My damn emotions get the best of me. I’ve spent mywhole life searching for a friend, and the best is right here in front of me.
“Yes! I’d love to!”
I squeeze my friend in a tight embrace and don’t let go until the doorbell rings obnoxiously. Adrian moves to open it, and Thalia walks in with a bottle of Don Julio 1942, making a grand entrance as Thalia Consuelo always does. She shrieks when she sees baby PJ in Adrian’s arms and whisks him away.
“Mi bebecito,” she gushes while peppering kisses all over his cheek.
“Ya, you’re going to get yourputalipstick all over him,” Adrian says gruffly and steals him back.
Sure enough, PJ’s little face is covered in his Tia’s bright red lip prints. Behind Thalia is her husband, Silas, and their daughter, Lucia, along with their nephew, Luca.
“Where’s Ari? Mom, you said Ari would be here.” Lucia huffs.
“Sorry mamas, Ari had a big event yesterday.” Thalia frowns.
“Hey, guess what I got?” Mireya leans down to whisper in the mini diva’s ear.
“Papi, come with me.” Lucia grabs Silas’s hand and drags him with her to the back room.
“Wait for Luca,” Silas says.
“Luca! Come on!” Lucia says in her ever-bossy tone, and Luca follows excitedly behind them.
“Kami and Gordo are back there. My Tia Vicky gave me my old doll house, and we put it in the playroom for when the girls come over.”
“Is Gen here?” Thalia looks around.
Most of the guests are on the patio. Guests that I either know from a distance or hardly at all. Efren stays in thekitchen, him and Adrian drinking and laughing with Ricky and Lurch.
“No. Gen’s still on house arrest,” Mireya whispers. “Did you not tell Lucia what happened to Ari?”
A pang of jealousy courses through me—my two best friends have been involved in a world only they understand. I feel like a bystander watching as their lives unfold within the secrets and drama that bind them together.
I stay pushed on the outside with my own secrets. I want to scream and tell them the truth, tell them everything I’ve been through, and how Efren has been there through it all.
“No. Lucia wouldn’t understand,” Thalia says.
“What happened?” I ask curiously.
“Nothi—”
“She’s not going to tell anyone,” Mireya says. Thalia looks at me and nods.
“The guy they arranged for Ariella to marry, Preston Cuevas, he’s a politician,” Mireya explains. “He had a press conference yesterday, and someone opened fire. Ari was there and barely got out in time.”
My eyes widen with horror. I still feel horrible about accusing her of being with Efren. My jealousy had spiraled out of control, and my behavior still doesn’t sit right with me.
“Oh my god. That’s horrible. Is she okay?” I ask.
“Ya! Thank God Nero was there to save her,” Mireya replies.
“Nero, Shawny’s boyfriend?” I wonder out loud.
“¡No mames!” Thalia laughs. “Did she say that? Shawny isn’t shit to Nero.”
“Who is Shawny?” Mireya asks.
“This hoodrat that works at the hotel and at Los Peregrinos’ bar. She’s been throwing herself at all the members, and none of them want her.” Thalia turns to me. “Alma, you can’t seriously trust anything she says. Her initials are STD for fuck’s sake.”
