Page 65 of Say It Isn't So

Perla chuckled, leaning against the bar as another small crowd walked up. I didn’t know what it was about bars that made us comfy, but over the years we’d had some seriously great moments in them. Frankly, now that I thought about it, some of our best memories had taken place in bars or clubs. Okay, so that was weird, but also super fun, if you asked me.

I turned and leaned against the bar myself, my eyes finding the boys.

“You can get away with red lipstick, too,” Perla responded.

I raised a brow and nudged her slightly. “That’s not true. That’s why I always stick to pink. Now that’s a color that’s my friend.”

“I like nude,” Maria put in and spun her empty glass. “Okay, so what gives? Why are we over here when they’re over there?”

Allie leaned forward and sighed. “No one asked me, but I’m actually trying this new burgundy,” she supplied. “What do you guys think?” She puckered, pouted, pursed them, and then smiled.

Lip models watch out, Allie Morelli is coming for your job.

I blew a kiss. “It makes them look kissable.”

“Extra kissable,” Perla agreed, and we both started laughing.

Allie turned to Maria. “What do you think, Maria? Do you agree with them? Burgundy or no burgundy?”

Maria nodded. “Definitely burgundy.” Then she leaned forward and declared, “I think my natural lip color changed.”

I turned and placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to shift her to look at me. “What do you mean? Can that happen?”

“I heard it can with age,” Perla said, and I turned to see her shrug. “But I read that on the Internet, so who knows for sure.”

Maria blew bubbles. “I don’t know,” she started, fluffing the bottom of her brown locks with her hand. “But I used to look good in bright pink, like you, Bianca, and now I’m wearing nude more and more these days because it’s the only color that looks good on me.”

Allie giggled. “All this talk about lips, I wonder what Bianca’s thinking about Knox’s,” she said and turned to me, an eyebrow hitched.

Maria chuckled and ordered another round of shots. “Yeah, the way Knox went all caveman when you two got here. I’d say it’s driving him crazy that you’re with us and not him.”

I raised a brow and fixed the hem of my dress, pulling it down. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Come on.” Maria practically groaned, widening her eyes. “He scanned the bar for about two seconds before putting his hand on you to claim you.”

Perla laughed. “She’s not wrong. Frankie’s the same way. It’s his way of telling the entire bar,she’s mine.”

I rolled my eyes. I wished that were the case, but things weren’t as simple for us as they had been for Frankie and Perla. It wasn’t black and white. There was some gray area where Knox and I were concerned.

I smacked my lips together. “Sorry, girls, but you’re looking too much into this one. Knox and I are just friends.”

Allie feigned snoring before I slapped her shoulder and she opened her eyes. “Sorry,” she said, a hand on her hip now, “that line is starting to put me to sleep. And that’s exactly why we needed some girl time to talk about absolutely nothing—to drive him nuts.”

When I noticed all my sisters eyes were on me, I threw my hands up and whispered, “What do you want me to say?” I looked at each of them in turn. “I’ve got two words for you, or rather names”—I popped a finger up for each one—“Daddy and Rina.”

Perla gave me a concerned look. “Oh, sis, Rina’s still in the picture?”

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Knox insists there’s nothing going on and he feels nothing for her anymore, but I don’t know.” I shrugged, looking down at my feet. I tried not to dwell on it too much because I couldn’t change it, and I knew what I’d signed up for when I told Knox I wanted him, even if Rina was going to fight for him. “It’s nothing like you see in the movies.”

“I’m sure,” Allie said. “It’s probably worse because you’re living it.“

I leaned my head on Maria’s shoulder and she patted the top of it. “I do like Knox, though.”

“Oh, we remember,” Maria said, and I looked up at her eyeing Allie and Perla suggestively.

“It wasn’t like that. I mean, we never gave into anything back then,” I defended. “Rina had broken up with him, he was working atBellissima.”

Allie rolled her eyes. “And like a bad rash, Rina is back. She never seems to take a hint.”

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