Page 141 of Say It Isn't So

Bianca

We arrived at the Hamptons before the boys. By mere seconds, since they were parking behind us, but still.

Maria honked the horn once, twice, and then Perla ran out, wearing white crochet shorts and a light pink baby doll shirt. “Ahhh!” she yelled, waving her hands in the air, and moving her hips from side to side. “You’re here!”

I got out first and ran up to her, my flip-flops clacking with each step. Our bodies collided as I wrapped my arms around her in a hug. “Miss me, sis?” she asked, laughter in her voice. Perla rocked us from side to side as I held on to her in a vise.

“You have no idea.” I exhaled, taking a step back now and fixing my hair. “Maria has the worst taste in music.”

“So does Allie,” she replied.

Allie shouted, “I heard that!” Then she walked up to us and went in for a hug from Perla.

I turned on my heel and was immediately hit by the familiar smell that meant Knox was here. And he was.

Knox was walking toward me, wearing tan khaki shorts and a white shirt.

“Mmm,” I moaned and darted my tongue out, wetting my lips as my eyes grew wide. “My man looks absolutely yummy.”

Knox tangled one hand in my hair while cupping my cheek with the other. “I’ve missed the taste of you,” he said, not waiting another second to claim my lips. He tasted like mint and aftershave, and I didn’t ever want the kiss to end, but—

The clearing of someone’s throat interrupted us and we pulled apart. Frankie. “Hate to break up your love fest, but the guys and I are going to the store to get some liquor for tonight. We don’t have any. I’m driving if you’re coming.”

Knox nodded. “Sure, man, I’ll go with you guys.”

I pouted. “But I had other plans for us.”

Knox grinned, shaking his head. “My naughty girl. I’ll be back before you know it.”

“All right,” I replied. “I guess I’ll unpack.”

Neither Knox nor I moved, though. We just stayed there, staring into one another’s eyes.

Allie came up behind me and put her arms on my shoulders, trying to steer me away. “Come on. You can only unpack if you’re in the house.”

Knox gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

I nodded and waved as he walked to the car with the guys. “Come on!” Frankie yelled from the driver’s seat. With an arm out the window and his hand resting on the outside of the car, he smacked the door. “She’ll be here when we get back.”

“Does Perla let you boss her around like this?” Knox questioned, getting into the backseat.

“No!” Perla answered from the door and blew a kiss to her husband.

Meanwhile, Allie steered me inside the house. “I didn’t know you two were at that stage.”

I turned to look at her and blinked. “What stage?”

“The googly-eyes stage.”

“Is that a thing?”

“Sure is, and you’re there, sis.”

Chapter Forty-Four

Bianca

I pulled myphone out of my bag and considered whether I actually needed it with me today. The reality was, besides my bestie Layla (who was still traveling in Central and South America with her boyfriend) everyone I talked to was right here, so it felt useless.

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