Page 86 of Body Shot

“Quetzalcoatl was an Aztec feathered serpent who tried to destroy Tzinzimiti. Along his journey, he encountered Mayahuel, Tzinzimiti’s granddaughter, and they fell in love.”

“As serpents and granddaughters of evil goddesses do,” Carrie adds.

Marco’s lips twitch and I smother a smile.

“They returned to earth to hide as trees so they couldn’t be found. However, Tzinzimiti ended up in a battle with them and she killed Mayahuel. Mayahuel died in the arms of her true love. Quetzalcoatl buried her and a beautiful Agave grew on top of her burial site. The pointy leaves are to protect her from falling objects, and the pointy thorns symbolize Mayahuel’s four hundred breasts.”

Carrie chokes on her tequila. “Four hundred breasts?”

Marco grins. “Yes.”

Carrie gives her head a shake and holds up her hands. “That’s just wrong.”

“Like I said, this is mix of myth and fact. Anyway, to alleviate Quetzalcoatl’s pain at losing his beloved, the other gods gave the Agave a liquid that, when drunk, would comfort and erase painful memories. And those who drink from the Agave will live happily ever after.” Marco lifts his glass of tequila in a toast, his eyes twinkling.

I meet Carrie’s eyes and we join in the laughter of the others listening. “I love how he pronounces the Spanish words,” I whisper to Carrie. “It’s so sexy.”

“Eh.” Carrie wrinkles her nose. “He’s putting on a show.”

20

BECK

The next morning, I arrive at Hayden’s place to pick her up and drive her to her aunt and uncle’s. This is the price I pay for taking her on an adventure yesterday when she should have been helping them. To convince her to spend the day with me, I told her I’d come with her and help.

This isn’t the first time I’ve gone back to her aunt and uncle’s place with her, after that night Gina fell. I found myself there a couple of times, helping out with things. Not how I usually spend a day off. Cade and Marco are spending the afternoon sailing. Would I rather be with them?

Hmmm.

While a sailboat on the ocean does sound appealing, I’d rather be on the boat with Hayden. So sailing will be our next adventure, another time. Today I’ll make her life a little easier.

Morning fog is burning off over the coast as we pull into the driveway in front of Gina and Colin Strong’s house. We stopped at a grocery store to pick up a few things and also coffee. I let Hayden carry our cups while I heft the grocery bags into the house.

We pause to peer into the living room, which is empty.

“Aunt Gina?” Hayden calls.

“Out here, Hayden!” The voice comes from the open sliding doors onto the patio. I follow Hayden across the living room and outside. There her aunt is seated on a comfortably padded patio chair, reading a book. Hayden sets our coffees on a table and bends down for a hug. Gina hugs her back then smiles at me. “Hello again, Beck. What have you got there?”

I hold up the bags. “Just a few things we bought. I’ll take them into the kitchen.”

“Oh.” Gina’s forehead creases in a distressed expression. “Do you have to . . . I’m so sorry. It’s a mess in there. I just haven’t got to it yet.”

“Hey, no worries, you should see my bachelor condo.” I smile at her and turn back into the house.

“You’re getting better every week,” Hayden says to her aunt. “But you’re not up to cleaning a whole big house yet. I wish you’d hire someone to come in and clean, Aunt Gina.”

Why would they, when Hayden comes to do it? I sigh, listening to them talk through the open windows as I set the bags on the counter and begin to unload them.

“How’s your hip, Aunt Gina?” She didn’t do any major damage when she fell that night, but it had set back her recovery.

“It’s about the same.” Gina sighs.

“Where’s Uncle Colin?”

“Out back. Doing something with the fish.”

I peer out the big kitchen window and see Colin bent over the stone pond. I turn and survey the kitchen. Damn. I look at Colin again.

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