Birthday Bummers-Part I

"That cake looks yummy." Tessa remarks looking down at the cake in Mariah's hand and smiling.

"It's from one of the best bakeries in the city." Mariah informs her. "And Lola's favorite flavor, vanilla bean."

"That cake is beautiful decorated, and I can't wait to take a bite." Tessa says smiling. "I love birthday parties." She confesses.

"They weren't always my favorite thing in the past, but I have grown to like them as well." Mariah replies. She looks at Tessa and smiles. "It's become a nice event to celebrate with people that you love, and I've softened my stance on them." The two women smile at each other.

"I want one like this for my birthday." Tessa requests. "Except, I want lemon butter cream frosting."

"I can arrange that." Mariah promises her.

"So, everything else is set up for Lola's party?" Tessa inquires.

"Just about." Mariah replies. "We just have to get this cake inside and put out the rest of the food." Mariah looks down at the cake again. "And we should be good to go."

"Kyle will be showing up shortly to finish helping us. And then Rey will show up with Lola." Mariah informs her.

"And we can get this quaint birthday gathering underway." Tessa finishes, with a big smile spreading across her face. It is then replaced by a thoughtful look. "I'm surprised Lola didn't want a bigger gathering."

Mariah shrugs. "She said with everything being so busy at the restaurant and Kyle's new job as CEO, she just wanted a small gathering with her family and friends." Mariah looks at Tessa.

"Celeste said she had something to do and will be showing up in a little bit and Arturo couldn't make it." Mariah tells Tessa. "You know, because he's with Mia who is getting closer to her due date. And Abby has something going on as well."

"So, it's just me, you, Kyle, Rey, Celeste and Lola." Tessa states.

"That's right." Mariah confirms. "Hey, can you hold this for a moment?" She asks. She carefully hands the cake to Tessa. "I have to get the key for the apartment." Mariah reaches into the purse and gets the key. She puts it in the lock and opens the apartment. Her and Tessa step inside and are surprised at what they see.

"What the…." Mariah comments shocked at the sight.

"Uhh….." Tessa says shocked as well. The two women look at each other stunned and then back to the sight on the couch.

Theo pulls away from kissing the women on the couch. They were being intimate with each other and he was surprised to hear the young women's voices.

"Uhh… what's up guys?" He says looking at them a bit sheepish.

The woman eyes grow wide as she sees them.

"Uh…. Girls…" She says. She clutches the blanket to her naked body. "Uhhh…."

"Celeste?" Mariah asks stunned. She couldn't believe that her and Tessa has walked in on Celeste and Theo being intimate with each other.

"Girls it's not uh… it's not… what it is…" Celeste scrounges to find the words to say. She was mortified that someone had walked in on her and Theo. Let alone close friends of her daughter and son-in-law.

Theo rubs his hand over his face quiet for a moment. He then gives them a devilish smile. "It is what it looks like." He confirms.

Tessa makes a face. "Oh…." She wasn't sure of what to say.

Mariah shakes her head in dismay. "Theo you and Celeste?" She asks. "Since when…?" She questions. "Does Lola and Kyle know?" She finds herself asking in spite of herself.

Theo shakes his head. "No, they don't." He tells her. "Look Celeste and I…. You know we are two consenting adults." He says firmly. "And we are not doing anything wrong." He states strongly.

"Uh… you're doing something on Kyle and Lola's couch, that I don't think that either one of them would be happy about." Mariah responds admonishing him. She gestures towards them with her hands. "I don't think that either one of them would be happy to know you two were doing this…"

Tessa frowns and then looks at Mariah. "Mariah, uh... maybe we should…"

Mariah shakes her head. "We came to set this party up for our friends, and here Theo is… having a quick romp right before Lola's party in her own home." Mariah gives Theo a disapproving look.

"You really have some nerve considering what you did to Kyle, and even Phyllis and Snowflake." She puts her hands on her hips. "None of them want anything to do with you and this is what you resort to…"

"Now wait a minute..." Theo protests.

Celeste holds up her a hand. "Okay, I know this is a really awkward situation…" She observes a bit ashamed of being caught and of her actions. "But I… well…" She looks at Theo. "I think we should get dressed." She then looks at Tessa and Mariah. "Can we have some privacy for that."

Tessa nods, wanting to prevent things from spiraling even further out of control. "Uh… Of course." She says. She looks down at the cake. "We were just bringing the cake here, for Lola's party." She informs them. She then gives them a look. "You know that will be happening shortly this evening." She reminds them.

Celeste puts a hand on her faces and closes her eyes sighing deeply. "That's right." She says. "That dinner is tonight."

"Were the gifts laying on the table over there and the trays of food not enough warning sign, that we were celebrating your daughter's birthday tonight?" Mariah asks sarcastically. She gives Celeste a quizzical look. "All of this was for your daughter and now…"

Tessa balances the cake in one hand and then puts her hand on Mariah's shoulder. "And now uh, we are going to step out for a moment, to let Theo and Celeste gather themselves and then we will finish setting up for the party." She gives Mariah a look, that was asking her not to make things this situation even more awkward.

Mariah takes a breath and sighs. "Okay we will step out for a few minutes." She tells Celeste and Theo. "But after that, we have to finish setting up for this party." Her and Tessa look at each other and then step aside, still a bit shaken by what they had walked in on.

"Oh, my gosh." Mariah says as she looks at Tessa once they step outside the apartment. "What on earth…"

"I know..." Tessa says shaking her head in disbelief. She shrugs. "I can't believe that either. I wouldn't have thought that Theo was even Celeste's type."

Mariah crosses her arms frowning. "Theo is such a dog." She states disgusted. "I mean how could he hook up with Celeste, Lola's own mother?" She questions upset. She then shakes her fingers. "You know what this must be another plan of his to try and ruin Kyle's life. He won't stop until he hurts Kyle in any way, he can…."

Tessa sighs. "Well I don't know but… today is Lola's birthday." She states. "And we need to try and make it a happy one for her." She thinks for a moment and then continues. "You know this is the first birthday that her and Kyle will celebrate since they got married. And…." Tessa's eyes widen for a moment. "It should be a special moment for them…" Tessa looks at the front door. "Not cluttered by whatever… that was in there." She says.

Mariah puts her hand on her face thinking. "They are going to be so upset once they find out about Celeste and Theo." She predicts.

"Yeah… but…" A thoughtful look comes across Tessa's face.

"But what… Tessa?" Mariah asks curiously.

"Like Theo said they are two consenting adults." She reminds Mariah. She shrugs.

"Yes, but that in there was a disaster." Mariah comments knowingly. She then makes a gesture with her hands. "That is something that is going to hurt a lot of people." She predicts knowingly.

"They seemed to be enjoying themselves to me." Tessa remarks a bit amused.

"This isn't funny, Tessa." Mariah says.

Tessa tries not to smile. "Of course, it isn't…"

Mariah looks at her again. "Tessa…"

Just then Kyle walks up to the front door to the women's surprise.

They both look surprised and becomes a bit worried once they see him.

"Kyle, what are you doing here?" Mariah asks.

Kyle gives her an amused look. "I live here, remember." He tells her. He looks down at the cake in Tessa's hand. "I'm glad to see you guys picked up the cake." He comments appreciatively. He looks at both of them and smiles.

"You guys are such a godsend." He tells them. "I've been working long hours at the office and I appreciate you two stepping up and helping me get this party together for Lola." He expresses gratefully. "I don't know if I could have gotten things together without you."

"Well, of course." Tessa says to him warmly. "That's what we are here for."

"Right." Mariah says glancing at her and then giving Kyle a nervous look. "That's what we are here for as your friends, to look out for you and um… help you." She adds.

"I'm grateful for you two. And Lola will happy to spend her birthday with you… However..." He gives them both a curious look. "What are you two doing standing out here?" He asks. "Did you guys just get here?" He questions." He looks at Mariah. "You got the key right?"

Mariah nods. "Uh…yeah and we got here not too long before you did." She informs him. She gestures towards him. "And actually, you're early." She comments trying to stall him.

Kyle makes a face and nods. "Yes, I am, but I told you I might be remember." He reminds her. "I've been swamped at the office, but I was able to wrap some things up so I could get off a bit early." He sighs. "I been so busy at the office, I just wanted to make some extra time for my wife's birthday."

"And that's important, making time for the person that you love." Mariah replies. She glances at Tessa and Tessa gives her a smile and then a nervous look comes across her face. Both women were trying to think of what they could do to stall Kyle from going into the apartment and were concerned about what he would think once he found Theo and Celeste in there. Kyle was not on good terms with Theo and he would question why he was in the apartment. Mariah and Tessa didn't want things to escalate badly between Kyle and Theo again. Especially on Lola's birthday.

"Yes, it is…" Kyle admits smiling. "So, let's all go inside." He suggests. "You have the key?" He asks Mariah. Mariah looks down at the key in her hand. "Uh...yeah."

"You want to open up the apartment. Or should I do it?" We don't have to fight over it." Kyle jokes.

"Well…I don't think we should go in there." Mariah blurts out.

Kyle raises his eyebrow. "Why not?" He asks.

"Because uh…." Mariah desperately thinks of something to say.

Kyle looks at the apartment again and notices some lights are on in the home.

"That's funny." He comments. "We turned out the lights before we left this morning." He makes a face. "Is someone already in there?" He asks.

Mariah shrugs. "I don't know, maybe you didn't turn off all the lights." She muses awkwardly. She glances at Tessa again and Tessa makes a face and tries to come up with a way to stall Kyle.

"Hmmm, could Sharon be in there." Kyle wonders. "We have had some problems with some things not working in the apartment and she said she would look at things." He reports. "Outside of Lola, and me, she's the only other person who would have a key." He rubs his face and thinks.

"Oh, and Celeste, who insisted we give her a copy." Kyle shrugs again. "Maybe she's in there." He looks at Mariah again. "Let's go inside."

Mariah sighs. She knew there wasn't much she could do to continue to stall Kyle. She hoped that Theo and Celeste were dressed by now and that they could come up with an explanation to explain why Theo was in the apartment.

After sharing another nervous look with Tessa, Mariah hands over the key to Kyle. He takes it and opens the door. The two women eyes widen as he steps inside, and they follow him.

"What the…" Kyle says as he sees Theo pull Celeste into a kiss. Theo and Celeste had gotten dressed, but he had reached out to grab her to kiss her, after he had teased her about being caught by Mariah and Tessa. Celeste had tried to resist him at first but ended up giving into his kiss.

Mariah and Tessa's eyes widen when they see Kyle's expression after he catches Theo kissing his mother-in-law.

"No shame." Mariah mutters.

Kyle steps further into the room and glares at Theo. "Theo what are you doing?" He asks angrily, surprised and upset at seeing them. He glances at Celeste. "Celeste…" He gives her a surprised and quizzical look. "Is he bothering you?" He asks. He then glares at Theo again. "Did he push himself on you?" Celeste steps away from Theo, once again embarrassed that she had gotten caught up again with him.

"Oh, Kyle…I…" She stammers unsure of what to say.

Kyle shoves Theo and then grabs him. "I can't believe you. You sleazy SOB." He says roughing him up. "Now you're pushing up on my mother-in-law." He accuses angrily. He lets Theo go and shoves him back hard. "It isn't enough that you tried to ruin my life? Now you are trying to push up on my mother-in-law!" Kyle bellows. He moves forward and grabs Theo again. "But you are not going to get away with this."

"Man, get off of me." Theo says pushing and trying to get away from him. The two men scuffle.

"Boys, stop!" Celeste orders as Mariah and Tessa look on worriedly.

"Kyle… hey calm down!" Mariah cautions him. She steps closer to him and puts her hand on his arm trying to calm him. Tessa goes and quickly sets the cake on the kitchen counter and attempts to calm Kyle and Theo.

"Yeah, guys let's not do this right now." She advises. "It's Lola's birthday remember."

"No!" Kyle exclaims angrily. "I have had enough." He glares at Theo again and then at Celeste. "He's gone way too far now. He's trying to push himself on my mother in law." He looks at Celeste remorsefully. "I'm sorry for this jerk's actions." He apologizes. "He just can't keep his hands to himself."

Theo rolls his eyes. "So, you're putting all the blame on me." He asks. "Dude, it was consensual." He informs Kyle. "What has happened between me and Celeste is totally consensual." He glances at Celeste. "Tell him." He compels her.

"What?" Kyle asks incredulously. He looks at Celeste again. "No way is that true." He states in disbelief.

Celeste sighs and closes her eyes for a moment, trying to gather herself. She takes another deep breath and decides to be honest.

"It's true." She admits. "What has happened between Theo and me was something we both had a role in."

"What?" Kyle asks.

"It's true buddy." Theo tells him in a smug tone. "You know some women just can't resist my charm; you know that from our time in New York." Theo reminds him.

"But Celeste she's way out of your league…" Kyle tells him. "She is a classy sophisticated and mature woman…"

Theo grins. "Apparently not." He counters. He glances at Celeste and grins wider.

"Theo…" Celeste warns him.

"Okay…" Kyle says trying to make sense of things. "So, she let you kiss her one time…"

Theo makes a face. "It was more than just kissing dude."

Kyle frowns. "Uhhh…"

"Yup more than kissing." Theo repeats. He then looks at Mariah and Tessa and smiles. "Ask your gal pals over there, they walked in on the more than, right before you came here." He laughs. "We asked them to step out so we could make ourselves decent."

Kyle's eyes widen and he looks at Mariah and Tessa. He lets go of Theo. "Is this true?" He asks his friends.

Mariah sighs and gives an apologetic look. "Yeah…"

Kyle puts his hand on his head, disturbed to learn the truth. "And that's why you tried to stall me from coming into the apartment." He realizes.

"We were trying to protect you." Mariah tells him. "We didn't think that Theo and Celeste would be kissing." She shrugs. "We thought…"

"You thought we would hide stuff." Theo fills in. "But no. I don't get down like that." He states emphatically. "I like to bring things into the open." He smiles again. "Keeping secrets never ends well." He looks at Kyle. "As my old friend here knows." He then looks at Celeste.

"You see people need to be themselves." He says smiling at her. "They have to be honest about who they are, what they want and what they need." He states knowingly. "And sometimes people they just need a little something, something to make them feel better."

"Ewww…" Mariah says.

"Oh, get real." Theo tells her. "We haven't worked together for very long, but you know I'm right." He tells her. "Especially about being true to who you are and what you want." He looks at her and Tessa. "Both of you ladies know that." He then looks at Kyle. "And you should know that too, Kyle." He remarks.

"But why must you be so sleazy?" Mariah questions.

"To you I'm sleazy, but to other people I am not." Theo retorts. "Some people find me charming."

"Like my mother-in-law." Kyle says glancing at Celeste and then looking at Theo in disgust.

"You said it not me." Theo replies.

Kyle cringes. "I don't even know what to say…."

Celeste steps forward. "You just need to calm down. Everyone just needs to calm down." She advises.

"How long has this been going on?" Kyle questions. He closes his eyes for a moment and shakes his head. "I mean I don't want to know graphic details, but how long have you two been a thing…"

Celeste looks at him and sighs again. "Kyle…

"Actually, tonight was the first time." Theo confesses to him. "We have talked before and I think established a connection." He informs him.

"Theo..." Celeste says embarrassed.

Theo looks at her and shrugs. "He asked and I told the truth." Theo reaches out and then lightly pats Kyle on the shoulder. "I'm sorry we got it on, on your couch, I didn't intend for that to happen. But Celeste was upset, and one thing led to another." He shakes his head and smiles. "I would have rather taken her back to my suite at the GCAC. My bed there is so cozy, and I think she would…" He stops after Kyle snatches him up again.

"Enough!" Kyle exclaims angrily. "You're not going to talk about her like that, especially not in my home." He glances at Celeste again and then back to Theo. "I'm going to do something; I should have done a while back ago." Kyle states. "I'm going to pound you into sand."

"Bring it on…brother." Theo pushes him. Kyle grabs him hard and reaches to out to punch him, but then hears a couple of more familiar voices.

"Kyle what is going on here?!" Lola asks concerned.

"Hey, Hey!" Rey says. They enter the apartment and Rey grabs Kyle and pulls him away from Theo.

"What's going on you two?" Rey questions.

"Oh, my gosh, this is getting out of control." Celeste says remorseful. She puts her hands on her face.

Rey glances at her curiously and looks back at Kyle and Theo. "Whatever is going on, you two need to calm down. This is Lola's birthday." He reminds them. "And we were supposed to be gathering for a relaxing dinner and celebration. Yet you two are here fighting again."

"He deserves to be pounded." Kyle claims looking at Rey again. "He's gone too far again." Kyle reports to him. "And this time with Celeste." Kyle blurts out.

"With Mom?" Rey asks. He looks over at his mother again. "Mom what is he talking about?" He questions.

Celeste sighs. "Oh, honey uh…."

"What he does mean Mom?" Lola presses. She too wondered what Theo meant, and a sinking feeling hit her stomach.

"Are you going to tell them?" Kyle asks glaring at Theo.

"What me and Celeste do is really only our concern." Theo states.

"Not if you are using her to try and hurt me again." Kyle replies. "And I won't let you use her. Especially not like that."

"Use her, how is he using you Mom?" Lola questions looking to Celeste for answers.

"Okay, everyone just stop!" Celeste yells. She holds up her hands. "Just stop!"

"This is all, this is just a mess." She takes a deep breath. She then looks at Theo. "You need to leave." She tells him.

Theo frowns. "What?"

Celeste nods. "You heard me, you have to go, I need to talk to my family." She gives him a serious look. "And you can't be here when I do that, especially not when my son in law wants to pound your face in."

"But Celeste…" Theo protests.

"Go, Theo." She orders. "Go, we'll talk later."

Theo rolls his eyes and shakes his head. He gives her a long look. "Okay, if that's what you want." He then starts to walk away. He turns back to look at Celeste.

"But remember, I don't judge you, Celeste." He reminds her. He then looks around at everyone else in the room. "But everyone else here will." He then leaves.

After he goes Mariah and Tessa look at each other and come to a realization.

"Well, uh... I guess we will step out for a bit." Mariah says. "Since you guys have some stuff to talk about."

Tessa nods in agreement. "Yeah, we'll take a drive or something. I actually have some new music I wanted Mariah to listen to and get her feedback on."

"We can come back later or whenever." Mariah offers. "Whenever you guys are done talking."

"But if we don't come back tonight save me some of that cake." Tessa asks jokingly trying to lighten the mood.

"Tessa and her cake…" Mariah comments laughing nervously. She could sense how thick the tension and confusion was in the room.

"You know I love it." Tessa admits laughing.

"See you later guys, call us." Mariah says looking at Kyle.

"Will do." Kyle promises her. The young women look at each other and exit the apartment, wondering what type of drama would happen after they left.

After they leave Lola crosses her arms and looks at Celeste.

"So, what's going on Mom?" She asks.

Celeste looks at her, Rey and Kyle and sighs deeply. She didn't want to tell them the truth about what was going on in her life, but she decided it might be best. She gestures towards the couch.

"Let's sit down." She tells them and they all sit down anxious to hear what she had to say.