Page 13 of Cusp: A Renzo + Lucia Companion

Diego took a moment to think about his answer. Was he, as she said, normal? Maybe compared to her. He continued staring out the window because this conversation had turned deeper than he expected, quicker than it should have. Truth be told, that didn’t really bother him.

He knew it should, though.

“Sometimes I want to look inside your world and see what it’s like,” Diego muttered, “but I don’t think I want to live there like you and Ren do.”

Luv didn’t reply.

Diego was fine with that.

• • •

Luv stayed a few steps behind Diego as he used the spare key card to open the hotel room Renzo kept booked throughout the year. He used to have an apartment on the strip, but Diego never got to see it before his brother decided it wasn’t needed when his home was in New York with his wife and kid.

Ren had given him the key to the hotel room the last time he visited his brother in Vegas. It allowed Diego to come and go when his brother had business—or was it work?—to do and he got bored or needed something to do. Ren never asked for it back and in fact, told him to keep it in his wallet to use the next time he was back.

Trailing behind him, Luv peered over the different items his brother had left behind in the multi-room suite. Everything from the picture frame on the decorative table beside the leather loveseat to the pile of forgotten junk—like from his brother’s pockets, considering it was nothing more than crumpled receipts and some loose change—on the dinette table in the small kitchenette. Her lack of familiarity as she surveyed the space wasn’t lost on him.

“Never been here before?” Diego asked as he dropped his bag to the couch. He didn’t wait for a reply from Luv before he ripped open the zipper and started digging for the black hoodie with the logo of his favorite rapper. “I thought you worked with my brother?”

Her soft footsteps had him glancing up in just enough time to watch her exit the far bedroom—the one he typically used when he stayed here—and come to stand directly in front of the couch.

“We’re not really friends like that,” Luv admitted. “That wasn’t part of the deal and Renzo is … You know, he keeps his outside life private. Some of us do. I don’t take it personally.”

Diego knew better than to ask. How many times had he said that since arriving? Too many. Ren told him a long time ago to stop asking questions when it clearly bothered him. His stupid mouth still worked before his brain.

“What deal?” he asked.

She eyed him for a second, deciding on simply, “He’s my mentor. One of them.”

A part of him wanted to ask more. The smart part of him stopped before he could. This time.

“Huh,” he muttered, finally finding the sweatshirt he wanted. Yanking the item down over his head, he punched his arms through the sleeve holes, knowing damn well Nevada was probably too hot this time of year for the heavy clothing. Oh, well. He liked what he liked. Once the hood was pulled over his head, he could see Luv again. She hadn’t stopped staring. It managed to make him nervous and curious at the same time, and that wasn’t something he was used to. “So, you’re gonna be my babysitter, then?”

Luv’s gaze darted up to his, holding strong. “Yeah, why not? Not like I have anything else to do this week now.”

“Were you supposed to be doing something else?”

“I usually make stuff go boom. It’s kind of what I do. Not this time—instead, I’m looking after you.”

He didn’t even know where to begin with that.

Diego just opted for, “I think I want a nap.”

“Anything else?”

“Maybe I’ll find a park later.”

Luv smiled. “Whatever you want, Diego.”

Right.

That was the problem, though. The entire damn point, actually. He was here because he didn’t know what he wanted.