Cruz (Hot Shots 2)

I follow her inside. She’s sitting down, her legs crossed, hands covering her face, and Luna looks downright defeated. Not wanting to wake up Sailor, I make sure the door closes soundlessly and, keeping my voice low but unable to hide the anger in my tone, I say, “What the fuck did River say to you, and why the hell did he go into my hotel room?”

“It’s not important. I shouldn’t have said anything at all. It’s not like we can change what happened in the past.” Luna is refusing to look at me, and I can’t fucking stand it.

“Fuck this,” I grumble before I’m striding toward her. My hands move hers from holding her head up, and I’m pulling her into my arms.

“No way, not happening.” Luna looks in my eyes, fucking finally, and I smirk because this shit is most definitely happening.

“Not saying we’re having sex, Luna, but I’m not leaving.”

“That’s fine, but I know that look. That look got me pregnant last time, and I’ll be damned if you walk out on me again.” My grip tightens, not to the point of hurting her but letting her know there’s no way this shit is over.

“Fuck, we really are going to need to talk, but something tells me you’re not entirely ready to sit down and hash this out. Get some sleep. I’m not leaving, so I’ll be out on the couch.” I spin her around, my arm going to her shoulder, walking her to her bedroom, and as much as I want to slide in bed beside her, I know tonight isn’t the time to do it.

“Okay, but you can take the bed, and I’ll sleep on the couch. You’re kind of too big for the couch, and it’s not a sleeper sofa.” I know it took a lot for her to offer that.

“Slept in worse places. Go get some rest. I’ll check on Sailor and take my place out there.” I probably should leave, let her get some rest tonight and come over in the morning, but after the bomb she just dropped, the shit that happened in the past, there is no fucking way I’m letting Luna out of my sight again.

“Okay, um… good night, Cruz.” She gives me this awkward wave. That’s another thing we’ll be talking about tomorrow. I watch her disappear through her bedroom door before checking on Sailor. Holding my son earlier as he fell asleep, there was a rightness that settled deep in my soul. One that I never want to go away. Even now it’s hard for me not to pick him up and hold him while he’s sleeping. Instead of doing that, I move to the glider Luna has in Sailor’s room, my eyes never leaving his sleeping form, too scared I’ll blink and lose this moment forever.

10

Luna

I figured Cruz would have pushed for more or, I don’t know, left, but if I were in his shoes, I probably wouldn’t have, and it’s becoming clearer that he really did have no idea what his manager was capable of. So, when he said good night, I veered off to the master bathroom, another added plus in this small bungalow-style home on the beach. There are two bathrooms, and that’s why I waited and made sure to keep every emotion I had built up inside me until I was in the shower—the tears, the sobbing, the anger. With two closed doors between us, I’m thankful Cruz can’t hear me. That is something no one should see. Heck, the blotchiness on my face and neck shows just how much of a breakdown I had. After my pity party of one, I get out, put some moisturizer on, throw on an oversized shirt, a pair of panties, and socks.

“I guess I should go check if he has kicked his blanket off like usual.” I rub my shoulders to ward off the coolness that’s settled in the house and blow out a breath before opening the bathroom door. The plum of steam follows me out. It doesn’t take me long before I’m out of my room and in the hallway. Cruz must have turned all the lights off before he settled in. I head to the living room and don’t see him anywhere. I enter the kitchen thinking maybe he’s in there, but it turns out it’s empty. The sliding glass doors are shut, and the plantation shutters are in place, the front door is locked.

“I mean, I guess he could have left,” I whisper to the empty house. I walk back down the hall and find him when I pass by Sailor’s room. My hand slaps over my mouth, the other over my heart when I find Cruz, thinking my eyes are deceiving me.

Cruz has his head tipped back, Sailor is lying on his chest, and he’s singing something I’ve never heard before, but if I had to guess, it’s a Spanish lullaby. I stand by the door soaking in these two guys.