Page 115 of Wishing for La Luna
“Do you ever go to the races?”
He nods. “When I’m not training or in season. I can take you if you ever want to go.”
“I’ve never been, but it sounds like fun.”
No, it fucking doesn’t, but I need to try new things.
“Is it going to be a problem that your cousin is traveling with your ex?” he asks, and in a flash, the air inside the car becomes charged and heavy.
“Sel is in a relationship with Tito. That’s why she’s on the tour.”
“I noticed that, and that’s why I ask. Her boyfriend was cool, but I could tell he didn’t have much use for me. Probably because of his boss.”
They didn’t seem like they talked much.
“Tito is more like Rio’s brother,” I correct him. “But to answer your question, no, there won’t be any problems. I mentioned that I want to take things slow. I don’t want to get into a relationship. I’m not ready for that yet.”
“I get it. I just want to know the hurdles I have to jump to get to you.” His hand rests on my thigh, and though it’s not unpleasant, I want to swat it away.
“We are getting to know each other, and I think that’s where your worries should be. Friends first, and then we can see where that takes us.”
It needs to be different from what happened with Rio, where we went from hate to the deep end of love, literally and figuratively.
He pulls over in front of my new building.
“Friends who kiss or don’t?” he asks, leaning closer.
“I…haven’t worked that out in my head yet.”
“Let me help you because I’ve got it pretty clear in mine.”
Something I’ve been dreaming of doing for a long time.That’s what Rio said about kissing me. And I’m pissed because I shouldn’t be thinking about him.
Gio presses his lips against mine once, twice, and on the third one, he opens his mouth, his tongue slipping into mine. It’s not unpleasant, but my mind wanders, and I close my eyes and get caught up in the kiss, but it’s no longer him I’m kissing. Those are not his fingers at my neck. Or his lips on my jaw, on my cheek, near my ear.
“This is the type of friendship we should definitely have.” His voice jars me, forcing my eyes open.
And it’s a shock to my system.
“I should go upstairs.”
“Let me come with you. We can just watch a movie.”
Why does everything he says remind me of someone else?
“No, I’m tired from the moving and the wedding. I won’t be good company.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” he insists. “But I won’t press.”
I breathe a sigh of relief and unbuckle my seatbelt. He flips up the car door and comes around. He walks me through my building door. I swipe the key fob to unlock the entrance door and kiss his cheek. “Thank you for coming today.”
28
Rio
Tito’s been sending photos all afternoon and giving me a play-by-play of everything that’s going on.
It’s a gift and the biggest fucking curse.
