Page 43 of Wishing for La Luna
But it’s my heart that threatens to give out. “It’s so…wow.”
“Yeah, the boy is in deep.”
I guess I’m not the only one.
I keep staring at the full moon, the conflict brewing between the heart that won’t stop pounding and the logic that tells me we are going too far off the deep end.
“Okay, talk.”
“I don’t know what to say…scratch that, this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever received. It’s so thoughtful, you know? And this is the second time he’s sent flowers. The first time, I didn’t think much of it, because I thought Maeven asked him to. I just found out yesterday that it was all his doing.”
“But?”
“I don’t know, Sel. It’s getting out of hand. I don’t like this man. We don’t like each other. And now reality and pretend are blurring.”
She presses her lips together. “Girl, that you-don’t-like-each-other ship has sailed. It’s somewhere off the coast of Alaska, fishing for shrimp. The kisses at the stadium were one thing. Me and your mom were squealing.”
“You watched that with Mami?”
“We always watch the Yankees. Btw, she loved it.” Then she laughs. “Anyway, that club footage waseverything. You may need to take a pregnancy test becauseese hombre te pintótwo babies withesaperreá que te dió. His primo was standing like a third wheel in the back—afine-ass tall drink of a third wheel, I must say.”
I don’t know which of the statements makes me laugh more. “Next time, you’re coming with me so you can help me stay out of trouble. You can chat up Tito.”
“I’ll come, but I’m going to push you to get yours. This is obviously meant to be, because no matter what the Crypt Keeper and her mom tried, bro is obviously after you like a heat-seeking missile.”
He asked me to think about us, and it’s all I've thought about, but if it goes south, it’s bound to be an epic wreckage.
“And you want to, Luna.”
“I’m confused.”
Sel rolls her eyes. “Bitch, stop.Tu te lo comes con los ojoslike he gobbles you with his eyes. Go sell that confusion story to someone who doesn’t know. If you’re scared, say you’re scared, but you know what you want…a lot.”
“Shut up. I need you to be the one with common sense and steer me away.”
“From what?” she yells. “A dude that wants to put it on you. Steer you away from dick you’re dying to sample? No, ma’am. You got the wrong one. And you know he would do a great job, because Perla is still singing about him and giving scorned-ex interviews. That bitch is two seconds from recordinguna bachatawith Joe Veras talking about how he left her behind like a small-town girlfriend and never looked back.”
I laugh so hard I have to sit down. “You are fucking insane.”
She shrugs. “That’s why you love me.”
I do, because if there’s a war, I don’t need an army, just Sel. “No puedo contigo.”
We both cackle this time.
She sobers up. “Listen, you should give it some thought because we’re not kids and cannot jump into shit blind. But it’s going to have to be some fast thinking since you have to be around him, and after last night, it’s only a matter of time before he backs you into a corner, giving you that Alexis y Fido ‘Mala Conducta’treatment.”
The butterflies in my belly are instant as the vivid images that song conjures. I see himcastigandomein a bed, against the wall, everywhere. My mouth drops open. “Sel, stop.”
She grows serious and stands. “I’m sorry that was insensitive of me. I’m acting like he’s not the king ofbellaqueo.” She bends her knees and places her hands on them, pointing her ass my way. “It’s more like,Te doy pa bajo, pa bajo, pa bajo.” She quotes Rio’s lyrics while leveling down and winding her hips, dropping her butt three times.
I laugh again. “Let’s get to work. You’re too wild this morning.”
She nods to the bag. “Let’s eat and talk because my chopped cheese is waiting for me. Btw, Manolo hooked up your ham and cheese with tomatoes, mayo, grilled onion, salt, and pepper. He threw in your favorite kettle cooked sea salt and cracked pepper chips.”
“Yas. Pull it all out. I need to thank Rio for these flowers.”
She turns and grabs my phone from the table. “Let me take a pic of you with the flowers so you can send it to him.”
