Page 72 of Wishing for La Luna
There’s enough space for me to breathe, and I’m clear-minded when I say, “Okay.” Because I’m sure this is what I want. No, not sure. Thisiswhat I want.
He leans into my ear. “It’s going to be messy and sexy.You know I’m going fuck you until you’re limp.”
“Promise?”
He licks my bottom lip, and I open my mouth and catch his tongue, swiping it with mine.
“Goo te cojoright here.”
I walk out in a haze, the smile so wide it hurts my cheeks.
Maeven and Sel exchange a look, but they smile right back.
“What happened to your lipstick?” my cousin asks.
Rio must have kissed it right off.
I shrug. “I think I forgot to apply it.”
Maeven chuckles. “First-world problems.”
“Raquel’s little saint fucking men in a public bathroom,” the familiar voice singsongs from behind me.
We turn to face Bethany and Adina. Huh?What the fuck is her mom doing here?
“Fuck off, lady,” Sel tells her.
“Watch how you talk to my mom, ghetto bitch,” Adina spits at my cousin.
“I’ll show you ghetto if you really want to see it,” Sel says, moving toward Adina.
I place myself in front of her. “You are all swearing like sailors and lying on my name, but Sel is the one who’s ghetto?” I take a step forward, and Adina takes one back. “All of you need to leave me the hell alone.”
“Leave. Don’t make me have you escorted out.” Maeven signals for Tito.
“We’ll leave. We came to support Rio. I hope you enjoyed that.” She tilts her head to the bathroom. “Because that’s all you’re going to get.” She points at Maeven. “That one’s the master of making shit that isn’t real look so much like it that it confuses the eye.”
“Which is why you and your daughter want my services.”
Bethany goes beet red. “You don’t want to fuck with me, Maeven. I’ll destroy you and this little ungrateful bitch that I helped build.”
“You helped build me?” my voice rises.
Adina smiles. “If it weren’t for us, you would be nothing.”
“If you built her, how come you couldn’t do the same for your daughter? Luna got straight As and graduated at the top of her class.” Sel throws a finger toward Adina. “That dummy can’t even follow simple instructions on a hair color box. You’re all just mad because she’s doing well, and now she’s got Rio while your daughter is still sniffing around trying to get a smile out of him.”
“Sel—”
“Luna, hold back your pitbull before we put it down,” Adina screeches.
Anger flames over me, and I take a step toward her. “If you touch my cousin, I’m going to forget we were once friends and give you that real Bronx experience you always wanted.”
Her eyes go wide.
“What the hell is going on?” Rio asks from behind.
I can feel the weight of his gaze on me, but I keep looking at Adina, daring her to step up.
