Page 10 of Knotted

“Isn’t this a bit much for serving spaghetti?” I mumble, barely recognizing the vamp staring back at me in the mirror.

“Say cheese,” she sings.

“What?” I turn just as she snaps the shot. She shows me the image, and I’m speechless. She’s right—I barely recognize myself. It’s stunning, no doubt, but is this me?

I toss off the hat and glasses, ready to wipe off the lipstick, but she stops me with a firm hand. “What if your future husband walks in tonight?”

I scoff. “My future husband isn’t the type to swagger into Salvatore’s, flaunting a sports car and flashing a fat wallet.”

She arches an eyebrow, still holding her ground. “They’re not so different from Bernie’s crowd,” she challenges, daring me to reconsider.

I shake my head, fighting back a smile. “You couldn’t find two more polar opposite places if you tried. Bernie’s is a mom-and-pop burger joint. The lunch crowd there? They’re real. Regulars without a pretentious bone in their bodies. I know their names, their stories, and they know mine.”

Taylor’s eyes narrow, her tone cutting. “You mean the story where you’re still bleeding words in the shadows while someone else basks in the limelight that should be yours. That story?”

“The point is,” I continue, “Bernie’s isn’t packed to the brim with social climbers or Insta-stars. It’s not flashy—just genuine, easygoing comfort.”

“Shoving past your comfort zone is exactly what you need. Besides, it’s high time you started living like you mean it—with intention,” Taylor says, dramatically flipping her hair over her shoulder. “A little wisdom from my Inner Harmony group.”

I roll my eyes, trying not to laugh. Taylor’s always joiningsome new group to meet men. “Let me guess, hot guys galore at youra cappellagroup?”

She narrows her eyes at me, all serious. “For your information, it’s a profound and enlightening circle of kindred spirits focused on self-awareness and manifesting our best lives ever, thank you very much.”

“Uh-huh. And I’m sure Hottie McHotStuff is just there to guide you through the wilds of self-discovery,” I say, leaning back against the wall, a smirk tugging at my lips.

Taylor shrugs, unfazed. “Look, if things don’t pan out with this future husband, my Inner Harmony guru is definitely helping me explore some uncharted energy fields. Maybe even go deep into my aura. Balls deep.” She winks, and I lose it, bursting out laughing.

“Nice,” I say, shaking my head.

She holds up a jade green dress, then a blush pink one, letting them skim her curves. She glances at the mirror, then back at me, raising an eyebrow. “You need to stop hiding away like a hermit crab and dive into life already.”

“What’s so bad about being a hermit crab?” I mutter, yanking the green dress out of her hands. I sigh, nodding toward the pink one. “The pink one—men go wild when you wear it.”

Beyoncé’s “Run the World” blares from Taylor’s phone, the beat pulsing with pure energy that fills the room. Her eyes light up.

“What’s that?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

She bites her lip, giving me that mischievous look she’s perfected over the years. “My alarm. You’d better get moving, oryou’ll be late,” she says, her voice laced with urgency. Instinctively, I check my watch.

“Wait. Salvatore’s doesn’t open for a few more hours. What time is your shift?”

Her sheepish smile gives her away before she even speaks. “About the time you get there… if you leave right now.”

“What?”

“They’re opening a little early. Just to start catching the pre-Broadway show crowd, I think.”

“Taylor!”

She clasps her hands together, giving me her best pleading look. “Do this, and I swear you’ll have the best social media presence since the Kardashians. After all, you’ve been my best friend since third grade?—”

“Second,” I correct her, gripping the gorgeous jade green dress with a bit more force than necessary. “Fine, but I’m keeping this as payment.”

“You really should. It’s totally your color. And maybe, I don’t know, go out in it. Like, with a real, no-kidding guy. On a date. That dress is too stunning to be wasted on the alphas lining your nightstand.”

I don’t bother telling her that those alphas are the only men who’ll be anywhere near my nightstand for the foreseeable future.

A spark catches in her eyes, quickly spreading into a wildfire of excitement. “Ooh, you could wear it next month.”

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