Page 47 of Wishing for La Luna
My stomach sinks a little. “What about?”
“Me. Us. A lot of bullshit.”
Oh, just people talking shit like always these days.I release a breath. “Ah. What are they saying?”
“One is Perla talking about the mess I’ve been and how I hurt her and shut her out.”
My heart softens. “Everyone has adespechado or despechadaex out there. She’s been telling her story to any channel or paper who will listen since you guys broke up. What else you got?”
He shakes his head. “It’s more than that. She knows what I was going through back then. It’s like I didn’t know her at all. Anyway, they’re also comparing me to Niko. Song for song?—”
I don’t wait for him to finish. “You win.”
And I mean it. His music is so much better, heartfelt, and evolved.
He rears his head back. “What?”
“Did I stutter? I said you win that battle. Easily.”
“Are you high?” he asks, the frown deeply etched in his face.
I chuckle. “I wish.” I’m not into anything mind-altering, but it would probably take off the edge of the last couple of months. “You don’t think your songs beat his?”
“He has more songs. He’s a lyrical genius.”
I scoff. “So are you. Your music has everyone shaking their butts and swaying even when they don’t want to. It’s more versatile because you don’t just doperreo y bellaqueo, you do actual romance that makes girls go gaga. You use themes and incorporate culture into your work. And do you know how beautiful your voice is?”
He smiles—like really smiles—just like the first time I ever saw him in person. I knew what that smile looked like on TV, but I wasn’t prepared for the damage it would cause to my chest when he’s across from me.
“Thank you, but I don’t deserve all of that, Luna. Niko is my friend, my brother. We grew up together personally and in the industry. Our collabs are the best because we get each other. I hate when people compare us. It’s never a good thing. Shit like that destroys friendships. You can tell he’s pissed about it.”
“I love that you think about it that way. You’re a good friend. But you’re both in your own lane. You shouldn’t be listening to these dumb radio shows or reading internet comments when you’re working on your art. It’s never productive.”
The smile slips from his face. “It pisses me off.”
Because there’s more.
“What else are they saying?” But I’m already reaching for my phone and opening theTlk Bout Meapp, which tracks my mentions and his.
My score is at 92%. It means everyone is talking about us.Fuck.
He sighs and takes one of the chairs. “They’re saying I’m a fuck-up and a liability. That I’m latching onto you because of the scandal. That you’re finding something to hurt Adina with, and you always want all the men she touches.”
My face tingles.Jesus, when is this going to stop?But I can’t let this get to me too. He’s already feeling it. We need to be strong and not react to everything. It’s my turn to be strong for him.
I push off the chair to go stand in front of him.
“So what if they’re saying that? We are two people anchoring each other through a bad time. You’re trying to find your way back after a hiatus. I’m not trying to hurt Adina, but my life is not about her. People fall out as friends all the time. I don’t even care what she does anymore.”
He nods, his hands shooting out to yank me closer, ripping a little gasp from my lips. His hands go to my face. “Promise me you’ll hold on to that.”
The dip in my belly intensifies.They’re saying other shit.That’s why he’s so affected.
“Okay…”
His jaw works. “Perla and Noryel released a song together. It’s a diss track. His verses are for me, and hers are about you.”
“What?” My mind can barely wrap around the idea. I’m on a diss track? WTF is this timeline? “What does it say? What is it called?”
