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Mom and Dad exchanged worried glances. “Mija, are you plastered?” Dad asked.
I threw my head back with a laugh at him using that word to describe me. “Oh yeah, Papi. I’m big time plastered.”
When Alex snorted at my response, Bella smacked the back of his head. “Ow,” he muttered.
While Dad went over to turn the music off, Mom took a tentative step towards me. “Sweetheart, we have a surprise for your party tomorrow,” she began.
I shook my head furiously, which caused the room to spin. I momentarily staggered to the side before I gripped onto one of the bar stools to keep me from face-planting. It was then I decided it was safer to wag my finger. “Nope. No surprises.”
Mom smiled. “I think you’ll like this one.”
Since one wasn’t getting it done, I wagged both my fingers this time. “I don’t want any surprises. But most of all, I’ve decided I don’t want a party.”
“But you always love celebrating your birthday,” Mom protested.
“Not this year. Not when I’m in a living hell of my own making.” A burning hiccup escaped my lips. “I don’t want to see happy couples dancing when I’m all alone. Not to mention blowing out the candles on a wish that won’t come true.”
Mom and Dad once again exchanged a look. “It won’t just be couples. We’ve invited your friends. All your family from Guadalajara will be there,” Dad said in a low voice.
My chin trembled as I fought not to cry. “Don’t you get it? The only person who matters and who I want to see won’t be there.” Tears pooled in my eyes. “Noah won’t be there.”
Dad winked at me. “You never know. Stranger things have happened.”
I threw my hands up in frustration. “Stop talking in fucking riddles!”
Mom reached for me. “Gaby, if you’ll—”
Jerking away from her, I shook my head. “It’s my fault my birthday is ruined. I asked too much of him. I was a fool who asked for him to put me first.” I hiccupped a cry. “But he couldn’t, and it broke my fucking heart.”
I knew I was headed for a drunk crying jag, so I started for the stairs. After tripping my way up them, I ran as best I could to my bedroom. When I got inside, I doubled over at the knees. For the next few minutes, I desperately tried to regulate my breathing.
Hands slid around my head to cover my eyes. “Guess who?”
Screaming, I whirled around. Without waiting a moment to process who the stranger was in front of me, I jerked my knee up, nailing him in the junk.Hard.
The dude immediately dropped to the floor, groaning in agony. A few seconds passed before a familiar voice moaned, “Fuck, Gaby!”
Squinting my eyes, I lurched forward. “Noah?”
Dad rushed into the room with Mom close on his heels. “Why the fuck were you screaming?”
“He snuck up behind me, and I didn’t have my contacts in, remember?”
Motioning to the floor, Dad asked, “Why is he writhing in pain?”
“I nailed him in the balls.”
Dad winced and brought his hands in front of his crotch. “Man, that’s got to hurt.”
“It does,” Noah grunted.
“Are you okay, Mija?” Dad asked.
“That’s a loaded question, don’t you think?”
He nodded. “I’ll go grab an ice pack for his dick.”
Mom must’ve sensed Noah and I needed to be alone because she left with Dad. I then clumsily dropped to the ground before crawling to sit beside Noah. “You’re going to hate me even more now, aren’t you?”
