Page 139 of Say It Isn't So

“Bullshit,” I coughed into my fist and looked out the window.

“Vaffanculo,” Dom countered, which told me everything I needed to know. For now.

I’d have to push Bianca to spill the beans one of these days. But let’s be honest, I really didn’t care much for gossip and I certainly didn’t care what anyone else was doing with their lives. But it would be nice to be in the loop with her family.

Brady inhaled a sharp breath. “I think he just cursed at you in Italian.”

“Yeah, about that, I think I need a dictionary,” I admitted. Especially with the entire family being together for this trip.

“You and me both,” Brady said.

* * *

Bianca

I opened my window and stuck my arm out as I screamed“Wooo!” as loud as possible. “We’re going to the Hamptons!”

Allie opened her window, too, and propped her feet up in the back, leaning them against Maria’s seat. “Done,” she hollered, noting that she had finished polishing her toenails.

“Oooh, let me see,” I said, tossing my head over my shoulder before just throwing my whole body across the car to get a look at them in the back.

She stretched one of her feet to me and wiggled her toes. “Hot pink. You likey?”

“I lovey!” I exclaimed, swatting Maria for the umpteenth time since we’d gotten in the car. “Maria, you have to see it. Hot pink is definitely Allie’s color.”

Maria looked over at me for a second, tilted her head down, and peered at me through the top of her larger-than-life tortoiseshell sunglasses. “I’m driving and if you don’t stop hitting me, I’m going to hit you.”

I stuck my tongue out at her but she was already facing the front again, her eyes fixed on the road. “You’re lame.”

Allie blew outward, humming something. “Ugh, when are we going to get there?”

“You sound like Isabella,” Maria replied.

I looked back at Allie and rolled my eyes at Maria’s present state of tight-assed-ness. Allie chuckled, and I whipped my head back as Maria asked, “What’s so funny?”

“Oh, nothing,” I lied. “Just wondering if you can fit a coin between your cheeks or if they’re too tight for that.”

“Ha-ha!” she feigned laughter.

I leaned my head back, smiling as I stared out at the road ahead. “I feel different,” I blurted out of nowhere. They weren’t in my head, of course, but I was referring to the way I felt now that I was with Knox.

“Like carsick?” Allie leaned forward and placed a hand on my arm. “I don’t have any mints, but I read an article once that music helps.”

I shook my head, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze. “No, not carsick, but thank you. I mean, I feel different having Knox in my life,” I clarified. “I feel lighter, like he just gets me, and I don’t have to worry about anything because he’s there, you know?” I looked from Maria to Allie.

Maria nodded. “He’ll never let you fall.”

“Exactly. He’ll always catch me, and it’s a great feeling.”

Allie frowned. “I’m happy for you, just sad that I haven’t been as lucky as you guys to meet someone like that.”

While Maria technically wasn’t with Dom and they weren’t an item, she knew she always had Dom, and he’d never let anything happen to her. If she jumped, he’d jump just to be with her. They were the epitome ofyou jump, I jump, Jack.

I’d never had that, though, until Knox. I sniffled and waved a hand in front of my face, trying to urge the tears to go back in.

Maria clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. “Oh, sweetie.”

I chuckled through the tears. “I don’t even know why I’m crying. You know me, I’m not a crier. I don’t cry over silly things like being happy. But it’s like lately I’m this new woman. I feel so loved and cherished. I feel. . . whole.”

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