Page 1 of Wishing for La Luna
1
Rio
Coñazo, I already regret this.
The last place I need to be is an industry party.
I weave in and out through the two-sided hallway. It’s hot, infused with the clashing smells of bodies, perfumes, colognes, and refined weed. My goal is to avoid the crowd of people who stop dancing to try to get my attention and instead head into the living room area of the penthouse, near the balcony. The tightening in my chest is intense. My breath comes in choppy intakes as I stand near the window. The air hits my face, and I can’t breathe it in fast enough, so I push my hoodie back. I need a minute to center my gaze on the millions of lights in front of me in the postcard-like, breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline with its skyscrapers, bridges, and the Hudson River on the horizon.
“Rio,” a gravelly voice I would recognize anywhere calls out from behind. I turn to see Niko, owner of this view, rushing my way with a smile that splits his face and is brighter than the yellow jersey he’s wearing. His arms go around me. “We’ve missed you,Manito.”
His hand claps my shoulder hard, like he’s only Nikanor Romero, my friend of more than fifteen years, not NikoEl Rebelde, the superstar who turns every musical note into gold and any venue into a street party. He’s one of the few true friends I have and one of the two people in the industry who could lure me out of the house these days. I can’t help but return the grin.
“It’s good to be back,” I say, and it’s not necessarily a lie, just not the whole truth. “I’m still trying to get into the groove of things.”
He bobs his head up and down. “I get it, and what better place to start than with your friends? We’ll jump in the studio later. For now, you play. Haymuchasshorties. Have fun. I need to check that we are all set with the equipment, but I’ll be back to get you.Tu sabes que Vampirois madcabrónabout having everything just perfect.”
I nod. Calling our music producer, Vampiro, temperamental is putting it mildly. The man wouldn’t think twice of walking out and messing up our plans if we don’t have every detail ironed out to perfection.
Niko leaves me alone to look around the room. I’m trying to keep an open mind, but industry parties are not myvainaright now. I want nothing but to be away from people, locked in my room, but Niko invited me to record tonight. Our song is destined to be a banger, and I’m excited for my verse. I’ve been tweaking and perfecting it. The music grows louder. “Energia” by Alexis y Fido booms from the speakers, and everyone screams. Great song, just not in the mood. I retreat to a corner near the balcony to sip my beer, avoiding eye contact. Hopefully, the message is clear:no me jodan.
“Excuse me,” a feminine voice says from behind me.
Fuck.Do people not get the hint when others don’t want to be bothered?I try to school my face to something neutral and force the annoyance from my voice as I turn and reply, “Yeah?”
And holy shit.Brown skin likechocolate de agua, tight curls for days, and small almond eyes in a heart-shaped face that I’ve never seen before but I would have definitely remembered. My gaze drifts lower, and yeah, I would have screenshotted and filed away all those curves in jeans and a deep-red, sweetheart-cut shirt that frames her generous chest in my brain.
Si, I would remember her.
“You’re blocking the drink table,” she says, luscious lips stretching in an almost hesitant way.
I blink a couple times and look behind me, only to flush. Heat rises up my chest to my face way too fast.What an ass I am.Here I’m thinking she’s coming to cozy up to me, but all she wants is a drink. I move slightly and say, “Sorry.”
“It’s all good.” She moves past me and stops, eyeing the table like she’s lost.
“You can’t go wrong with Brugal, Coke, and lime,” I offer.
“How traditional of you,” she says, and the smile she turns on me brightens her face.
I extend my hand. “Rio Castillo, and I can mix it for you, if you want.”
She takes my hand in her softer and warmer one. “Luna Santos, and I would love that, if it’s no bother.”
“Not at all.” I mix the drink quickly and hand it to her. Behind her, there’s a window, and her namesake, the moon, is high in the sky. It almost glows like a halo behind her. “How lucky am I?”
“Como así?” she asks in an accent that’s a nostalgic callback to my people.
De lo mío. Dominicana.
I point at the sky beyond the window. “I’m in the company of twolunasin one night. That’s got to be a good omen. Or maybe you arela Diosa Luna?”
“I never heard that one before.” But she laughs. It’s a little loud, but her eyes glow like jewels,gotitas de ambar,against the light. I can’t help but stare at that full mouth and throw my wish to be alone far away.
“You want to sit?” I ask.
Her eyes brighten, and she nods, leading the way to a small couch nearby.
“So, are you one of the models in Niko’s video?”
