait until I could see him in the flesh before I even considered addressing that. But he kept avoiding me, so how was I supposed to make that sort of travel arrangement at this juncture?

“You disappeared again.” Yvetta sighed mournfully, dropping her head to rest it on my shoulder.

I playfully nudged her away. “I’m thinking.”

“You have this sadness in your eyes. Are you thinking about...the father?” She glanced at my midsection, brows arching.

“I…no.” I wasn’t against telling her what was going on, but as I didn’t want to jump to conclusions about Mac’s behavior, I chose not to. I was still trying to understand it myself. Deciding to go with something safer, more mundane, I added, “I don’t think I’ll be back next year. I’ve got another place in mind. I’ll probably start looking soon.”

That made her smile.

* * *

“I’ll be right back for your bag, Señora.” Carlos, the older driver nodded at me and disappeared inside the main building of the school while Yvetta and I stretched our legs.

“I’m not waiting,” I warned her. “I’ve got to pee. And that guy moves at two speeds. Slow, and slower.”

“You’ll hurt his feelings if you insist on carrying your bag in your condition.” Yvetta tsked under her breath at me, shaking her head. “I know you didn’t pack much and we’re only a block away from here, but let him have his pride.”

Before I could argue with her, a familiar voice hailed me. Neal. Good Lord. Back in action.

I set my jaw. “I’m leaving,” I mouthed at her, grabbing the strap roughly the same time Neal did.

Aw hell.

Neal was a solidly built man who stood three inches taller than me and was built like a linebacker. He was broad across the shoulders and chest, with an affable smile permanently etched in place.

He’d been teaching for a while, but only started coming onto me after the new year. Apparently, he and his wife—now deceased— had bought a small tienda convenience store around the block years ago. Some locals ran it for him while he was teaching during the week, but he’d swing by on evenings and weekends to check in on them. I’d made the mistake of going in there a couple weeks back, and he took it to mean I was somehow interested in him. He started following me around shortly after.

If he didn’t stop it soon, I’d have an honest conversation with him about on-the-job professionalism. I had a feeling that was what it would take, because he hadn’t been responsive to subtle, or even not-so-subtle hints. Like now, when I tried to jerk my bag away. 

“Thanks for the offer to help, but I’ve got it under control, Neal. It’s not that heavy.”

“Nonsense. You could use a break from lugging it around. Come on, let’s get you to your place,” he said, putting a hand on my arm.

Yvetta was no help, standing there entertained. And worse, her apartment was a block in the opposite direction.

I shrugged off his hand. “Neal, I’m not kidding—”

“Señora, is this your…never mind me and my rambling,” Carlos said, beaming at me. He was married to one of the older teachers and helped from time to time. This time, with the driving and lugging bags around. The way he was smiling. Oh, man. He didn’t think Neal and I— 

“Carlos, thanks so much. Yes, go ahead with the bag,” I said, hoping Neal would get the hint.

Neither of them did.

“You have all the help you need, I can see.” He smiled again and backed away, leaving me with Yvetta and Neal.

“I’m…going to let Carlos help with my bags,” Yvetta said, edging away.

“Don’t you dare,” I mouthed the words to her silently. But she was already turning on her heel and honestly, I didn’t blame her. She thought Neal was harmless, but I found him to be repugnant, condescending, sexist, presumptuous.

“Let’s get you home,” he said.

I pulled away before he could touch me again, and decided it wasn’t worth the tug of war just to get my bag away from him, especially as I still had to pee. I started off at a fast clip. He took a few jogging steps and caught up. Sadly.

“Are we in a hurry?” he asked.

“We aren’t. I am. I need my rest.” I was blunt.

He blushed and I hid a smile. He was quick to anger by the weirdest things.

It took less than five minutes to reach my place. I nodded to the ground outside my front door. “I’ll take it inside. Thanks for your help.”

“I should come in,” he said, still holding the bag, still smiling. “Make sure everything is good and secure.”

I didn’t have the time or patience for this.

Crossing my arms, I pinned him with a flat look. “No. No one broke into my place while I was gone. See? The lock’s fine. Now…can I please have my bag?” 

Please…before I pee my pants? I thought.

“I’m trying to be a gentleman.” Neal eased in closer, still holding my goddamned bag.

“I appreciate that,” I lied through clenched teeth. “But it’s not necessary.”

He didn’t seem to care how irritated I was. Reaching up, he brushed my hair back from my face. “You’ve gotten more incredibly beautiful since I last saw you. Do you know that?”

Everything in me froze.

Something about the way he looked at me always worried me a little. He was the sort of man I didn’t really want to be alone with. Standing here under my doorway light, beside a well-lit street, with people passing by, that didn’t concern me. I could take care of myself, but the thought of him coming into the house with me?

No. Just no.

“Neal,” I said, firming my voice and edging back into the doorframe. “This has gone too far. You need to think about your professional career before you ever consider touching me like that again.”

“You probably think I’m not interested, because of your baby,” he said. The insane man ignored everything I’d said and was still smiling into my eyes. “I’ve always loved children. I think you and me…”

His eyes dropped to my mouth.

Oh, hell, no.

I moved out to sidestep around him, and that was when he dropped the bag right into my path.

What a prick!

I tripped and he caught me in his arms. I had half a moment of relief that I hadn’t fallen, but it was followed by moments of panic that edged into fear as he steadied me against his body, then backed me up against the door.

“I’ve wanted this since the first time I saw you.”