Looking out my window, I'm looking to see if Santiago was outside yet. I did a double take in the mirror with my high waisted white jean shorts and my half top. I looked for my belly button ring and I put it on. I did my baby hairs and tossed my hair to the back of my shoulders. Just then I heard my doorbell ring. Thank God he was here before my mom could get here. I figured my mom went to work. I grabbed my diamond earrings and my keys and went downstairs.

"Thank God your here. Let's go before they come."

"Hello to you too babe",he said with a chuckle. He opened the car door for me and went to his side to get in the car. He tuned the a.c on because it was blazing hot outside. I don't know how I'm gonna be able to handle being outside the entire time at this bbq.

"Where have you been? Your slowly becoming a stranger",I said to him as he drove with one hand.

"Never that Baby. You know I'm running around town trying to get this restaurant up and running and handling the immigration case with the fam",he said.

"How is it by the way?"

"So far It's going smoothly. I just gotta give them the documents that state I got ownership of the restaurant."

"That's good."

"Yeah thing is, I've missed so many days at work that don't have time to go over there and give it to him. My next off day is not until next week Thursday."

"Oh Okay. You want me to do it?"

"He wants me to bring it in in person but thanks baby. You always been there to help",he said with a smile.

"No problem. Tonight is gonna be all fun, no work so I need you to be relaxed."

"I'll need a couple shots before I'm fully relaxed bae. So let me update you on what's going on at the house. It's gone be my family and a couple neighbors, couple people from the restaurant."

"So basically nobody i know",I said laughing.

"You'll be fine cause I invited Ebony."

"You did what?",my face completely changed.

"Let's face it. You need your best friend back. You won't connect with the girls at church, so I had to go to plan B."

"So I need you to be on your best behavior and not beat the girl on sight."

"I'm way over that. I knew he'd dump her sooner or later",I said waving the thought out my head.

"Yeah i saw the way he looked at you at that meeting."

"Seriously? Don't do this now",I said giving him a look.

"Dude is up to somethin, I'm a guy so I know."

"Your tripping. Please don't kill the vibe at this bbq. It's 4th of July",I said rolling my eyes. Soon as he pulled up, I didn't even wait for him to get the door for me. I just got out and fortunately, the front door to his house was already open. I looked for his parents first so I could say hi and I spotted Mrs. Rodriguez pouring tortilla chips in a bowl in the dining table.

"Hola mi amor. Cómo está?",she said pulling me into a long hug. Her hug felt so warm. I needed that.

"Bien y tú?",i said.

"Muy bien. I'm fixing some appetizers on the table. Would you like to help me?"

"Yea let me just put my jacket down."

"Ja mi vida."

I walked upstairs to Santiago's room and took my jacket off. I threw it on his bed and took my phone out of it. Right when I was about to go out, Santiago came in with a drink in hand. I walked past him to open the door and he grabbed my hand and shut the door. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, shifting my weight to one side.

"We good?",he asked taking a sip.

"Yea."

"So why you in a rush to leave?"

"Because I promised your mom that i would be down to help her."

"Ight",he said sitting on his bed while putting his drink on the dresser.

"You need to check yourself. Your getting more insecure than me",I said with a attitude and left leaving him with his thoughts.

Santiago

I put my hand behind my head and laid back on my bed. Khia's words hurt like she shot me in the chest or somethin. I wasn't insecure about shxt. It's just that I been here before and I never had this feeling until with Marisol in the past when I had a feeling she was cheating. And turns out she was the entire time. I know Khia different but I'm not 100% sure because she opened that door for her ex to come back into her life and I know that nigga creeping on the low to get her back. Dude got everything. He in his career field, best in the city, got his own crib, nigga set. All he needed was a woman and I could tell he wasn't the type to keep a chick cause he ain't know how to treat em. Let alone Khia. Dude could steal shorty right from under me, all he had to do is claim her but I was not about to let that happen. I changed into a all white t and put on some light washed jeans with my all white balenciagas. I wore brushed my hair and joined the party. I saw Khia helping my mom out and looked like the two was having fun already. I hugged Khia from behind and kissed her on the cheek to let her know we good.

"Tiago",marcus yelled from coming from the front door. I dapped him up and said, "looks like boss let you off the hook tonight huh."

"Yeah he shut it down early cause he wanted to get some tonight with his wife. Where the drinks at?",he said carrying a bag with fireworks as promised.

"Forget the drinks, where the weed at?",I said laughing. I led him out back to where my pops was at and joined the guys.

"Hijo, turn those over for me while I get the hamburger and hot dog buns",my pops said.

"Ight."

"Man i saw Khia over there lookin good",Marcus said.

"There's plenty of single chicks in the house. Pick one cause my girl ain't an option." He laughed.

"Hey tiago",i hear a soft voice behind me say.

I turned around and it was ebony.

"Wasup? Glad you came",i said.

"Well Khia doesn't think so."

"Watcha mean? What she did?"

"I said hi to her and she totally ignored me."

"Just give her a min to loosen up. She just got here",I assured her.

"I'm beginning to think I shouldn't have came",she said crossing her arms and looking at me.

"Give her some space. Don't push up on her too much, she'll come around. I mean you did f... her ex",I said laughing.

"It wasn't even like that."

"I don't know Ebony. What you did was fowl. I would've canceled you."

"She did cancel me. Look how she acting?,she said pointing to Khia who was in the house.

"She ain't cancel you yet if she asking me if she should be friends with you again."

"She asked you that?"

"I've already said too much. Grab a drink, enjoy the party ebony",I said turning my attention to flipping the burgers on the grill.