Page 65 of Better Left Unsaid

Perla:I’m sorry, but why is no one addressing the real question—you actually accepted his offer?

Allegra:Do you feel like you don’t have all the facts?

Shit, look at Allie stirring up trouble.

Perla:What? No. Well, I guess yes. Why are you doing it, Maria?

Maria:Because he’s my friend.

Allegra:Sure, that makes sense.

All right, Allie, you’re getting on my last nerve.

Maria:It does.

Bianca:I guess so. Well, I’m happy for you and the sexy professional photos you’ll get. Between you and Perla, I’m feeling very left out.

Oh, yeah, I’d nearly forgotten about that—Perla’s husband was a photographer, and when they first got fake married, Perla insisted on having him photograph her. We’d all seen the photos, and let’s just say they were very sexy, which made it understandable how it had been that moment that had led to a shift in their marriage, going from fake to something real.

Jade:Yeah, same.

Maria:There’s one more thing. It’s not a big deal, but I don’t want you to be surprised when you see the photos.

Bianca:You’ll be naked?

How did she know?

Bianca:Just kidding.

Allegra:No, Maria would never do that. Would you, Maria? Would you ever let your BEST friend see you naked?

Jade:Stop! No way.

Thank you, Jade.

Maria:Actually, yes, we’ll be naked, but our bodies will cover each other’s more private parts, so it’s totally fine.

Bianca:I knew it! I knew they’d be naked. You said cologne, so of course they’d have the models be naked.

Perla:Why is that an “of course” sort of thing? You can wear clothes and a fragrance. In fact, people do it every single day.

Bianca:It’s great marketing if the models are naked.

Maria:That’s what I said. And Dom, too, actually.

Perla:Are you drunk, Maria?

Maria:Okay, why is that always a question?

Dom had asked me something similar when I texted him my good news about the editor-in-chief job.

Perla:Because you’re my sister, and I know you, and I know without a doubt in my mind that you would never voluntarily model in the nude. But Dom doesn’t force you to do anything. He’s not like that. So, what’s going on?

Maria:What? Of course not! Dom wouldn’t push anything. He asked. I accepted. Simple as that.

Allegra:So this will be the first time you see each other naked?

Ughhh. That did it.I went over to my separate text with her and sighed as I typed out a message and hit send.

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