Page 48 of Animal Beats

Fortunately, I’m in Pennsylvania and not Barcelona. The flight to North Carolina will be quick. All Mila really needs is to see me, and she’ll quiet. I knew my going away could be an issue for her. What choice did I have, though?

I race over to my suitcase, thankfully still located here, and take a record-breaking fast shower. I’m tying my shoe when Río walks into the bedroom. “There you are! I woke up and your side of the bed was cold.” He looks at me. “Whoa. What’s going on?”

I don’t have time for his seductive charm right now. Mila needs me. “I have to leave. I’d like to take UC’s jet, if that’s alright. I promise to get it back here well before you have to return to Spain later.”

He makes a T with his hands. “Time out. You’re leaving and you want to use the jet. My jet?”

I tie my other shoe. “If it’s too much, I’ll fly commercial.”

“You’re not making any sense.”

I stand, looking around for my purse. “Easy question. Can I use your jet or should I make a reservation?” Moving into the living room area, I spy my purse. Next to a bunch of buttons from Río’s shirt. Great.

“So you’ll leave me in Philadelphia all alone? To my own devices?”

“Sure.” I stuff some papers into the purse, checking for my sister’s medication list. The school has this, but it always makes me feel more comfortable to bring a list with me.

“I can hit a bar?”

“Fine.” I scroll through my email to find the last tuition payment receipt.

“Start a massive call-and-repeat on the Rocky steps for all the media to cover?”

Where is Mila’s immunization records? Do I need them? “Yeah.”

“No.”

Río’s one word cuts through my mixed-up brain. “No… what?”

He stomps his foot. “You’re not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.”

I raise my palm. “I don’t have time for this. I’ll fly commercial.”

He plants his bare feet wide, hands on his hips. “If you leave me here alone, I can’t guarantee I won’t fuck up in the media.”

“What?” I stop moving, trying to comprehend what he said. “Just lay low.”

“I don’t think so. Not after last night, where Pop hogged all the press. My guess is the media is lying in wait outside this hotel.” He crosses his arms over his bare chest.

The one I explored in bed last night. With all its hard muscles.

“Listen,” I expel all the air in my lungs. “I don’t have time to explain, but I have to get to North Carolina in the next two hours. Stay inside and you’ll be fine.”

“When have you ever known me to stay in a hotel room? Not when there’s a great big city outside waiting to be explored.”

“You grew up here. There aren’t any new shiny objects around the corner. Please don’t do anything to get the press’s attention for a couple of hours, okay? Can you do that?”

His head cocks. His lips move to one side. “I can’t guarantee it.”

What can I do with this guy? No way can I leave him here. If he agrees to come with me, that’ll end the debate over private versus commercial. “Fine. Want to go with me to North Carolina? There’s nothing to see there either, but I’ll be able to keep my eye on you.”

“Thought you’d never ask.” He takes a step toward his bedroom. “Why are we going there, anyway?”

His choice of pronoun doesn’t go unnoticed. “Get dressed and I’ll tell you all about it on the plane.”

Dread at how he might react rises from within. All of my other boyfriends pushed back regarding Mila. I’m sure Río won’t be any different.

The nice flight attendant offers me a drink, but I’m too wired to accept. Río and I got to UC’s jet about twenty minutes ago, after packing everything so we can fly directly to Spain later. While Río was in the shower, I made all the arrangements. Can’t say I’m not efficient.