Page 157 of Beautiful Lies

“Oh my God, you’re thinking about the man, aren’t you?” Mia squints at me over her glass.

“You’re the one who mentioned him. Of course, I’m thinking about him now.”

She points the cookie at me. “You know, for someone who claimed this marriage was strictly business, you’re awfully radiant these days.”

I grab a cookie for myself and nibble on it. “Radiant?”

“Glowing,” she clarifies, leaning forward. “Like you swallowed the sun. Or had very,verygood sex.”

I choke and cough. “Mia!”

She smirks, unbothered. “I’m just saying what everyone else is thinking.”

“No one else is thinking that.” I shake my head, but warmth creeps across my cheeks.

“Yes, they are. I’m just blatant enough to say it.”

“Okay. So, maybe things have been… nice.” I know I’m trying to downplay the obvious, but I’m still hanging on to some version of playing it safe. If it even exists anymore.

“Nice?” Mia repeats, frowning. “Isla. Can we just acknowledge that you’re happy?”

I gaze back at her, a smile creeping along my lips.

I can’t deny what she can see. Not when the truth sits so openly in my chest. “I am happy.”

“Yay! Finally, something we can agree on. Can we also agree that being with Knox has been good for you?”

My shoulders relax, and I nod. “It has. Things have changed,” I admit. “In ways I didn’t expect.”

Mia’s grin softens into something warm and almost protective. “Well, I’m glad our Plan A of getting him to forfeit the contract didn’t work. And I’m glad you allowed nature to take its course.”

Heat races up my throat. “That just sort of happened.”

“In Italy.” She finishes off her cookie and sets her glass down.

“Yes. In Italy.” My voice carries the awe I still feel from my honeymoon. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Italy and everything that happened there from the beginning to the end.

Mia lets out a wicked laugh. “I’m still cracking up about Chad. I wish I could have been there to see Knox kick his ass.”

“Oh my God.” My eyes widen. “That part was not good, but Chad didn’t do himself any favors.”

“And there’s still been nothing from him since?”

“Nothing.”

“How are you feeling about that?” She studies my face.

I drag in a slow breath and shake my head. “Is it terrible that I feel nothing? I mean, I should feel something, right? I probably should have even contacted him to see if he was okay, or even make sure we’re cool because that’s what friends do. But I haven’t.”

She leans forward. “You see that there? That’s the problem with Chad. You were always the one trying.Alwaysthinking of him.”

“Was it really like that?”

“Yes, it was. He had no attachment to you. That’s why it was so easy for him to leave you.” Her chest caves, and she looks like she wants to be careful with me but also wants me to see reason. “He loved you. I’ll give him that. And I think it’s impressive that he tried to get you back. But he missed the point that simple forgiveness wasn’t the answer. I think you haven’t heard from him because he’s having a hard time accepting you’re with someone else. Someone better.”

I sigh and lean back against the chair. “Is Knox even really an option?” I feel bad for saying that, but I have to be realistic.

“Are you kidding me? He’s, like,theoption.”