Page 31 of Love, Take Two

Maya appears at my side with coffee and the expression of someone who's been waiting patiently for a full relationship debrief.

"Well, well," she says with obvious satisfaction, taking in my post-great-evening glow and the way Emory's hand is resting on my lower back. "You look like someone who had their very own storm experience."

"Maya," I warn, though I'm smiling despite myself.

"No judgment," Maya says, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Just saying that whatever happened last night clearly agreed with you."

She's not wrong.

"Alright, everyone!" The resort's activities coordinator, a cheerful woman named Esperanza, calls for attention. "Time to head to the marina for our coral reef adventure! Please remember to apply reef-safe sunscreen, and buddy system assignments will be made on the boat."

The walk to the resort's private marina is gorgeous, a winding path through tropical gardens leading to a pristine dock where an elegant catamaran waits. The boat is clearly designed for luxury excursions, with comfortable seating areas and professional diving equipment.

"I can't believe she organized all of this," I say to Emory as we settle onto the boat's cushioned seating, watching the crew prepare for departure.

"Amazing," he agrees, though his attention seems more focused on me than the stunning marine setting. "Honestly, the thought of swimming through a coral reef with you is more exciting to me than the reef itself."

"Smooth talker," I say, but my pulse quickens at the way he's looking at me.

"Just honest," he replies, leaning close. "I can’t take my eyes off you."

The boat engines start with a gentle rumble, and we begin moving away from shore toward waters that shift from tropical turquoise to deeper blues. Other wedding guests settle into conversation and photo-taking, but I find myself content to lean against Emory's side while watching the island shrink behind us.

"Buddy assignments!" Esperanza announces once we're about ten minutes offshore. "For safety purposes, everyone needs a diving partner. I'll pair people based on experience levels and comfort in the water."

"Perfect," Derek adds loudly enough for most of the boat to hear. "Nothing more romantic than underwater exploration with your soulmate!"

"Partner diving." Indira, the captain, explains as she distributes snorkeling equipment to each pair. "You're responsible for your buddy's safety, which means staying close, checking in regularly, and watching for any signs of distress or equipment problems."

"Watching your every move," Emory says to me with a smile that suggests he's thinking about more than diving safety. "Think we can handle that?"

"I think we've gotten pretty good at that," I reply, accepting the snorkeling gear and trying not to think about how the trust required for underwater safety feels like a perfect metaphor for the relationship trust we committed to last night.

When Indira helps me adjust my mask and fins, I realize I'm more nervous about the deep water snorkeling than I expected. I've done snorkeling before, but this looks more serious.

"You okay?" Emory asks, picking up on my nervousness as we get ready to hit the water.

"Just a little nervous, I guess." I admit. "I'm a decent swimmer, but this looks more advanced than the shallow water snorkeling I've done before."

"I've got you," he says with complete confidence, checking my equipment with the thorough attention of someone who's doneserious adventure travel. "We'll go slow, stay close to the boat until you're comfortable, and I'll be right beside you the entire time."

"You sure?"

"Absolutely sure," he says, and something about the certainty in his voice settles into anticipation. "Trust me?"

"Always," I say.

The first few minutes in the water are exactly what I expected—slightly overwhelming depth awareness, getting used to breathing through the snorkel, adjusting to the underwater environment. But Emory stays exactly where he promised, close enough to touch, moving at my pace and checking in constantly with hand signals and gentle touches that keep me grounded.

And then we reach the coral reef, and everything else becomes irrelevant.

The underwater world that unfolds in front of us is more spectacular than any nature documentary could capture. Massive coral formations in colors I didn't know existed, schools of tropical fish that move like living rainbows, sea turtles gliding through the water with ancient grace. It's like discovering a secret universe.

Emory points out different species with obvious knowledge and enthusiasm, guiding me toward the most beautiful formations while making sure I never feel out of my depth. When a sea turtle glides directly between us, close enough to touch, we share a moment of pure wonder.

The professional underwater photographer is capturing everything without being a distraction. But I'm not thinkingabout content creation or social media documentation. I'm just experiencing something incredible with someone who makes everything feel more alive.

When we surface near the boat for a rest break, both breathing hard from underwater exploration, the expression on Emory's face is pure joy mixed with something deeper.

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