Page 86 of Wishing for La Luna
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Rio
I speed down the road with the Caribbean Sea straight ahead and Luna’s arms secured around me, her hands splayed on my chest, the right one right over my heart. I’m feeling all the things—the adrenaline, the fear, the excitement, and her love.
I love you.
The words followed me down the cliff and under the water. In a world of blue nothingness, she was everything. When I turned, I couldn’t help but kiss her and hold her and then let the same gravity that sank us to the deep push us together to the surface.
All I want to do is stare at her, look into her eyes, and see that love. When we climbed back up the stairs, my world already felt different. Even as she got fussed at by Sel, her gaze would find me. I wanted to send everyone away and just go somewhere with her. But it would expose us to people who may want to harm me or get money from me. I don’t ever want to put her at risk in any way.
I had planned to take her to Las Terrenas, but I chose Playa Rincon instead. This is more personal, and the people know me. They’re more respectful here. Las Terrenas would be too crowded with tourists, and it would turn into a circus. Here we have more control.
When we get to the beach with the soft sand and salty breeze, I’m happy to see there are fewer people than usual. It’s a Monday, and not many people come out.
“You know there’s a great beach outside your house, right?” Sel says.
“It’s different here. You want this experience. There’s noconconetein the house.” And I get to chuckle when her eyes go big. No real Dominican can resist the combination of a coconut bread and a large cookie. Theconconetehere in Samaná is unrivaled, with fresh coconut chunks baked into it.
“Oh my God,” Luna squeals, looking beyond us. “LPs!”
LP, short for long play, like the old records, are giant versions ofyaniqueques,the famous Dominican fried dough sprinkled with salt. They’re flaky, crispy, flavorful, and perfect at any time of the day. She and Sel do a mad dash for the vendor like little kids. I signal the security guard who holds the money to go pay for them.
Tito gestures for me to walk with him. The second we are out of earshot, he unleashes on me. “You’re asicopata. You know that? You jumped off that fucking cliff again. You know my mom would kill me if something happened to you. How the fuck do I tell Maeven you got hurt when you’re supposed to have four concerts next week? And what if something happened to Luna? How would you have lived with yourself?”
All the things I was telling myself. But I know I’ll give her whatever she wants. No matter what.
“Relax. Everything’s okay. Luna wanted to do it, and nothing bad happened.”
“Sel was crying,” he says.
I smile at him. “I’m sure you consoled her. She looks just fine now.”
His gaze shifts to the ladies, who are now holding more thanyaniqueques. “Rio, you got something good going with Luna. I like seeing you happy again, but you can’t take risks like that anymore.”
I blow out a breath. “I won’t. I don’t think there are any other cliffs we both want to jump off.” I look at the women and back at him. His eyes stay peeled on Sel. “What’s going on there?”
He snorts. “She’s crazy, controlling, and bossy. I don’t think I like her.”
“Don’t like herpero tu ta aficiao.”
His face snaps my way, his nose flaring like the warning of a wild horse. Then it deflates just as quick. “Yeah, but I hate when people tell me what to do.”
“It’s clear you don’t hate it that much.”
“She’s wild,” he says like he can’t believe her. “She obviously doesn’t trust men and already told me she can’t be with me because I have to go on tour with you, and she knows you pull too many hoes around. Doesn’t trust me or you. She’s apparently waiting for you to fuck up so she can lay out.”
“Coño, she said all that?”
He sighs. “Oh, and it’s on sight the next time she sees Adina.”
I laugh. I have to, and it comes out louder than I expected, because both of them turn to look at us. Luna holds up an LP and points at me.
“She’s bringing you one. Shit, that’s real love,” Tito says like someone who’s convinced he won’t get that.
“So you asked her to be with you?”
He shoots me a disgusted look. “Who said I did?”
