Chapter 13
Luna
“Girl, the way these people can’t stop talking about the two of you the past two weeks…these blogs will be eating off your back for months,” Breya, the makeup artist, says.
Chris, the hairstylist, chuckles as he applies moisturizer to my curls. “I mean, it was epic, and that footage is everything, honey. That club could have fallen apart, and neither of you would have noticed.”
Except, I did. I noticed the fight, the yelling, and everything else. I just made a choice. One that has haunted me since. Ever since that night at the club, I feel like things are coming to a head. I’ve made a couple of excuses not to go out, but the text messaging is worse.
The photos of him lying shirtless in bed is bad enough. But the bedhead or wet-from-the-shower selfies have me engaged to my fingers at night. How long will I be able to control myself?
I couldn’t avoid today since I’m going to be in the music video.
We met here instead of arriving together, and he has been busy working with Niko on the details.
The hello kiss was brief because he was helping set up some equipment.
I’ve been in hair and makeup, avoiding the constant thinking and overthinking—or trying.
I wish Chris and Breya would stop reminding me about all the online chatter.
There’s a knock, and the door opens. Rio stands there in his baggy cargo pants and tank top.
The wing on his chest tattoo peeks out toward his shoulder.
He walks into the room, and immediately the air goes out.
My gaze meets his in the mirror, and it’s the edge in his gaze that latches onto my ribcage, squeezing tight.
Something’s happened. Something that rattled him and is slithering up my spine, even though I don’t know what that is.
Still, he says nothing, and I’m too afraid to ask.
Breya puts down her brush and clears her throat. “Come on, Chris. Let’s go check out the buffet.”
Chris doesn’t move but looks between Rio and me. “Um, girl, I’m gonna stay. I want to make sure her curls fluff some more.”
Rio’s gaze doesn’t move from mine.
But Breya moves quickly and grabs Chris by the arm. “We’re going.”
I’m barely aware of the closing of the door, because Rio’s gaze is so intense, so heavy on me that it weighs my shoulders down. After the morning I’ve had, I don’t think I can take any more bad news, but I still ask.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m annoyed,” he answers.
I smile. “That’s the understatement of the year. What’s the reason for your annoyance?”
He shrugs. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”
I tilt my head and purse my lips. “Yet you came into the room and scared glam away.”
“Fine, I’ll go.” He turns to leave.
I spin around and latch on to his hand before he can go. “Stop. Just tell me what it is.”
“There are a couple of interviews out there today.”
My stomach sinks a little. “What about?”
“Me. Us. A lot of bullshit.”
Oh, just people talking shit like always these days. I release a breath. “Ah. What are they saying?”
“One is Perla talking about the mess I’ve been and how I hurt her and shut her out.”
My heart softens. “Everyone has a despechado or despechada ex out there. She’s been telling her story to any channel or paper who will listen since you guys broke up. What else you got?”
He shakes his head. “It’s more than that. She knows what I was going through back then. It’s like I didn’t know her at all. Anyway, they’re also comparing me to Niko. Song for song—”
I don’t wait for him to finish. “You win.”
And I mean it. His music is so much better, heartfelt, and evolved.
He rears his head back. “What?”
“Did I stutter? I said you win that battle. Easily.”
“Are you high?” he asks, the frown deeply etched in his face.
I chuckle. “I wish.” I’m not into anything mind-altering, but it would probably take off the edge of the last couple of months. “You don’t think your songs beat his?”
“He has more songs. He’s a lyrical genius.”
I scoff. “So are you. Your music has everyone shaking their butts and swaying even when they don’t want to.
It’s more versatile because you don’t just do perreo y bellaqueo, you do actual romance that makes girls go gaga.
You use themes and incorporate culture into your work.
And do you know how beautiful your voice is? ”
He smiles—like really smiles—just like the first time I ever saw him in person. I knew what that smile looked like on TV, but I wasn’t prepared for the damage it would cause to my chest when he’s across from me.
“Thank you, but I don’t deserve all of that, Luna.
Niko is my friend, my brother. We grew up together personally and in the industry.
Our collabs are the best because we get each other.
I hate when people compare us. It’s never a good thing.
Shit like that destroys friendships. You can tell he’s pissed about it. ”
“I love that you think about it that way. You’re a good friend. But you’re both in your own lane. You shouldn’t be listening to these dumb radio shows or reading internet comments when you’re working on your art. It’s never productive.”
The smile slips from his face. “It pisses me off.”
Because there’s more.
“What else are they saying?” But I’m already reaching for my phone and opening the Tlk Bout Me app, which tracks my mentions and his.
My score is at 92%. It means everyone is talking about us. Fuck.
He sighs and takes one of the chairs. “They’re saying I’m a fuck-up and a liability. That I’m latching onto you because of the scandal. That you’re finding something to hurt Adina with, and you always want all the men she touches.”
My face tingles. Jesus, when is this going to stop? But I can’t let this get to me too. He’s already feeling it. We need to be strong and not react to everything. It’s my turn to be strong for him.
I push off the chair to go stand in front of him.
“So what if they’re saying that? We are two people anchoring each other through a bad time. You’re trying to find your way back after a hiatus. I’m not trying to hurt Adina, but my life is not about her. People fall out as friends all the time. I don’t even care what she does anymore.”
He nods, his hands shooting out to yank me closer, ripping a little gasp from my lips. His hands go to my face. “Promise me you’ll hold on to that.”
The dip in my belly intensifies. They’re saying other shit. That’s why he’s so affected.
“Okay…”
His jaw works. “Perla and Noryel released a song together. It’s a diss track. His verses are for me, and hers are about you.”
“What?” My mind can barely wrap around the idea. I’m on a diss track? WTF is this timeline? “What does it say? What is it called?”
But I’m already searching on my phone and find it easily. It’s called Sosa, meaning bland, and I can already imagine what it’s about. It’s what one of the Sirenas called me online.
Rio reaches for my phone, but I step back and hit play. It opens with Perla.
Al que le guste la comida sosa, ahí se jarta.
“If you like bland food, I’m a feast?” I almost yell the words, and his face goes dark. I can’t let this get us off focus.
I force a laugh. “It’s kinda funny. Why are you that bothered?”
“I don’t want anyone to say shit about you. It makes me so angry. But Maeven has already got this.”
“I’m a big girl, Rio. This song is not even that bad compared to some of the shit people have already put out there.”
“I know. When I see him, I’m going to beat the shit out of Noryel again.”
I laugh, but he doesn’t, and the glint in his eyes tells me it’s not a joke. He would do that.
“No. It’s not worth it. You can’t afford bad publicity with this concert so close. What if they think you’re a risk and don’t let you perform at your concert?”
He rolls his eyes. “Who cares? You sound like Esme and Maeven.”
I take his face in my hands. “You don’t like to be called a liability, so stop trying to use me as an excuse to act like one.”
His gaze hardens, and he tries to push away from me.
I hold on, stepping between his legs. “You’re doing so good. Everyone’s talking about your music. The concert is almost sold out. I’m not going to let you fight someone for bullshit and ruin all that.”
“It’s not bullshit.”
I push even closer. “It is. They only matter if we let them. And right now, you’re so close to your goal. The album is at the top of the charts. Your concerts are going to sell out. This is going to be the summer of Rio.”
He grimaces. “I just want people to lay off you, Luna. I want us to win.”
My chest goes warm, my breath catching in my throat. I smile and press my lips to his. “You can be so sweet. Who knew?”
“You could’ve found out, but you didn’t give me a chance.”
“I’m learning.” I smile.
“I wanna learn you, too. But I can’t if you shut me out.”
My face starts to tingle. “That’s not what I’m doing.”
“That’s what it seems like,” he insists, adding, “We get hot and you disappear.”
“That’s not true. We text. If you wanted to see me in person, you could have insisted.”
He shrugs. “The ball is always in your court, Luna.”
His voice is soft, brushing against something inside my chest.
“It’s a two-player game. Not just what I want, but what we both want. You have to tell me.”
“I asked you to think about us.”
I brush his hair back with my fingers. “I am thinking.”
He nods. “While we wait, do you want to know what I’m thinking about?”
“What’s that?”
His gaze drifts down my chest. “I’m wondering what you're wearing under that robe.”
My pulse quickens, but I scowl at him. “Really?”
He laughs. “I’m sweet, but I’m a fresco. But I’m half joking. I don’t want to compromise that good-girl image.”
I don’t know why that feels like a dare. I should just tell him to leave if he’s feeling better. But that’s not what I do. I want him to see the red lace I’m wearing underneath. At this moment, I want nothing more than to watch his eyes move over my body, because I can almost feel them.