Page 113 of There Are No Words

So we were going to play this game. . . .

“‘What about Dom?’” I rolled my eyes. “Seriously?”

Maria wasn’t budging, though. She shrugged, wetting her lips. “I just don’t see how he’s relevant to any of this.”

“What?” I shrieked. “He’s the most relevant. Maria, he’s always around. He has always been around, and let’s be real, he will always be around. Nothing is changing there, not that I think it should.”

She uncrossed her legs and leaned against the arm of the couch, facing me fully. “That’s because we’re friends. Best friends.” She pointed a finger in my face. “And I don’t want to hear anything more on this topic.”

I softened my expression and lowered my voice as I said, “I just want you to be happy. All of my nagging—all of everyone’s nagging—comes from a good place.”

She grinned. “I’m your big sister, Allie. I know where the nagging comes from.”

“Good.” I got up and patted her thigh. “Then you won’t be mad when I tell you that it’s about damn time you and Dom figured your shit out.”

She groaned—actually groaned—and cracked her neck. “I know what you’re trying to say. You think that being with someone will make me happy. That I’m not as happy as you or Perla or Bianca, right?” She shut her eyes briefly and a frown swept across her expression. But it was fast. So fast that it was there one second and gone the next. “You’d be right. I see you all finding your people and starting new lives, making your own families. And I have Isabella, and I’m so incredibly grateful for her. You know that. She’s all I ever wanted.”

“I know.”

She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. Heaven forbid the put-together Maria showed emotion.

“Oh, Maria.” I sat back down, placing my foot beneath me as I leaned in and wrapped my arms around her, tugging her into a hug.

She placed her chin on my shoulder. “I don’t want you feeling bad for me. I’m perfectly content.”

I loosened my grip on her and let her back up.

She got up and waved her hands in the air. “I don’t want to talk all about my lack of a love life right now, though. Let’s talk about Brady’s birthday party.”

I scanned the room, which was full of decorations. Although, they were mostly on the floor and still had to be fixed and put up. Yeah, we had a lot of work to do.

“So what gift are you giving him from Gina?” Maria asked, getting up on the stepladder.

I passed her the happy birthday banner and spotted her as she hung it. “Oh, it’s really cute, actually.” I rolled my lips. “I bought him a World’s Greatest Dad mug. Jack told me something about how Brady needed to earn one. And he’s definitely earned it, no question there. So I figured now was as good a time as any. He’s certainly the world’s best dad in my book.”

“Aw,” she gushed, turning her head to look at me.

I pointed to the banner. “Don’t look back at me. You might fall.”

She chuckled. “I’ll be fine.” She finished hanging it, got down with my assistance, and we stared back at her work. “I think it looks good,” she said.

I nodded. “I happen to agree. Break?”

She shook her head, laughing. “Didn’t we just take a break?”

“Yes, but this one can be a snack break.”

“We’re never going to get done.”

I brushed her off. “Nah, I’m not worried. I just need a little fuel first.”

Maria clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. “Do you have any ingredients? Maybe I can whip us up something.”

“Or”—I walked to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and pulled out store-bought cookies—“we can enjoy these chocolate chip cookies that neither of us had to lift a finger for.”

She took the box from me and took one out. “Fine, but store-bought has nothing on homemade.”

“I disagree.” I took one myself and took a bite, moaning as I enjoyed every last bit of it. “It’s actually better because I didn’t have to work for it.”

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