Page 50 of Wishing for La Luna
“Cut,” Niko yells. “That was good. That was a good call saying his name, Luna. We can use that with his voice for the ending of the song.”
When we’re walking back, Rio turns to me and says, “Let’s get something to eat, and we can go hang at my place tonight.”
“Hang?” I ask, my eyes on his.
“We don’t have to do anything else if you don’t want to.”
I blow out a breath because it’s time to stop running from it. “Who says I don’t?”
And I go inside the dressing room and close the door.
* * *
Rio
Maldita sea.
Nothing is going like I planned. We had a good afternoon, visiting some shops and getting a bite to eat atSabor de la Calle, an indoor food truck venue.
People recognized us but mostly stayed out of our way. We laughed at those trying to angle their cameras discreetly to take shots. Everything came to a halt when I got the text message in my group chat with Niko and Zao.
Niko
Bring your ass home. Zao’s in town.
Zao
The party is starting without you.
Fuck.
“Zao is in town. Him and Niko are at the crib. They want to party. I’m sorry.”
She hesitates but smiles. “It’s all good. I wanna see how you behave with your boys. I’ll call Sel to come by.”
Tito smiles and gives me a thumbs-up behind Luna.
In twenty minutes, we are on the Upper West Side, walking into a house full of people. Niko is already spinning in the DJ booth. Zao, with his bigger-than-life smile and personality, hugs me and then jumps on Tito. I introduce him to Luna, who’s smiling next to her cousin.
“Mas linda en persona,” he says to her.
Yeah, she’s definitely more beautiful in person.
Her smile mirrors his. “Thank you.Me encantan tus dembows.”
He looks at me and back at her, pursing his lips. “Which one?”
“‘La Ducati.’” And she and Sel break out into the viral dance and singing Zao’s first hit.
He claps and waves his hands, egging them on.
“We’re keeping her,” Zao declares after the dance.
I keep my eyes on her. “I’m trying.”
“Good to see you smile,Manito,” he says, and I nod because he was there for me the last two years. He kept trying to pull me from the hole.
“It feels good to have reasons.”
