Page 65 of Wishing for La Luna
“What was that about?”
I show her the chain in my palm.
She smiles. “It’s her medal. She doesn’t go anywhere without it.”
“And she gave it to me.”
“She must think you need it. You want me to put it on you?”
I bob my head up and down, not trusting my words.
She places it around my neck. I turn to her, the words—how much she and her mom mean to me—inching to the surface but her phone rings.
“I love when people know how to follow directions,” Maeven says on speaker. “These are perfect. And the video too. Btw, gorgeous mirror.”
“It was a birthday gift from Bethany Belmont,” Luna tells her.
Esme cackles in the background.
Maeven smiles like the Cheshire cat. “Oh, we are going full-on petty mode with the video. Luna, post it with the caption,getting a little work in before heading out to our concert. By the way, Tito is on the way to pick you both up. He’s going to come upstairs to get you. Two girls are going live right now, in your building, Luna since they saw you both going in last night. If they engage, acknowledge them. I have to hop in an interview with The Lowdown Lounge. They’re going to ask me about the video circulating. Good job, you two.”
She hangs up.
“Shit, she gave me a compliment.”
We move to the living room. Luna is posting, and I turn on the TV, browsing until I find Maeven’s interview.
“Speaking of learning how to handle clients, tonight is Rio’s opening concert to kick off the tour next week. But it seems like your boy can’t escape controversy.”
She smiles. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Come on, Maeven. He can’t stay away from Adina Belmont while being seen out and about with her former friend, Luna.”
“That’s ridiculous. Rio hasn’t been around Adina.”
“Tell it to the footage,” the host says, and he plays a video shot through a window of Adina with a man as they’re touching each other.
Luna laughs beside me. “He looks nothing like you.”
“Is that the video you’re talking about?” Maeven laughs too. “Anyone could see that’s not Rio.”
“Looks a lot like—” He presses the earbud. “Well, apparently, you’re right. He just looks so much like Rio and with their history…but it seems like Adina Belmont is hanging out with the Temu version.”
“Stop,” Maeven admonishes him. “I, for one, am happy to see Adina move on. The relationship with Thierry seemed to be taking a toll on her. I’m glad she valued herself enough to know it wasn’t working. I think last night was all about her and had nothing to do with anyone else. And listen, I’m here for girl power.”
“She used to date Rio, didn’t she?”
Luna stiffens next to me.
“She did not. Rio was never after Adina. If anything, Rio has his sights set on the sky.”
The host chuckles. “I see what you did there. What can we expect to see from him tonight?”
She smiles at him. “Calor, sazón y perreo. The Rio the world has been missing.”
I switch off the TV.
“She did really good,” I say.
