Page 6 of Surrender to Love

“Divine Vines has a non-alcoholic sweet red. I don’t know how it tastes but it smells good,” Giselle says. With the bottle and half-filled glass in her hand, she rejoins us in the theater seats. Mireya holds the bottle and reads it before taking the glass. When she sips, she smiles then nods.

“Thank you. If I close my eyes, it tastes like regular wine,” Mireya says.

“I thought you could have wine during your first trimester,” Alex says.

“I’ve heard that but it’s a hard no for me. I’m not taking any risks with mine.” Mireya gently rubs her stomach. “Not one chance,” she reiterates.

“I don’t blame you,” Giselle says. She reaches for her can of Slice H2O. “Now, we can make a proper toast and get tonight started. Kyrah is going to get fucked up.”

“Me too,” Alex interjects.

“Well, Kyrah and Alex are going to get fucked up. We’re going to eat this food then spend the night dragging Kym and Raquan to hell. Raise your cans and glasses, bitches,” she says. “Here’s to letting the trash take itself out and our girl living in her happiness with a peace of mind instead of pieces of shit.”

“All of that,” I add and we toast. The contents of my can disappear down my throat soon after. “Shit,” I huff, then burp.

We get up and fix our plates. As usual, Giselle outdid herself. There’s an assortment of our favorite sushi rolls, some cooked ones for Mireya, Kani salad, edamame, and sake. Because I’m starting to feel the effects of my two cans already, I bypass the sake. I’m not sure how well the two will mix in my stomach.

“Umm. What’s this one?” Mireya asks as she points her chopstick to a roll.

“The CF Royal. It’s a mix of the volcano and shrimp tempura rolls,” Giselle says.

“It’s delicious. Let me add it to the list of things my baby likes. I’ve struggled this week.”

“It was that bad?” Alex asks.

“Yes, but I’m going to make up for it tonight. Don’t y’all bitches eat anymore of this one. It’s mine,” Mireya says while pointing her chopstick at us.

“Damn, bitch. It’s yours,” I tease. Then I reach for another Slice H2O.

“I’ve seen the videos. You think you can handle three?” Mireya asks.

“Yes, and if I can’t, I’m good. I’m here with y’all.” After taking a nice sip from my third can, I ask, “What are we watching tonight?”

“No movie tonight. I think it’s time to pull out the karaoke machine. I’ve had it for almost two years and never opened it,” Giselle says.

“Oh yes. I can finally show y’all my Whitney skills,” Alex teases because we all know she’s tone-deaf and can’t hear or carry a damn note. Mireya’s the singer; she just doesn’t really sing. She grew up singing in her grandfather’s church, but once her grandparents passed, her desire to sing dissipated.

“Please keep those so-called skills to yourself. Your role is solely back up tonight,” Giselle says.

“I’m singing lead,” Alex insists. “Where is it? I can start setting everything up.”

“In the closet and I think it might even be hard for your smart ass,” Giselle says.

Alex waves her off then stands. While she walks to the closet, Mireya and I go back to the food table for a little more. Her hand lands on my back and she caresses it.

“You know it’s fuck them, right?”

“I know. I just can’t believe she married my ex-husband and is having a baby. Like where the fuck do you do that? You know what the fucked up part is?”

“I think it’s all fucked up,” she says.

“It is but I hate that I can’t stop being mad. Lord knows I don’t want Raquan. Nothing in me does. I just hate that they have the nerve to be happy. They don’t deserve that, especially her. She’s my sister, my flesh and blood, and she did that to me,” I say and feel a tear fall. Quickly, I wipe it away. “And ugh! I hate that I still cry after all these years.”

“First off, who says they are happy? The God I know wouldn’t even allow that. They are two snakes together, and no matter how many times a snake sheds its skin, it’s still a damn snake. Those two probably biting the hell out of each other,” she says and I grin.

“You’re probably right,” I sigh.

“You know I’m right. Now, cry tonight. She was your sister. That shit would hurt anybody and make them cry. You’re human. You can cry with us, but after tonight, it’s really fuck them.” She pulls me in for a hug. “But have you told Shiro any of this?” she asks.