Sofia talks with her sister

“So,” Sofia’s sister, Marisol, continues, “do you think he’s actually been cheating on you?”

Sofia watches her kids running around her sister’s living room, then peers down at the mug in front of her. “I don’t know,” she says after giving the question some consideration. “I mean… of course it’s crossed my mind. What woman doesn’t wonder when her husband’s always ‘working’ late, or on his phone with one of those privacy screens? But I never had proof and I don’t know that I ever really considered it before. Last night I was just mad. I threw it back at him because he was accusing me of something with Jay, and it felt unfair, because he should know I never would’ve done that to him. I didn’t mean to piss him off like I did. But… You know, he did get pretty sensitive about it, which only set me off even worse.”

Marisol leans back in the kitchen barstool, crossing her arms. “I’ve never trusted him, Sof. Never. If you ask me, he’s always seemed like the type of guy who needs women flirting with him to feel like a man. Like… validation, you know? Even if it’s just flirting with some ‘golfa’ online, or texting somebody’s secretary in the office who laughs at his jokes. Whatever. You know what I’m saying. He’s an insecure little boy under all that money and machismo. I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s doing something shady. I just don’t know what.”

Sofia gives a small, tired smile. “I know you’ve never liked him. You’ve made that very clear.”

“I don’t know, maybe he’s fine. I know that I like that he provides for you and the boys,” Marisol says honestly. “I like that the boys have a nice house and he makes sure that they don’t want for anything. But what I don’t like is how he treats you like you’re lucky to have him, ‘cause girl, it’s the other way around. And yeah, I think he’s the kind of guy who’d cheat just to prove he’s a man and girls want him.” She pauses, then smirks, dropping her voice so she can’t be heard in the other room. “Probably has a little dick, too. That’s why he has an attitude and overcompensates with everything else.”

They both burst out laughing, startling the kids for a second before they go back to playing with their toys and making their own noises.

Sofia shakes her head, feeling her cheeks go red. “Uh-uh,” she says conspiratorially. “That’s actually one thing he doesn’t have to compensate for.”

Marisol covers her face with both hands, laughing harder. “Oh my God, Sof, I did not need to know that the next time I see him. It was a joke, that’s all.”

“Ay comadre, don’t act innocent, you started this, but I’m serious,” Sofia says, fanning herself dramatically. “Back in college, I accidentally walked in on him in the bathroom at a party – ay Dios mío…” she trails off with an exaggerated shiver and laughs again. “Let’s just say it’s why I agreed to go on a date with him in the first place.”

Marisol peeks through her fingers, still giggling, and her face darker than it was before. “Okay, fine, maybe not the dick,” she says, whispering the last word. “But that’s probably more proof his insecure ass would feel the need to go show it off somewhere else. You know? Like he has to prove it to other women, too.”

Sofia’s laughter fades as she thinks of how he reacted to her comments last night. “Maybe,” she murmurs.

Marisol reaches across the table and squeezes her hand. “This isn’t something you should have to wonder about, hermana. You know that, right? He expects to be able to go through your phone anytime he wants, so you should be able to do the same.”

Sofia nods, listening to the boys’ laughter from the other room, and the thought of them makes everything a little bit scarier. Then she thinks about Jay’s awkward apology in the restaurant, and the way his face had flushed with genuine regret. Last is Carlos’s callous grip on her waist, steering her away like she was property. She doesn’t know if she actually wants to know anything, or what it would mean if she found out something she didn’t want to know.

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