Page 73 of Say It Isn't So

Rina had worked her ass off to get here, I knew she had. And, in this moment, staring at her, I was able to understand her just a little better. Everything that passed between us had led her to this moment and I was proud of her for doing what she felt was right, even if it was totally unnecessary.

While one hand clutched her purse, the other ran down her side as though making sure I took in her whole outfit.

My eyes finally met hers and she batted her lashes, releasing her hand on her side and grabbing my arm, giving it a squeeze. “Are you surprised to see me?”

That was one way to put it. Although, I didn’t know why I was surprised. There were plenty of designers here. Given Rina’s eagerness to become a big name designer, I wasn’t shocked she’d scored herself an invite to this event.

“I didn’t know you were coming.”

“I would’ve arrived sooner had I known you were going to be all alone, but my date was a little tardy.” So she had a date and wanted me to know—got it. While we were informing people of things—I was happy for Rina that she seemed to have moved on from her mission to get me back. “Shame on Bianca for relegating you to the back like this. Why aren’t you up there sitting with her or at least closer to her?” And now she was trying to stir up trouble. Or fish. I wasn’t sure which.

I refrained from rolling my eyes but exhaled just the same. “There’s nothing going on between Bianca and me. And even if there was, her father would have choice words about the whole thing.”

Now, don’t ask me what that was all about. Truthfully, I had no idea why I’d told her, but it felt good to get it off my chest and say it aloud to a third party. Yeah, that was my life currently—a heaping mess.

She touched my bicep and frowned. This couldn’t be her flirting with me, right? Not but five seconds ago she’d all but told me she was seeing someone. “Does Angelo not approve?” she asked in a mocking tone.

I wasn’t sure I wanted to get into the thick of it with Rina. Plus, we didn’t have that much time.Shouldn’t this show be starting sometime this year?I answered, “Let’s just say he doesn’t like me.”

Her mouth opened, and she started to say, “I’m not surprised,” but was distracted before she could finish her thought and I was left wondering what she was getting at.

A man who I assumed was her date came up and placed a hand on the small of her back. “Rina, there you are. I found us some good seats,” he said, his words laced with a thick Italian accent.

Rina gave him side-eye as though annoyed he’d interrupted us, but I was suddenly much more interested in who this guy was. Based on the accent, she’d clearly met him here. He had to be no taller than six feet, if that, with darker hair and eyes.

She held her head high and pursed her lips. “Thank you,” she addressed him about the seats before turning back to me. Her eyes looking straight into mine, she explained, “Anthony is an old friend, you have nothing to be jealous about. Had I known things weren’t so good with Bianca, I never would’ve brought him.”

I cocked a brow, processing her words.An old friend? So they weren’t dating?“It’s okay, Rina. Really,” I said, decidedly putting her mind at ease while mine was spinning.

She shook her head, though, determined to make me understand. “You’re supposed to be jealous.”

Wait, what? Why?

And I’d thought my mind was spinning before.

In what world did she think this was a good idea?

And to say it right in front of the guy?

There wasn’t an opportunity for me to respond to her, though, because suddenly the music stopped and the lights dimmed.

The show was about to start. I had never been more thankful. Seriously this Thanksgiving, this was what I’d be most thankful for—the runway show starting so I no longer had to speak to Rina or her “old friend” Anthony. Honestly, from the way he breathed in her ear and looked at her, he either wanted to get in her pants or already had. Either way, I didn’t want any part in Rina’s games.

I cleared my throat and gave Anthony a curt nod before looking back to Rina. “We should go,” he said, moving her along quietly.

If Bianca was a handful, then Rina was a goddamn fistful. Good luck to Anthony. By the end of the night he was going to need a stiff drink.

Meanwhile, I just kept replaying that line about me being jealous. What had she been thinking pulling that garbage?

See, this was the thing with Rina. She was acting like someone she wasn’t.

I knew she’d changed, but bringing a man here to make me jealous? Sorry, I couldn’t stop thinking about it—I hadn’t seen that one coming.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Knox

paris, france

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