One Cold Moment

Chapter 12

 
Yankee stood at his window, a glass of wine in his hand, watching the perfect view of the winding path along the lawn outside. He was shirtless, his ash-colored sweatpants hanging low on his waist, and his free hand tucked into his pocket. His mind drifted through a series of flashbacks.

After Anthonio asked him when he was coming down for work, Yankee gave him the same answer as always. He knew his boss would start calling him soon.

Yankee loved his job. There was always something thrilling about it. Was it the freedom? Or the fear before taking off on a flight? That fear of what lay ahead whether he would make it to his destination or not always kept him going.

Anthonio was right when he said Yankee didn’t want to leave Mexico because of Marina. But still, his job meant everything to him.

Yankee shut his eyes, picturing the images of the plane crash that killed his parents. That day had been a dark one for him and for Pedro, too, as he could still remember the news. His parents’ bodies were barely recognizable. Yankee ran his hand through his hair as the memories stung him like needles piercing his very being.

He had cried a lot that day and in the many months that followed. His fingers trembled as he grabbed his phone, swiping his thumb across the screen. The first name on his call log was Marina. He stared at his phone, then finally decided to call her.

“Hey, Marina,” he greeted.

“Hey, Yankee. How are you?”

“I’m fine. You?”

“I’m good. So… you busy?”

“Umm… Nah. Why?”

“I’ll meet you at the plantation.”

“Alright,” she said.

He quickly threw on some clothes and headed out to the plantation. Walking behind the trees, he could hear the sea hitting the shore. She was clad in a blue Chanel top and dark jeans, her hair tied back in a ponytail. He walked slowly behind her as she continued scrolling through her phone absentmindedly.

“Hey there,” he said.

“Hi, Yankee,” she replied with a smile plastered on her face.

“You look ravishing in that dress,” he commented.

“Umm… thanks,” she replied, still smiling.

“So, do you want anything? Like coffee or something? The cold is pretty intense.”

“Actually, I am...” she started, but he cut her off. “I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“Okay then,” she chuckled sweetly.

“Let’s take a few strides to the coffee shop.”

“So…?” Marina broke the silence.

“What about your parents? I’ve never seen any visiting or anything.”

His smile vanished immediately, and he looked flustered and upset. Yankee shut his eyes, picturing the images again. He finally spoke.

“They died in a plane crash.” He ran his hand through his hair as the painful memories returned.

“I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“It’s okay, Marina. I mean, it happened a long time ago.”

She quickly pulled him in, wrapping her arm around him as he took deep breaths. “You know, my dad left us when I was little, and I lost my mum.”

She sobbed softly. “So I don’t really know how it feels to have a dad. My mum always had my back. A few years ago, some bad guys took her.” She inhaled his scent, nuzzling into his warmth. He pulled back slowly, looking straight into her eyes. “I’m sorry, Marina. You don’t deserve that horrible experience.”

She sighed, clearly upset. She placed her head on his chest, his intoxicating scent filling the small space around them. For the first time, she told someone about her life and actually felt relaxed like a burden had been lifted.

A few minutes later, they were in a coffee shop. They grabbed their coffee and headed back to the plantation.

“Uhm… can we rest for a while?” he asked, pointing at two chairs under a mango tree.

“Sure,” she replied.

“Can I ask you a question, Marina?”

“Yeah. What is it?” she asked, a worried look on her face.

“Have you been in a relationship before?”

“Jeez… I didn’t see that coming. Actually, no.”

“Huh?” Yankee’s eyes widened. “So you’ve never been in love before?”

“Well… I did have crushes back in high school and college, but nothing ever lasted.”

“Wow, that’s amazing!”

“Huh? Why would you say that? And how is me never being in a relationship amazing?” she asked, rolling her eyes.

“Hey, don’t get any ideas, okay? We’re just friends.”

“Really? What if I do something silly like right now?”

“What do you wanna do? Hope I’m safe?”

“Sure, Marina. You’re in good hands.” He winked.

In a matter of seconds, he lifted her face and crashed his lips onto hers. She was shocked at first and didn’t react until she felt him tighten his grip on her sides. Her subconscious screamed, What the hell is wrong with you, Marina? He’s a stranger, for God’s sake. She quickly pulled away from his grip.

“I’m so sorry, Marina. I didn’t mean to do that. I just can’t....” he couldn’t finish his sentence. Her mouth pressed into a straight line, then she started kissing him. Butterflies erupted in her stomach. it felt so right, so perfect... like it was meant to happen. He pulled her closer by the waist, and she leaned into him, allowing him to explore the depths of her mouth. Like nothing else mattered. In the heat of the head-spinning makeout, Marina opened her eyes and stared at the man in front of her. She had never felt this way about anyone. Even just staring at him how his eyelashes shadowed his cheeks felt so right. That small smile swept across his lips, making her heart skip a beat. What was he doing to her?

He pulled even closer by her waist and begged for entrance again. Soon enough, their tongues were fighting for dominance. As she continued to stare into his eyes, the corners of his lips curled into a smile. He leaned in to kiss her again. She felt her heart thud against her ribcage. She tried to open her mouth but couldn’t. she just stared at him, her breath quickening.
She firmly planted her palms on his strong biceps and tried to push him back. She needed to breathe. He opened his tearing eyes and watched hers. He broke the kiss but continued to watch her. A small smile played at his lips, causing Marina to cover her face and look down at his chest instead. She felt his arms circle her neck, hugging her close to his chest. His scent stung her nostrils immediately.