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The Rivera family mingled amongst themselves as dinner was cooked. Bomba music blasted through someone's speaker, but the lyrics could barely be heard over all the chatter and laughter. The elders sat in the living room gossiping about Lord knows what, the minors played in the fully furnished basement, the millennials were in the kitchen, and the young adults took over the family room since it was so many of them. It was 7 o'clock, and no one planned on going home anytime soon.
Thaïs deliberately arrived late, knowing dinner was never ready on time. Despite the usual 4 PM schedule, food wouldn't be ready until hours later. To her dismay, dinner was still being prepared upon her arrival.
Thaïs, Tori, and Mariah arrived at the home together, each holding some type of dish Thaïs' mother prepared the morning prior. Pushing the front door open, Thaïs' chest vibrated as she made her way through the house.
Mariah followed shortly behind, kicking her Marni slides to the side. Tori took her Crocs off and took all three pairs of shoes upstairs. As the duo ventured deeper into the house, Mariah grew nervous at the sight of so many people.
"Ay, Hermosa, you get more beautiful each time I see you." Thaïs' grandmother was the first to acknowledge her. Thaïs let out a slight giggle, considering she'd just seen her three weeks ago.
Thaïs gave her pan to a younger family member who passed by before pulling her grandmother into a hug. She lightly pecked her cheek before pulling away. "Abuelita, how are you?"
"Better now that you're here," she said. Tori walked behind the two, hearing some of the interaction.
"Really?" she scoffed, going in for her pleasantries. Tori always said Thaïs was her favorite grandchild out of the 20 she had, even though she claimed she didn't have one.
Thaïs flipped her hair over her shoulder, cockily, before turning to Mariah. "Lita, this is my friend, Mariah. The one I told you was coming, remember?"
"Of course, I remember. I'm not as old as you think I am." She waved her off. Thaïs nodded in agreement, noting that her grandmother was only 66 years old. "How are you, Mariah? You're as pretty as Emmy says you are."
Mariah glanced at Thaïs, whose face wore a dumbfounded expression. Grandmas did not care about embarrassing their family. "It's nice to meet you, Lita." Mariah remembered the name Thaïs told her that her grandmother liked the most.
Lita nodded her head, her thoughts cut off by her iPhone alarm. "Oops. I have to go take the food from the oven. Your cousins are in the family room."
Thaïs led Mariah to the family room, where they had a table set up for Spades, and one for Uno. Since both tables were full, the two slipped past everyone before making their way to Tori.
"Yo, there's my big headed ass prima. I haven't seen you in forever and you wanna get here late and shit," Juan said, pulling his cousin into a hug.
Thaïs smiled at her younger cousin and embraced him warmly, but not before slapping the back of his neck. "Wassup, Juanito?"
