Page 5 of Wishing for La Luna
“Anyway, you can’t talk to him. You will not do this to me. I can’t be friends with someone I can’t trust,” her voice rises, drawing stares from people. How long will it be until someone pulls out their phone, and we end up in one of the gossip rags?
“Calm down. We can talk this out.”
“What is there to talk about, Lulu? Stay the fuck away from him. He knows you’re my friend, because I talk about you. He can’t help it. He’s a flirt. But me and you know better.”
She’s not making any fucking sense, but I don’t care anymore. I’m over it. I want this night to end.
“Fine. I will stay away. Can we go now?” I already regret not going out with Sel to come here. I should’ve known better when she invited me and I got that uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“No, I don’t want to leave. Let’s go inside so you can tell Rio not to talk to you anymore.”
Hell no. This bitch has lost it.I’m not making an ass out of myself. “Adina, it’s not that serious. It was innocent flirting. I’m not ruining a friendship over a dude, but I’m also not going in there to cause a scene. You’re an influencer, and I’m in PR. Those people inside could end our careers.”
“You don’t even have a PR job yet. No one knows you like that. I said we’re going inside!” She grabs my arm.
I inch forward and point at her. “Get your hand off me. I said I’m not going back in there. In fact, you can go inside by your damn self!”
She releases me, stepping back with bulging eyes.
I walk away from her.
“Lulu,” she calls out, but I keep walking until I turn the corner. I’m seething and pull out my phone to order an Uber. My face is so hot, and I’m so angry that I could chew glass and not bleed. This all could have been prevented. She could’ve just said she was talking to that man.
Then the phone starts to ring. It’s Adina. I hit the side button. But she calls again and again. I ignore every call.
A message from my cousin comes through.
Sel
I’m in The Heights. Dropping a pin. Get your ass here.
Adina
I’m sorry. Come back. Please.
You’re my best friend. I love you.
I would hate it if this got between us.
The Uber is right around the corner, and I walk down the block to the light to meet the driver. Five minutes later, we’re headed uptown. I lay my head back against the leather seat of the sedan and breathe, letting everything settle inside me. I’m so mad, and I don’t know if it's all Adina's fault. Rio is obviously a player who was trying to mess with me while talking to my friend. There are plenty of guys in the world she moves in who think talking to or messing with an influencer gives them free access to her friends.
He got you with those sad eyes and the 'key to the most valuable thing I own' story.You forgot what Perla, his ex, said about him.He’s emotionally unavailable and a cheater.
I just know Sel is going to tell me that my first mistake is to trust any man. You would think I would know that after my last two pathological liars I dated.
Adina keeps calling, but I put my phone in do-not-disturb mode. I keep an eye on the messages in case Sel says anything else, but when it pings, it’s a message from him.
Rio
I may be done sooner than expected. Where do I find you?
I close my eyes and see a crimson tide behind my lids.
Me
You don’t. Do not message me again.
Rio
