Page 87 of The Wrong Move

Paige slurs her words. “She bought a new car, so yeah, she is staying. An Alfa Romeo, baby.”

I grin at Paige. “Part of my heart is still there, but I’m not going anywhere for now. I’m not sure how long, whether it’s months or years. While I can spend time with my parents, especially my father, I’ll only make short trips back to Italy.”

Jessica holds up her purse, the fabric printed with one of my designs. “I bought this online and love it. You’re extremely talented, Giana.”

“Thank you.” Heat rises to my cheeks. Jessica has never commended me on my work, and it means a lot. “Please, if either of you like the designs, tell me as I can get it significantly cheaper. It’s the least I can do for my friends.”

Jessica picks up her crystal flute and clinks it with mine. “Cheers to all the Leto Designs coming our way.”

“Now drink,” Paige says. She is sitting next to Jessica. Paige holds a finger on the base of the glass, forcing Jessica to down her champagne. “Keep going. Keep up the pace.” She tilts the glass higher. Jessica’s eyes pop with Paige force-feeding her. “Gurrll, don’t waste it.” She wipes the sides of Jessica’s mouth. “This stuff isn’t free.”

I’m laughing. I can’t remember laughing this much in months.

“Whoa,” Jessica utters as she catches her breath. She lets out a burp that she tries to hold in, and we crack up at the weird animal noise that bubbles out of her throat.

Paige is still giggling as she refills our glasses. “Mason and I are talking about moving in together.” At first, she sounds dismissive, but then her face sags and she downs a few mouthfuls of her drink. Finally, some answers to her behavior. We should order more food, or I’ll be on puke duty for Paige.

“That’s a good thing, right?” I say, signaling to the waiter.

She downs the rest of her glass. “So why am I scared?” She places her glass on the table and looks to us for answers.

“I think it’s natural to be afraid. It’s the next step in our lives, where we go from making decisions that are right for us to making decisions that are best for both of you.”

“Right.” She tops up her drink, then places the bottle back in the ice bucket. Something isn’t right.

“Is it what you want, Paige?”

“Yes, but I’m not ready for babies.”

Jessica splutters her drink. “That went from zero to ten. Are you pregnant?”

“Nooo,” she groans. “Mason wants to get married and have kids, like yesterday.”

“Then talk to him and say you want to slow it down. Move in together and enjoy each other first. Mason is the opposite to Byron. When I quizzed him about the future and kids, not that I want any yet, he looked like he’d seen his dead grandmother rise from the grave.”

“See, I’m on the same page as him,” Paige agrees.

Jessica turns to me. “What did Byron say?”

“Maybe in the future.” I shrug. “It was a big maybe, but to be fair, we were babysitting his new niece, and he was spooked.”

“I saw photos on Penny’s Insta. She’s sooo cute.” Paige swoons.

“Paige, when the time is right, you’ll make a great mom.”

“Until then…” Jessica adds, “… I vote for more girls’ nights.”

We clink our glasses again.

Jessica peers over the rim of her glass. “Tell me about BJ. Byron and he are close, yeah?”

“They are. They met in college and have been friends ever since. He’s from Australia, so the Hendricks kind of adopted him.”

“Single?”

Oh shit. How do I say he’s unavailable without saying who he’s with, as they knowI wouldknow,and yet his best friend has no clue.

“We went to his condo recently and hung out with him and a few of the players,” Paige remarks as though it’s nothing. “We watched a big game of Aussie football. I didn’t understand much, but Lottie filled me in. She seems to know a lot about the game.”

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