Page 60 of Wishing for La Luna
His mom.
“Why do you sayella?”
His whole body tenses again, and I squeeze his hand.
He breathes out. “It’s easier to say her orella. I don’t trust myself to say anything else.”
“You talked to me about her.”
He lifts his free hand and settles it on my cheek. “I trust youcon mi Maiand you’re the only one.”
The warmth floods my chest, and it’s scary how much I want to take his pain away. “Thank you for trusting me. Now you can say mom,mamá, orMami.”
“Mami.” He pulls me to him and presses his lips to mine.
I sit back, and his head falls onto my shoulder. We stay in silence, and his breath evens out.
He’s asleep, but I’m wide awake and panicking.
* * *
Luna
I’m happy he opened up to me, and I'm there for him.
But now I’m in knots because I put myself out there, and shit like that changes things. Now I don’t know what this means for us. But part of me is at peace because he let it out. It also explains so many things about him, all the trouble he got into, the anger.
When the door to my mom’s room opens again, he sits up, as do I.Mamistands there, looking at us with concern.
“I’m sorry.” He stands. “I’m leaving. We were talking, and I fell asleep. I’m tired and…”
“We have to call Tito,” I say.
He looks at Mami. “I can do an Uber. I didn’t mean to keep you up?—"
Her hand shoots out to touch his shoulder. “You’re tired, and tomorrow’s your big day. It’s late, and you shouldn’t be out and about.Lo malo, evil stuff, is always out to get you before your big victory. You can sleep in Luna’s room. She can sleep with me.”
I’m stunned. He’s frozen.
“Let me get you some towels.” But as she walks away, worry clouds her eyes.
How much did she hear?
“I don’t have to stay.” He looks almost panicked, and it makes me smile.
“My bed is really comfortable. I have a soft mattress pad. I mean, not like what you’re used to, but it will be a restful night.”
“Stop messing with me. I don’t want to disrespect your mom.” He’s whispering, and that makes this even funnier, which I feel he needs in order to lighten up the heavy stuff he shared.
I lean into his ear. “Then don’t think about the fact that my panties are only a few feet away while you’re in there.”
My mom returns before he can answer and hands me the towels. “Help him settle.Hasta mañana, Rio.”
“Buenas noches,” he says, and I show him to my room. “This is not how I pictured your room.”
His eyes are everywhere—the mauve walls, my corkboard with my to-do list, and my bed.
“How have you been picturing my room?” I pause to look at him.
