Page 52 of Wishing for La Luna
“Don’t go. I’m not sleepy, just tired of all those people. I didn’t plan on all that. I was planning on bringing you here and chilling with you.”
Warmth spreads through my chest as I sit next to him. “I don’t think any of the things you had planned can go down today.”
He purses his lips. “So we can’t pick up where we left off this morning?”
“Not with your boy in the guest room and my cousin and yours in the rec room.”
“Tito’s probably in heaven.”
My gaze sharpens.
He raises his hands. “Not like that. He just asked that she come around more often.” He shakes his head. “I’m not implying anything about Sel.”
“Good.”
“Damn, that look was something. You looked ready to black out.”
I nod. “Sel is more than my cousin or a best friend. She’s my sister.”
“Same with Tito,” he says. “I trust no one like I trust him. He’s not asucio.”
“Right…”
“I mean, he’s a good guy. Anyway, you want to watch a movie?” He turns on the TV, but it’s set to YouTube. His home feed catches my eye, and I stop his fingers from clicking the home button.
Mukbang compilations. Ocean geography previews. 4K Fly-over videos.
Nothing I would’ve expected to see.
I point at the screen. “This is your feed?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I don’t believe you. Where are the music videos with all theculonas?”
A grin stretches across his face. “Somewhere in there. I’ve been watching more of these.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. There’s only oneculonaon my mind these days. I’m starting to think she’s the jealous kind.”
“Maybe a little.” I show him a space between my thumb and index finger. “It’s crazy that you’re a fly-over video buff.”
“I love watching the places I’ve been to and where I want to go. Lately, I’ve been watching the ones from Puerto Rico. I’ve been falling asleep to drones flying overEl Yunque. It’s a rainforest and a national park. My dad and I used to camp there when I would go visit him.”
I have so many questions, but I start slow.
“Is your dad still there?”
“No,” he says, softly. “He died when I was younger.”
There’s an instant pang in my belly. “I’m sorry.”
His smile is sad. “It was a long time ago.”
I feel it in my soul and point to my chest. “Yeah, but it’s still there, right?”
He nods.
