Page 36 of Dirty Lyrics
“I’m not good enough for you. I know that. Even without knowing your real name, I know that.”
“What are you?—”
“I didn’t want you to see me as just some kid from the barrio, some singer clawing his way up who might never break free from assholes like Matheson. I didn’t want you to look at me and see some small-time punk. Not when all I want to do is give you everything.”
Maya pulls on my wrists, and I release my hold on her because I don’t want to accidentally hurt her, and I’m not exactly in control of myself right now.
But I’m still shaking my head, opening my mouth because I am not done yet. I am not giving up on us, and I’ll talk until I run out of oxygen if she listens—only I don’t get to say anything else because my girl stuns the shit out of me. She grabs my face, mimicking the way I was holding her moments before, and she gives me a little shake.
“Oh my God, Rico. Shut up.”
The words catch me off guard. My eyes widen.
“What?”
She laughs, wet and shaky, a tear rolling down her cheek.
“Just shut up. Now, come here.”
And like the fool I am for her, I go. I go like a fucking lamb to slaughter, crawling up the bed, closing the space between us until I can taste her breath.
Then she kisses me.
And it’s everything.
It’s fire and forgiveness. It’s home and hunger. It’s the piece of my soul I thought I lost the day she ran.
Her perfect, plump lips crush mine, salt from her tears mingling with the peachy sweetness of her mouth, and when she pulls back, her voice trembles but her eyes are steady.
“I didn’t know you were in trouble, but if you’re in a fight,” she whispers, her hand pressed to my chest, right over my pounding heart, “then it’s my fight too.”
I choke, barely able to speak.
“You mean that?”
I have to ask, even though I know this girl isn’t with me because of any perceived fame and fortune. Maya never cared about that.
She loves music just like I do. It’s part of her. And together, I truly believe we can do anything.
“Yes, Rico. I mean it,” she whispers, fat tears clinging to her dark eyelashes. Then she takes my breath away.
“And I should have told you this before, but I’m saying it now. I’m having your baby and I love you, Rico.”
“Say that again.”
“I love you. Me and the baby love you.”
“Fuck. Say it one more time,” I beg.
She smiles, and it’s like the sun shining on me after a winter of darkness.
“We’re a family now. And we’re going to do this together.”
For a second, I can’t move. Can’t breathe.
“Family,” I repeat the word, and my heart swells so damn big, any second I expect it to explode out of me.
I must say it too because she laughs, and she reaches up on her elbows and kisses my nose.
