Kiss Me Goodnight in Rome (The Senior Semester Series Book 2) by Gina Azzi

afterward.”
    “Really? Not getting any?” I scoff.
    “I can’t take Caterina in large doses. It’s better if I pass by her place late at night when she’s already half-asleep. She won’t talk as much.” He drags the back of his hand across his mouth, wiping away water and sweat. Sandro bunches his shoulders and rolls them back, cracking his neck. “She’s got a fucking mouth on her.” He shakes his head. “It’s better to keep it occupied in activities other than talking.”
    I snort. That’s the damn truth.
    “So…” he fixes me with a look “…you in for tomorrow night?”
    “Yeah, man. I’ll be there.”
    And I’ll try not to go home with a random brunette.

Chapter Sixteen
    Mia
    Flo Rida’s “My House” is bumping through the travel speakers Lexi hooked up to my laptop as we get ready for tonight. Thank God for Spotify. And pre-gaming. I’ve never been one to indulge in alcohol, but I have to admit the whole getting ready for a night out with a girlfriend, drinking wine, listening to music, swapping clothes and makeup is a lot more fun than studying in the library and reading my Kindle. No wonder Lila and Emma were always trying to drag Maura and me along to frat parties and bars that never bothered to ID.
    “Oh, I like,” Lexi comments, holding up a pale shimmery eye shadow I picked up last night at Galleria Alberto Sordi, the mall on Via del Corso.
    “Thanks.” I close my eyes as Lexi walks over to me, the eye shadow clasped in her hand and the brush already poised to swipe across my eyelid. I’ve never been one for makeup; I got enough of it during my onstage performances, the ridiculously bright red lipstick and fake lashes required during recitals. But tonight, why not? I sit still as Lexi works her magic. It seems like I’m breaking all my rules these days.
    Lexi sings under her breath as she paints my face with eye shadow, bronzer, blush, and two coats of mascara. Dear God, please don’t let me look like a clown.
    “Okay. You’re done,” she says finally.
    I open my eyes and turn toward the mirror. Wow! Although I was worried Lexi was literally coloring my face, she actually just enhanced my features in a very subtle way. I stare at my reflection. My eyes definitely look bigger, my cheekbones more slanted, my lips fuller. I smile at Lexi in the mirror’s reflection. “Thank you! This…” I point at my face in the mirror “…is a big improvement.”
    She rolls her eyes. “Shut up. You know you’re a skinny bitch.” She dances over to my desk where our second bottle of wine sits. Popping out the cork expertly, she pours two glasses and hands one to me. “To dancing our asses off.”
    I laugh, nodding in agreement. Lexi likes to cheers to absolutely anything. We clink glasses and I take a sip, remembering a night not that long ago when Maura, Emma, Lila, and I sat in my bedroom drinking wine. That night, we were toasting to a semester of new beginnings, new challenges, new expectations. And now, I’m toasting to live up to the pact we made.
    Lexi and I dress quickly in the hot little numbers we purchased from Zara last night. She looks awesome in a deep red, short dress with a plunging neckline. Pairing it with strappy nude wedges and a slew of gold bangle bracelets, Lexi turns to me. “Thoughts?”
    “You look insanely hot,” I tell her honestly.
    She bows, walking over to her makeup bag to dig out a body shimmer. I laugh as she brushes shimmer across her breasts. “What’s that for?”
    “So the guys focus right where I want ’em to,” she says seriously.
    I roll my eyes. Only Lexi. And maybe Lila.
    I pull on the simple white dress I bought. It’s short, hitting me mid-thigh with a halter neckline. It gives just the right amount of push to make it look like I at least have boobs. Thank God for small miracles. I buckle my silver sandals and add chandelier earrings to complete my look.
    “I’m ready.”
    Lexi looks me up and down and smiles. “Yes, you are.