I woke up to the rumbling of the plane descending through the clouds. Late morning sunlight shone from every window even though most of the passengers were still only half awake. I glanced over to see James scrolling through his phone.

"You're awake." He locked his phone with a click. "You missed breakfast, so I changed our itinerary to include a brunch when we land."

"Thanks," I mumbled through my grogginess.

"I'm a little disappointed that you think Neo is that boring, though. You owe me another movie night soon."

I scrunched my nose at him and pretended to go back to sleep.

Soon enough we were cruising along the coast in a sleek BMW en route a hopeful Peruvian breakfast. The buildings outside glinted like El Dorado, but the tinted windows and A/C inside the car was threatening to give me frostbite.

"What're you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking those highrises look like harmonicas."

James nodded sagely. "No yeah I see where you're coming from."

"Heavy Saigon vibes."

"Yeah? With the palms?"

"And the motorcycles," I added as one zooms past us. "Just cleaner and more organized."

"I haven't been in a while."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah last time was during a short gap year jaunt right before my first fall."

"How long'd you stay?"

A shrug. "Only like a day or two. Then we went down to Can Tho." He said Can Tho like the first two syllables of Kentucky.

I pressed my lips together.

"I said that wrong, didn't I?"

"What?" I snickered. "I didn't even say anything."

James tsked. "You're so mean!"

"No! You did good!"

He crossed his arms and pouted, jutting his jaw into my face.

I pulled back, still laughing but wanting to physically distance myself before my heart starts acting stupid again.

"We've arrived, sir," the chauffeur announced in his thick RP.

"Oh wonderful. Thank you, Karam. We shouldn't be finished anytime before noon, so you'll have the next hour or so to yourself. I'll contact you if anything comes up."

"I'll be in touch, sir."

James and I linked arms as we followed our hosts to a tiny parlor table on the terrace. We got started with drinks--papaya juice for me and a depressing little demitasse for James--ceviche, and picarones.

"I think I might fall asleep again," I said as a balmy breeze blew in from the midday ocean. Mirage waves rose up from the beach umbrellas below, but the ventilation system on the terrace kept most of the heat at bay.

James laughed before suppressing a yawn. "Not surprised for you. I haven't seen you eat that well in a while."

I managed a dry smile until James shifted his attention to his phone. That's because I've been trying to guilt-trip you into worrying about me.

"Karam is in the front with the photographer. Let's go."