There Are No Words (The Morelli Sisters #3)

Epilogue

Allegra

“Do you think the term ‘blow job’ came from someone blowing up balloons?” I asked, opening my mouth to put my lips around the next balloon.

Maria let go of hers and it deflated, a hissing sound filling the air. Her jaw went slack. “Allie! What is the matter with you? And why couldn’t we get a helium tank?”

What was the matter with me? What was the matter with her? When the balloon I was working on was finally done, I exhaled and studied my mouthwork. “What? And forget the helium tank. Can’t a girl be creative in her thoughts? Anyway, it’s not like I said I’m secretly counting down the hours until I can give Brady his birthday blow. Which I am, by the way.”

She jutted a hip out and rolled her eyes. “Can we please change the subject? I’d much rather not think about you and Brady and blow jobs. Especially not while we’re decorating for his surprise party.”

I shrugged and stuck my hand in the bag to retrieve another little latex thing that wasn’t nearly as fun as those other little latex things. “Suit yourself, but you mean to tell me you don’t think about sexual things, ever? I mean, sure, you’re not outspoken about the topic like Bianca and I are sometimes, but, shit, Maria, you do date.”

Her cheeks reddened, and she raked her tongue across her teeth before sticking it in her cheek. “I don’t want to talk about this with you. Not at all, actually. But, because we both know you’ll only beat the dead horse, I’ll say this: dating and being intimate are two completely different things.”

I blinked, trying to understand. Was she celibate? I nearly choked on my own saliva, but swallowed and reined it in. “Maria, you and Pedro never. . . I mean, when was the last time you—”

“We had. It’s just not like you’d think, and it’s not easy for me to, you know—” She cut herself off, her eyes practically bugging out of her head as she tried to give me some code.

I didn’t need the code, I knew exactly what she was talking about. So did everyone else. Or so I assumed. Right?

I narrowed my eyes and reached for the ribbon to tie to my latest balloon. “You don’t orgasm?” I gave her a sour expression. “What the hell are those men you see doing wrong?”

She shrugged and turned to face the other direction, fussing with some decoration or another. “A lot of people don’t. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“It means everything!” Okay, that came out louder than I’d expected. “Sometimes Brady makes me orgasm multiple times. In one round, if you know what I mean.”

She raised a brow and looked genuinely shocked. “Unfortunately, you’ve never been subtle, Allie.”

I’d noticed she’d stopped decorating after letting that balloon go, and I couldn’t possibly blow up any more balloons. I wanted to strangle myself over the tedious nature of it, so I ushered her over to the couch, patting the seat next to me. “Okay, spill.”

“Spill what?” she asked, pretending like she had no idea what I was saying.

“Come on!” I threw my head back and was tempted to pull the words out of her. “Why are you picking all the wrong men?”

“That’s not it,” she argued, sitting down and crossing her legs.

I pursed my lips. “You’re seriously going to deny it? If you were with the right man,” I emphasized because we both knew where I stood on this topic, and I also knew she didn’t want to hear my take on it again, “then it would be right. It would feel right. And you’d orgasm. Probably multiple times, like I do.”

“First of all, Brady is like family, and I don’t want to hear about your sex life anymore. Second, it’s not that simple. I just don’t prioritize sex, okay? Work, Isabella, and you guys, those things are my priorities.”

“You forgot about Dom.”

She fixed her high ponytail, pulling it even tighter, as she did sometimes when she got nervous. She cleared her throat. “What about Dom?”

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.”

Maria licked the crumbs off her lips. “You might be onto something. These are rather good.”

“Of course I’m right.” I wagged a cookie between us. “I’ve been trying to tell you for the longest time—I’m the smart sister.”

“So, anyway, what did you get Brady for his birthday?”

“Easy. My body,” I answered in between bites.

She held a finger up. “Okayyy. You should try those glow-in-the-dark condoms Bianca raved about.”

My jaw practically hit the floor. Hit the floor, you guys!

Had Maria just brought up condoms?

Yes, yes, she had.

Shaking off my surprise, I said, “Now we’re talking.” I tapped my nose. “But it’s Brady’s day, so whatever he wants, he gets.”

“Good thing Dad’s watching Gina and Tipsy tonight.”

“It’s funny, actually. Brady isn’t a fan of sharing the bed with Tipsy, but that little doggie won’t have it any other way. She’s stuck to me like glue.”

Laughing, Maria smiled. “Poor guy had no idea what he was in for when he decided to help you by getting a dog.”

I arched a brow, loving the irony. “Boy, do I know. But I wouldn’t trade her for anything in the world. Plus, it’s okay for Brady to learn to share.”

“Yeah, he doesn’t want to share you. Even I can see that.” Maria put the box of cookies down and brushed her hands together, dusting off any cookie crumbs over the counter. “Okay, we’ll clean this up later. We have to get back to decorating.”

I looked at the clock and checked the time. “I’m not too worried. Bianca, Perla, and Jade should be here any minute.”

She gasped. “Allie! You called in reinforcements?”

I didn’t see the bad in it. I shrugged. “Did you honestly think we’d get all this done by ourselves? Besides, what are sisters for?”