Page 70 of Wishing for La Luna
“If you go after her, she wins. We have to keep hitting her where it hurts.”
“And where is that?” I yell. “Because she’s still winning. In minutes, that image of her hugging Rio will be everywhere, and people will still find shit to say about me.”
She holds her hand up. “The tide is turning, and it will all the way. You’re winning. You don’t see that, but you are. He’s putting your name out there as his girl. And you have some deals and offers. She hasn’t killed your career.”
“But she’s got her hands all over him, and he’s letting her.” I want to stop talking but can’t. “After what she tried to pull this morning, trying to have people believe she spent the night with him and now this? I’m so fucking pissed I don’t know what to do with myself. We can’t even celebrate his triumph without her and herlambonaass friend. I know I need to calm down because this is his night.” I try to breathe, but it’s as if gasoline is being poured up my nose to keep fanning the anger. “How can he be so clueless? Or does he know exactly what he’s doing?”
She grins.
And that makes me even angrier. “What the fuck are you smiling at?”
“Babe, you got it bad.”
I blink a few times, stunned. “What are you talking about?”
“Let’s recap quickly before he gets here.” She turns and locks the door. “One, you’re mad she’s touching him. Because he’s yours, that’s how you’re thinking, even if you don’t admit it to yourself. Then, you’re trying to fake the funk not to ruin his big night.”
“Well, this is not about me.”
She rocks her head side to side. “It kind of is. But I need you to calm down because you’re bound to say or do something that may give us a lot to clean up.”
“I’m not stupid, Maeven.”
“You were about to snatch Adina by the hair.”
My hand goes straight to my forehead. I was. “I never fought anyone in my life, and I was about to. God, over a man.”
“In your defense, she has it coming, and it’s not only about him. This woman has been manipulating and fucking shit up for you for a while. I would want to snatch her by her lace front, too.”
“I’m so embarrassed I could die. I bet you someone caught that shit on video.”
She chuckles. “Stop worrying about dumb things. You got me. If someone saw that, I can make people forget they did. Now, go to the bathroom and freshen up before he comes in. He probably noticed you left.”
“He’s too busy with?—”
The banging on the door makes us both jump. Maeven points to the bathroom. “I’ll stall for you. Press a cold towel on your neck. Remember, he ran to you. You were the first person he wanted to hug after his concert. You.”
I run to the bathroom and lock myself inside.
“Where’s Luna?” Rio’s voice thunders through the door.
“Retouching her makeup,” Maeven replies.
My heart triples, like it’s trying to carve a hole through my throat. I sit on the bench to try to calm down, setting my timer for two minutes, closing my eyes, and breathing slowly.
I’m safe.
He’s safe.
Adina is not a threat.
Maeven is right.
I’m at peace. I’m at peace. I’m at peace.
By the time my watch beeps, my heart rate evens out. I stand and look in the mirror. Reapply my lip gloss and reapply it. After one more deep breath, I open the door to find Rio standing right on the other side.
My heart flops, but I push a smile on my lips. “Bathroom’s all yours.”
