Page 43 of Chula
“Yeah. I don’t know what I’m doing, Chula.”
“You don’t want to make it out of there? You don’t want to be something more?” she asks. I reach for her face, brush a piece of hair behind her ear, and smile.
“For you, I want everything. I want the happy ending, I want the smiles, I want it all.”
“And I want it all with you.” Her words cause my chest to clench once more.
“I don’t know how to do that.”
“You learn. It wasn’t easy, Marco, when I left. It hurt. It fucking broke my heart, but you didn’t want out back then.”
“I’m not sure I want out now,” I admit.
“Then you take your time. When you figure it out, the offer stands.” Luna yawns again, and I know this night is wearing on her.
“We should go,” I say as I glance over at her.
“Stay the night. I have an extra room. Think about things, take your time. There’s no rush,” Damion says. I nod my thanks as he stands and walks out of the living room. Luna stands and holds out her hand to me. I gladly take it. We walk down the hall and into the spare room, where Luna begins to strip out of her clothes. I watch her, the way he body moves, the way she looks at me.
“I meant what I said,” I tell her.
“What part?”
“That I love you. I’ve never loved anyone who wasn’t family, Chula, but I love you.” She rushes toward me, throwing herself into my arms, and I hold her there. She holds me tightly, and I let her. I don’t want her to let go. This is what I want. I want her and all that comes with her.
“Can we talk?” she whispers.
“Of course.” She pulls away and climbs into the bed, covering herself up as I strip myself down and climb in. “What is it?”
“I know I’m not going to get him back,” she whimpers through a soft sob.
“We’ll fight it. We’ll fight to see him,” I tell her. She reaches over and grabs my hand in hers.
“Do you think Damion can help?”
“I’m sure he would. I don’t know what he can do, but we can ask him,” I reply. Luna rolls to face me now, and her hand comes up to rub the scruff on my jaw.
“You mean the world to me, Marco. Everything.”
“You too, Chula. You need to get some rest.” I pull her body against mine and hold her tightly until she falls asleep. Then I slip out of bed, grab my jeans, and head to the kitchen. I know Damion has to have something to drink, but when I get there, I see him. He’s already pouring a glass and offers me one. I nod, and he fills another before sliding it across the counter to me.
“She wants to ask you to help her,” I tell him.
“And you don’t want to?”
“I don’t want to owe you,” I admit.
“You wouldn’t. This isn’t really about you, Marco.”
“I get that.”
“I’ll help you both. No strings attached. I don’t want repayment, I just want you to be happy, and I think Luna makes you happy.”
“She does. More than I thought I could be.”
“Then that’s all I want. You deserve it as much as she does.”
“I don’t know, man. I’ve done a lot of shit in my time,” I remind him.
