Xiomara;

"Watch your step right here."

"Right here?" I said, stepping inside. "Hm, smells just like my abuelita's house."

"Girl." Mía said as she trailed behind us. "At least pretend to be surprised."

We walked through the house before stopping abruptly. A door was pulled open and I felt a breeze. "Okay here," Mía said before Alejandro finally unraveled the blindfold.

"Surprise!"

Everybody was here, all my friends and family, even people I didn't know. Everybody was here, everybody but Dave.

The music turns back on and they all get back to partying as I gently smack my abuelita's arm. "You told me you were going back to the restaurant!" I laughed.

"Well surprise!" She smiled, shrugging her shoulders.

I shook my head in amusement, allowing her to kiss my cheek before I walked over to Latoya. She was talking to Alonzo after Junior ran away to go play with the other kids. The girls were standing next to her but she doesn't know them so I can see why it's awkward for her.

"Hey guys!" I said, hugging Latoya first. When I left Dave and I's place, I totally forgot I was leaving her in the guest house without even saying anything. I left pretty abruptly but we did speak on the phone last night about it.

"Girl who the hell was that guy taking the blindfold off you? Ain't it funny that I met Dave at a party too?" She joked.

"He's nobody." I laughed. "He's a friend. He even got me this necklace." I smiled.

"Is that so?" Ari joined our conversation as she walked over.

"Yes."

"Mhm. Well happy birthday." She said and hugged me.

"Thank you."

"Hey girl!" Paris exclaimed, pulling me into a hug too. "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks, girl!"

Latoya stood there awkwardly so I decided to reintroduce her to the girls. "Guys, remember Latoya? Y'all met briefly at the wedding."

"Of course! Hey." Ari said, hugging her too. I watched them interact and it seemed very forced and sad.

Ari and Paris walked away to get a drink while I introduced Latoya to Alejandro.

"Guys, meet each other." I said, making them laugh.

"Hola Xiomara's friend," he tells her, throwing his arm over my shoulders.

"Oh you spanish too?" Latoya asked since Alejandro sure didn't look it. He looked like any other black person.

"Afrolatino." He nodded, drinking from his bottle of beer.

"Just like Zo." Latoya noted. "My friend over here did tell you she's married right?" She added, looking at me unsure as she eyed his arm around my shoulders.

Alejandro simply smirked and continued drinking his beer. Toya only hummed in confusion and didn't say anything either.

"You want some food?" Alejandro asked me. I nodded and watched him walk away to get me something to eat, knowing he probably only offered to get away from the awkwardness.

"Girl what the hell is wrong with you? First the cop friend, now the sexy ass spanish nigga who bought you a whole diamond necklace?" She scolded.

"I'm allowed to have friends, Toya. Plus I think I'm smart enough to know that Dave is definitely cheating on me so he's lucky I'm not cheating back. He didn't even come to my birthday or even say anything. Like what kind of husband is that?"

"You blocked his number." She pointed out, letting me know that they had been talking.

I rolled my eyes. "You literally live in the guest house. All he had to do is take his sorry ass through the backyard so he could talk to me through your phone but I guess he isn't bothered enough about me or his daughter. Like you really killing my mood here taking his side. Has he brought any bitches to the house?"

Latoya frowns. "No. You know I would tell you."

"Whatever." I said under my breath, walking away to find Alonzo so I can get my baby. I was stopped several times on the way as people wished me a happy birthday so I put on a smile so I didn't look so upset on my special day.

"Good, I was tryna get in the pool anyway." Alonzo said once he saw me walk over.

"Boy give me my baby." I took Maya in my arms. She was probably anxious with all these unfamiliar people around and the loud music. She kept looking around with these wide, worried eyes.

"Thank you." I told Alejandro as he handed me something to eat. I took a seat next to Mía and her fiancé Luis.

"Happy birthday." Luis tells me. He's probably the most calm person you'll ever meet. He doesn't say much at all but he's so kind. I also learned over time that he doesn't really do parties or social gatherings so he probably just came here to sit. I bet Mía forced him.

"Thank you, Luis."

I let Alejandro hold Maya as I ate because she wouldn't stop moving around in my arms. He held her only for her to start whimpering. "Dada." She said and started to cry. She wanted Dave.

"Wasn't you just my friend yesterday." Alejandro chuckled, trying to wipe her tears but she wouldn't stop crying so he gave her back to me with a sad look across his face.

"It's not you." I assured him. "She's a daddy's girl and she hasn't seen him in 24 hours so she's grumpy." I frowned since I knew I never told Dave he couldn't see his daughter. We could've easily planned to meet somewhere so that he could see her.

"Mía did you invite my husband?" I asked, knowing she had been the party planner.

"I sure did."

My friend deepened. How rude of him. I calmed Maya down by kissing her nose and she fell asleep eventually. I handed her to Luis since he wanted to hold her so I could enjoy myself. I thanked him before walking away to dance with Alejandro.

"I see those hips moving." He chuckled.

"Mhm. But don't touch."

The song changed to something Spanish. It was a lot more fast paced. As Alejandro and I danced, I noticed that he was just as smooth on his feet as me which I found impressive because I was pretty much the dancing queen of this family and I sure did like to judge other people's moves. The party formed a circle around us while cheering us on.

"You're pretty good on your feet." Alejandro commented breathlessly as we continued moving together.

"I was just thinking the same about you." I smirked.

Everybody cheered after us once the song had ended and Alejandro had bent me over backwards as the finishing move. I laughed as he helped me back up. "That was crazy." I said, out of breath as we hugged each other.

But he pulled away quickly. "Hold up, what the hell is David Brewster doing at your party?" He asked in confusion so I looked over my shoulder, seeing Dave shaking his head as he walked over to the gift table. He set down my gift and our gazes met briefly. He clenched his jaw and headed back inside the house. What was worse? My arms were still wrapped around Alejandro.

"That's my husband." I said, letting go. I turned around to go after him but I was stopped by Ari.

"Have you lost your fucking mind?" She asked me. Paris stood behind her with her arms folded. She looked everywhere but at me.

I scoffed before running inside. "David!" I yelled just as he walked out of the front door. There was nobody in here since everybody was dancing out back.

"I ain't got shit to say to you right now bruh. Just bring my daughter to me tomorrow."

I grabbed his arm. "That wasn't what it looked like, okay. Baby I promise. He's my friend."

"And how many friends you got, Xiomara?" He yelled in my face. "Cuz' you starting to sound like every other hoe out here! Fuck wrong witchu? Embarrassing me in front of all those people, yo' fucking family. That shit gon' end up on the fucking media and I'ma be the one looking like a damn fool."

I frowned. because I wasn't listening to any other word of his apart from when he called me a hoe. "A hoe? David, I am your wife."

"Nah I said what the fuck I said. Cut that teary-eyed shit out cuz' you know damn well yo' hoe ass ain't innocent here."

"You know what? fuck you! I ain't the one who's cheating out here because I know damn well you been getting around with your fucking dick, David! You been accusing me of doing the same shit you been doing and fuck you for that because I ain't got a cheating bone in my body, nigga! You wasn't faithful to me and that's the shit that's making you insecure. You the only fucking hoe here!"

"I'm the hoe? Shittin' me cuz you was just letting that nigga have his hands all over you!" He yelled back, pushing me against a nearby car.

"I was dancing! Not popping my fucking pussy the same way you can't keep yo' shit in yo' fucking draws. I fucking hate you! What the hell happened to you!"

"Nah cuz' that's the question I'm posed' to be asking you. Fuck happened to us? Huh, Zo? Fuck happened?"

I wiped my tears and pushed past him, heading for the house again. "I want a divorce."

"Yeah I gotchu'. Bet." He walked away and I heard the car door slam but I didn't stick around to watch him speed off.

I entered the house and ran up the stairs, letting myself fall onto the bed in the guest room so I could cry. My marriage with Dave was mentally draining. I didn't want it anymore.