Page 48 of Buzzer Beater

I shook my head. There was so much history and culture here. So much more to see. I didn’t want to go home. I needed weeks here to take it all in. Suddenly, I wished we’d known about this sooner, we could have explored more instead of just hanging out in the resort.

Alma motioned with his arm. “Now, let’s head back.”

Riley and I looked at each other and laughed. “Going down will be easier right?”

“Sure.”

We let everyone else go first so we could have a short break. I took my phone out to take some pictures before following the group down. Riley stayed with me, climbing down sideways.

“I never thought I’d be afraid of heights when I’m climbing stairs.” Riley muttered.

I looked down the steep slope and nodded. “It would have been nice for the ancient Mayans to think about our potential fears when they built this.”

Riley rolled her eyes. “Mock me all you want, but this is the last temple I’m ever climbing again.”

“Don’t worry, I heard we can’t go on Chichen Itza.”

“Oh really? That’s a relief.”

When our feet touched the grass, she sighed a bit dramatically and walked off to join Amber. Apparently, our bonding moment was over.

“This place is amazing, isn’t it?” I looked over to see Grant walking toward me.

“It really is.”

He nodded. “Nice of Colin to put this all together for us.”

I narrowed my eyes. “There weren’t extra spots were there?”

His lips twitched. “I think I’d be violating bro code or something if I told you the truth.”

“So, this was all a plan to get us together?”

He didn’t say anything.

“Then why hasn’t he said anything to me?” I asked. “He’s pretty much ignored me so far.”

Grant just shrugged. “I’m not going to try to understand that one, but I think he’s a little afraid.”

“Of what?”

“Of you. Of making things worse. Of taking a chance and getting shut down.”

This didn’t feel like a conversation I should be having with him. Or anyone other than Colin.

He stepped back and waved. “I'll see you back at the van.”

14

Colin

I was doing this all wrong. I knew it and my teammates had no problem reminding me.

“Say something.” I ignored Grant, trying to wave him away like an obnoxious fly.

Olli and Emma passed us both leveling me with a glare. Emma sauntered over holding her belly. “I did not come out to the middle of a jungle in one hundred percent humidity for you to chicken out, Brassard.”

With a seething glare she turned, and Olli followed behind, careful not to irritate her.