Cassie spit the words at her husband Shawn as the two argued in their home. “I’m tired of being the one always chasing dreams and not settling.” Shaw was complacent in her mind and although he was handsome he wasn’t interested in being anything more than Max’s flunky.
“I don’t respect you.”
More words flown at him in anger as she grabbed his suitcase from the closet. “You can go stay with your precious Maxwell and see if he’ll keep throwing you scraps.” She tossed the cases on their bed. “And you can’t have the dogs either so don’t even think about it.”
She was gorgeous and she knew it. She had a championship and she was going places. There was no way she was staying with a man she didn’t respect or love anymore. Once upon a time she loved him but those days were gone.
“I can do better than you.”
All hits to his ego but she didn’t care. He deserved all the hate she was throwing at him for being such a loser. “Jess was right about you and I’m not going to keep trying to change you. I’m done.
She saw his hands go up as he tried to calm her down.
“Don’t you even think of hitting me.” Which he never would be right now she wasn’t thinking rational. Maybe I’ll marry Jess, at least she listen to me and loves me. No, there was nothing going on between the two women but she loved to throw her best friend in his face every chance I get.”
“You heard me, get out.” She watched as he threw his clothes in the suitcase and walked out. Now she felt better. He was gone and she could move on.
Let’s start with your name – What is it? How did it come about? Does it have any special meaning?
“Well, my full name is Tatiana Elena Rodriguez which is a... mouth full if you ask me,” they chuckled. “I prefer to go by Tate or Tati depending very much on who you are. I don’t believe that it has any... significant meaning other than my middle name which is my mother’s first name. I kind of wish it wasn’t, but not like I talk about it much to people anyway. I guess what I’m saying is that my middle name had significant meaning to my biological parents but not so much to me.”
Tell us about your family. What do they mean to you? Are you close to them?
“I haven’t spoken to my Rodriguez family in almost 10 years,” they say coldly. “It’s gotten to the point where I don’t even bother to consider them my family. Honestly, Lorraine has been more of a mother to me than my own has ever been. So,” their voice trails off. “I guess that goes to show that blood doesn’t always mean family. Oh Dios mío, let me get myself back on track...” they run their fingers through their hair. “The Archibald’s mean the world to me. I spend every holiday and... special occasion with them. I don’t know how close we are, but Quinn always tells me mom texts me more than she does him, so if that says anything about our relationship...”
Would you consider yourself introverted or extroverted? Optimistic or pessimistic?
“I consider myself more of an ambivert. I like being around people to an extent, but an excessive amount of social interaction drains me. I need time to recharge.” They chuckle as they run their fingers through their hair. “I am more of a realist, I guess. I just... choose to see things for what they are, if that makes sense.”
What’s something you’re proud of? Why?
“This is probably going to sound cocky, but... I am proud of the things that I have done for myself and I am not ashamed to say that nor should I ever be. It’s taken a lot to get me to where I am today and... some people may think I’ve had life handed to me on a silver platter because of the Rodriguez name, but I fought to get myself where I am right now and I wouldn’t change that for the world.”
What is your biggest regret? Why?
“There’s a lot of things I regret,” they laugh. “Like the cheeseburger I ate twenty minutes ago or the extra glass of wine I had last night. But I think there will always be aspects of my life that I regret, but they’ve brought me to where I am now and regardless, I am still very successful. So, why dwell on that?”
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
“Pfft, if you asked me this when I was seventeen years old, I could give you a list the length of my arm of the things that I thought were wrong with my appearance but now, I honestly don’t care anymore. I like food and wine too much to care if it adds anything extra to my hips or thighs because Lord knows that’s where it all goes,” they chuckle. “If I could change one thing about me... it would be how I let such small things bother me. I’d like to be able to let things roll off my back a bit easier.”
What advice would give your younger self? Any advice to your future self?
“I would tell little Tatiana Rodriguez not to make themselves small for anyone. Not for any boy or girl, not for their friends, and certainly not for their parents.” They gnawed on the inside of their cheek for a second. “Just to enjoy everything life has to offer. Have those glasses of wine or the extra french fry... nobody knows how long we’re here for, so we might as well enjoy it.”
What do you want to be remembered for?
“For the work I’ve done in both my career and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community. I’d like to think I’ve made a difference somehow.”
