Page 57 of Chula
“It’s in the past, Luna. I did what I could back then because I cared about you. I still do. Like you said, you’re family.” That word stings. It stings so damn bad. I miss Marco. He was family. He was something that I’d always wanted but never knew existed. He was everything to me.
A chill runs down my spine, and I shiver a little before rubbing my arms. It isn’t from the cold, although Damion thinks it is and turns up the heat.
We finally make it to the hotel where the party is being held and valet parks the car. Damion leads me inside, and we meet up with Justin and Kira before heading into the ballroom to the party.
Lights dance through the dark room, and the music is already bumping through the speakers. Damion grabs us drinks, passing me one before we head out on the dancefloor. I take a long pullof my drink and start dancing as Kira and Justin follow us and do the same. The four of us laugh and dance, having a great time.
The party fills up, and everyone goes on about their business. Kira and Damion leave the dancefloor, but Justin and I stay. The later it gets, the more I drink, and the more I drink, the happier I am. I’m laughing, which isn’t something I’ve done in a long time. His hands are on my hips as we keep dancing, but when I glance over, I stop dead in my tracks.
My smile slowly fades as anxiousness and adrenaline start coursing through me. That can’t be him. He can’t be here. He’s not supposed to be.
My lips part as I take him in. He’s bigger now, more filled out. His eyes are darker than I’ve ever seen them. There’s a scar that runs across his cheek near his eye now that I can see from here.
“I wanted to tell you,” Damion says as he comes to stand next to me, just as Justin rests his hand on my back. I see him look between us, and I glance up at Justin, but when I look back, he’s gone.
I suck air in through my mouth, debating my next move.
“That was him, wasn’t it?” Justin asks over the music. I nod my head, and he gives me a little shove in that direction. I smile at him over my shoulder and take off, rushing through the crowd of people, but I don’t see him, so I rush out of the ballroom and into the hallway.
“Marco!” I call out to him, seeing him a few feet away from me. His head lowers before he slowly turns to face me. Our eyes lock, and it feels like all the oxygen is being sucked out of me like avacuum. I swallow hard as I hear everyone inside cheering and starting the countdown from ten.
Marco steps toward me slowly, each step causing my skin to heat. And just as he stops right in front of me, I look up at him with tears in my eyes. Everyone inside screams and cheers as Marco says, “Happy New Year, Chula.”
Chapter 26
Marco
She’s trembling, and I know it isn’t from the cold because it’s heated in here. I can tell she’s been drinking, but she isn’t drunk, at least not yet.
I want to reach out and touch her, kiss her, hold her, but the shock of my being here is too much for her.
“I don’t know what to say,” she whispers.
“Don’t say anything,” I tell her as I take her in.
“But I have to. He’s not … we’re not …”
“You moved on. I figured you would. I wasn’t naïve enough to think you would wait, Chula. I knew that. It was too long to wait for someone like me. Are you happy?” I ask her. Slowly, she nods her head, but still doesn’t say anything. I nod mine too and turn to walk away.
“Marco. I’m happy because you’re here! Not because of him.” I stop walking once more and turn back to face her and see the smile that now lights up her face. “He’s a friend. That’s it.”
“What are you saying?” Luna takes a deep breath as she looks at me.
“I’m saying I did wait for you, Marco. I … I love you.” Her words slam into my chest, and it instantly tightens. I can’t believe shestill loves me after all this time, after I turned her away from seeing me.
“You know I had my reasons for not letting you come.”
“I know. And as much as I hated it, I understand it. I … just … how are you here now?”
“Good behavior. I got out a few days ago, but I wanted to surprise you.” I shake my head. “No. I just wanted to see you. I figured you’d have someone else, but I just needed to see you.” Luna steps closer to me and reaches out slowly as if I would stop her. There’s no way in hell I would turn her away. None at all.
Her arms wrap around my neck as my hands find their way around her waist, pulling her against me. She buries her face in my neck, and I breathe her in. I’ve waited for this moment for four fucking years. I’ve waited to hold her, to touch her, and now here she is. She pulls back slightly, and that’s when I see the look in her eyes. I smirk at her.
“You want to kiss me, Chula?” She nods her head slowly, a shade of pretty pink staining her cheeks. I nod my head, letting her know that it’s okay to do it. I’m not sure what’s holding her back anyway, but if she needs me to tell her, then I will.
Slowly, she presses into me, and then her lips find mine. This kiss … This is everything. I feel everything. The love that I have for her all comes across in this kiss. I’ve missed this. I’ve missed her.
Luna doesn’t stop kissing me until neither of us can breathe, and even then, she doesn’t want to stop. Her lips keep seeking mine, and I let her have her moment. When I finally break us apart, shestares up at me with swollen lips, looking as beautiful as the day I first saw her. She’s put on a little weight, become a little more athletic, and I fucking love how it looks on her. I can feel her curves beneath my hands, and there’s nothing more that I want than to strip her naked and run my tongue over them.
