Page 67 of Wishing for La Luna
And I need to purge it all
I have to let the ardor out
There’s no anchor point from the fire
I just let it out
Before it consumes me
The walk is not gentle
But your hand in mine is pure courage
I can walk through fire and not be burned.
A hand presses over mine. I look down to delicate fingers with burgundy-colored nails and then back to Luna’s face.
Her warm smile sends a flare through my chest. “I’m going to go to my seat because it’s almost time.”
For a moment, I’m lost. She’s been sitting by my side while I write my ideas. I never do that.Why am I doing it with her here?
She leans close and kisses my cheek, then brushes her lips to the side of my mouth. “You’re going to kill it.”
She stands, and I can’t help but watch her walk away in her jeans and sparkly white halter top.
At the door, she turns and mouths, “Rompe.”
Then she closes the door.
And I’m left staring, thinking about last night and today. What does it all mean?
I’m falling in love with you.
Her words bring back the familiar warmth into my chest. And then my shoulders slump.
I didn’t tell her I feel the same.
I need to tell her how I feel. I push to my feet, race to the door, and swing it open, but the stage manager is there.
“Fifteen minutes.”
And everyone rushes in. The hairstylist pushes me back into the chair to retouch something.
It will have to wait until after the concert. But she’ll know. I have to let her know tonight.
16
Luna
I’m scared. I feel it with every step I take toward our seats. I didn’t want to leave the dressing room. I stayed as long as I could.
Does Rio realize he rested his hand on my thigh the entire time?
I concentrated on my phone and tried to send him good energy as he scribbled away. We were left alone for a while. I don’t know what he wrote. Just that he kept going, and I posted some of my get-ready-with-me shots. Lost in today's worries is that I got ready with beauty and lifestyle influencer Bougie Girl and Lauren Guerrera, owner ofAutumn Lush, my favorite online clothing subscription. It’s another collaboration that Maeven secured from me. It’s exciting because I’m such a big fan of both and my whole outfit is from their collab.
I feel good and comfortable as security takes Sel and me to our seats. People scream in the crowded arena but unlike before, I don’t really hear their words. I guess it’s like Rio told me the other night. You can isolate yourself to the point you don’t hear them. Because I have bigger things to internalize, like the fact that he’s about to step on this stage alone for the first time in almost two years. And his world is different. When I get to our box, Esme and Maeven are already there. We hug and exchange one look. My nerves are reflected in their faces. Sel sits to my left, Maeven is my right, and Esme next to her.
“He’s got this,” Maeven tells me.
