Page 47 of Sleeping with the Frenemy

“Dumpy?” Eddie asked.

Sofi shook her head, but Leo nodded his.

“Yeah, because we found him living behind a dumpster.”

“Are you serious, Leo?” Lola demanded, crossing her arms over her chest. “That’s so inappropriate and not funny.”

“My dog’s name is not Dumpy,” Sofi told Lola while glaring at Leo.

Leo bit back his grin. “I already told you that if you don’t want me to call him that, you need to come up with something better.”

“I don’t know,” Sofi said. “What about Smokey?”

“Like the bear?” Lola asked.

“Because of his color.”

Leo snorted. “Only potheads name their dog Smokey.”

“That’s true,” Papo said with a laugh.

“You’d know wouldn’t you?” Kamilah said to her abuelo, who stuck out his tongue at her.

All of a sudden Valeria’s voice cut them all off. “Rosie, what are you doing?”

Everyone turned to find Saint’s daughter sitting on the ground with the dog at her side. In one hand she held a half-eaten tostón and in the other a plate full of tostones that the dog was devouring with glee, his whole back end wiggling back and forth with the force of his tail.

“He was hungry,” Rosie said around a mouthful. “I could tell because he was whining. And Papi and Lola said we’re supposed to help people when they need it.”

Everyone was quiet because what were they supposed to say to that logic.

“Well,” Papo said. “I think we just found the dog’s name.” He paused for effect. “Tostón.”

Sofi smiled. “Perfect.”

As everyone started congratulating Tostón on his new name and family, Papo pulled Sofi aside. “I have something for you.” He pulled a flash drive out of his pocket. “Before he died, Killian recorded this video for Kamilah and Liam. He wanted it played at the wedding since he knew he wouldn’t be there in person.” He placed the flash drive in her hand and then sandwiched her hand between his. “Since you’re in charge of the reception, I’m giving this to you.” He let her hand go.

Sofi quickly placed the flash drive in the front pocket of her mini backpack for safekeeping. “I’ll protect it with my life,” she told him.

He smiled. “There’s no need for all that. Eddie made sure there are plenty of copies, just in case.”

Sometime later, after Sofi had left the Vegas to working their food stand while she went to meet up with her mom and Abuela Fina, she was sitting on the grass enjoying a piña colada. On the bench next to her, Mami and Abuela Fina had Tostón stretched out between them, rubbing his belly and saying all kinds of stuff about how sweet and cute he was in English and Spanish.

It was hilarious because, like Sofi, neither woman was an animal person. They were especially not fans of big dogs. Mami had flat out asked Sofi if she’d lost her mind, when Sofi explained that Tostón was her dog. Of course, that could be because Sofi told her that he was also Leo’s dog.

Sofi knew she was going to get a talking-to from her mom the minute they were alone. She for sure needed it. She could see herself falling into the same toxic pattern and yet she knew she was going to do it anyway. There was seriously something wrong with her.

“Sofi!” a voice called, pulling her out of her reverie.

Kamilah came bounding over with Liam. You’d think after hours and hours of manning the El Coquí stand, she’d be exhausted but she wasn’t. She was like a never-ending battery. It was as if she glowed with vitality. Something that only added to her beauty.

Kamilah had giant spiral curls, light eyes, a pillowy mouth, and a body like Jennifer Lopez, if JLo also had a pair of Ds to match her jaw-dropping ass. Eyes followed Kamilah as she passed, but she hardly noticed. She was unaware of just how naturally gorgeous she was.

Liam knew it though, and he scowled at every guy eyeing his fiancée. It was sort of funny how deep in love he was.

“Hey you!” Kamilah greeted. She looked unsure of her welcome, but Mami took care of that by standing up and wrapping her in a hug.

“I’m so glad you two have made up,” she told Kamilah. “I’ve missed having you around. I thought I was going to have to miss your wedding.”

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