Maldeamores (Lovesick) (Heightsbound #0.5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

when it’s me and him alone—at home, on the way to school, he’s just Luciano. But when he’s with other boys, especially the ones from the neighborhood, he stands with his legs farther apart, his voice gets louder, everything is over the top. Suddenly his pants hang lower, he speaks more Spanish and swears between every few words. I probably shouldn’t like it when he’s acting all street, but I do. I actually like it a lot. I know what Titi and Mami would say. They wouldn’t tolerate it.
    I reach inside my pocket and pull out a square of pink bubble gum. It’s covered in lint but I pick it off and pop it in my mouth anyway. It’s so juicy and big that my eyes water and my spit runs. I flatten it out with my tongue and try to make a bubble. I hear Luciano say my name and when I look up the boy with the golden eyes is heading right to the monkey bars that I’m sitting under. He takes big steps like he’s on a mission and I automatically pull my legs in tighter underneath me.
    When he reaches me he pops my bubble with his finger. I blush and lower my eyes. I watch his feet jump up off the ground to grab the bar.
    Expensive kicks, nice muscles, sexy smile, eyes the same color as honey. His panther eyes make him look like he comes from some other planet—the planet of men.
    “Lucky’s kid cousin?” he asks me, starting his pull-ups and not even grunting.
    “Lucky?” I ask. “Luc? You mean, Luciano Cabrera?”
    “I call him Lucky,” he says and hops down, landing on two feet just like a gymnast. He jumps again and grabs the tallest bar. He pulls himself all the way up and turns his hands around. Then he starts doing push-ups with his whole body suspended, the bar at his waist.
    “Count with me,” he says and then winks right at me. His face is lit up with a smile and I can feel the smile tickle me all the way to my toes. I blush again and look down but I count out loud with him.
    When I look up again I have to squint through the sun. He’s so fine and his eyes are glowing. His smile is mischievous and makes me feel kind of dizzy. We count to forty-two and he never loses momentum.
    He hops down again and leans over with his hands on his knees, breathing hard. He uses the back of his wrapped hands to wipe sweat from his face. I’m just staring. I even stopped chewing my gum.
    “Why do you call him Lucky?”
    “’Cause he’s got you for a cousin.” He smiles and wipes the sweat out of his eyes.
    I feel fluttering in my stomach. “No, really. Why?”
     
    “Lucky Luciano, an OG New York Gangster. Mafia. Ever heard of him?”
    I shake my head and remember to chew my gum again.
    “Want to try?” he asks.
    “What, the bars? I’m not strong enough.”
    “Sure you are, I’ll help you jump up.”
    I stand and he puts his hands on my waist. It’s easy to jump up with the help from his lift. I grab the bar and manage to hold on for about five seconds before I drop.
    “Try again, I’ll spot you this time.”
    I jump again and hang for a few seconds. I shake my head at Yellow-eyes and he grabs me around the midriff. I let go and my body weight falls into his arms. I’m very aware that Luciano is watching us. My chest is against his chest and he slides my body down his slowly, making my shirt ride up over my belly.
    “Bey!” I hear Luciano call. He must not have liked seeing the handsome guy touching me.
    My cousin comes waking over. He struts on the playground—wide steps, long arm swings, head cocked a little to the side.
    “Yo, Jay, lay the fuck off my baby cousin!”
    “I’m not a baby,” I say, locking eyes with Jay. He is so beautiful. More beautiful than me.
    “He’s just jealous ‘cause he wants you,” he says and winks at me again.
    Luciano reaches up and throws out his arm. They clap hands, shake and bump fists. They even pull each other into a quick hug amidst murmured insults in Spanish.
    “Bey, you know Jaylee from 159th St?”
    I just shrug and stare at them both. They are