Page 48 of Wishing for La Luna
But I’m already searching on my phone and find it easily. It’s calledSosa, meaning bland, and I can already imagine what it’s about. It’s what one of theSirenascalled me online.
Rio reaches for my phone, but I step back and hit play. It opens with Perla.
Al que le guste la comida sosa, ahí se jarta.
“If you like bland food, I’m a feast?” I almost yell the words, and his face goes dark. I can’t let this get us off focus.
I force a laugh. “It’s kinda funny. Why are you that bothered?”
“I don’t want anyone to say shit about you. It makes me so angry. But Maeven has already got this.”
“I’m a big girl, Rio. This song is not even that bad compared to some of the shit people have already put out there.”
“I know. When I see him, I’m going to beat the shit out of Noryel again.”
I laugh, but he doesn’t, and the glint in his eyes tells me it’s not a joke. He would do that.
“No. It’s not worth it. You can’t afford bad publicity with this concert so close. What if they think you’re a risk and don’t let you perform at your concert?”
He rolls his eyes. “Who cares? You sound like Esme and Maeven.”
I take his face in my hands. “You don’t like to be called a liability, so stop trying to use me as an excuse to act like one.”
His gaze hardens, and he tries to push away from me.
I hold on, stepping between his legs. “You’re doing so good. Everyone’s talking about your music. The concert is almost sold out. I’m not going to let you fight someone for bullshit and ruin all that.”
“It’s not bullshit.”
I push even closer. “It is. They only matter if we let them. And right now, you’re so close to your goal. The album is at the top of the charts. Your concerts are going to sell out. This is going to be the summer of Rio.”
He grimaces. “I just want people to lay off you, Luna. I want us to win.”
My chest goes warm, my breath catching in my throat. I smile and press my lips to his. “You can be so sweet. Who knew?”
“You could’ve found out, but you didn’t give me a chance.”
“I’m learning.” I smile.
“I wanna learn you, too. But I can’t if you shut me out.”
My face starts to tingle. “That’s not what I’m doing.”
“That’s what it seems like,” he insists, adding, “We get hot and you disappear.”
“That’s not true. We text. If you wanted to see me in person, you could have insisted.”
He shrugs. “The ball is always in your court, Luna.”
His voice is soft, brushing against something inside my chest.
“It’s a two-player game. Not just what I want, but what we both want. You have to tell me.”
“I asked you to think about us.”
I brush his hair back with my fingers. “I am thinking.”
He nods. “While we wait, do you want to know what I’m thinking about?”
