Page 112 of Wishing for La Luna
Tito and Sel walk into the living area of the hotel suite, and when our gazes meet, she spins around to go back into their room.
“Don’t run.”
She faces me. “I figure you need Tito because I’m probably only going to piss you off more. I don’t want to be put out in the streets in a foreign country.”
“Stop trying to be cute.” I point at the screen.
Sel shrugs. “It’s a date, Rio—a public one at that. You’re acting like they went on a getaway to a Caribbean island and jumped off a cliff together.”
The images of the Dominican Republic flash through my head, and I have to close my eyes and stop the images because I don’t know what I would do if she were to go away with someone.
I would catch another case.
Her phone rings, and she looks down. “Tía? Hi.Bendición.” She listens and nods a few times and then hangs up. “That was Tía Raquel. She wanted to know if you were available to take her call.”
I nod, wondering why Luna’s mom wants to talk to me. She’s texted a few times to make sure I’m okay but nothing more than that.
My phone rings a few seconds later.
“Hi, Rio. How are you doing? And I mean, how are you really doing, not some pleasant lie you make up for the cameras.”
My face tingles because I was going to tell her how great I’m doing so she can go tell her daughter. Instead, I go to my room to talk to her. “I’m trying to handle things maturely and not lose it but makingun puro tollo.”
She chuckles. “That’s the most honest thing I’ve heard in a while. Life doesn’t come with instructions, so we are bound to make messes.”
“How are you doing?” I ask.
“Busy with wedding planning and moving my stuff to Darren’s before the big day. I’m happy because I love him and this has been a long journey for us, but a little sad not having myMaripositalive with me anymore.”
Luna has to be torn about that, too.
“That’s going to be weird for both of you.”
But now she’ll have someplace where she can be private with that fucking idiot.Don’t think about that, Riomar.
“Yeah, but I don’t want to make this uncomfortable. I was calling to invite you to the wedding. It’s going to be a small event, just family. Darren and I would love to have you there.”
There’s something funny in my chest. It’s always present since the night she had me stay over and then gave me the blessing I so needed. She’s been supportive since I’ve known her.
“Thank you. This means so much to me. There’s a big place in my heart for you. There’s nothing I would love more than to be there, but it’s your day, and I don’t want to make it awkward for you…or her.”
“I get it.” But her voice is soft and a little sad. “I wish…”
There’s a long pause on the line and a knotting in my belly. She wishes we were still together.
“Me too,” I admit.
“Hang in there. Just because it’s not the right time doesn’t mean it won’t ever be.”
And that’s what I keep telling myself, but every day, I feel like the space between Luna and me grows wider. “Thanks.”
“Bueno, go and make the girls dance,muchachito fresco.”
I laugh, remembering that Luna said that’s what her mom called me when she first heard my songs.
I make a mental note to do better. I will stomp on my jealousy and not let it get the best of me.
I scroll through my Instagram feed and come across Luna’s post. It’s a carousel with several photos, 'Get Ready with Me,' where she goes from sitting on her desk at home and giving a quick walk-through of her makeup to her finished look in front of the gold mirror.
