CHAPTER 3

The house was too quiet after the doors slammed.

The kind that sits on your chest and makes you feel like if you breathed too loud, the whole Mansion would hear it.

Downstairs the air smelled like expensive perfume and money and Dacio's cologne.

Teal walked around with a glass of red wine, trying to feel at home. Her heels clicked on marble colder than their New York floors.

Dacio had gone to his study. "Important client call." 

But upstairs?

Two storms were brewing.

                               ★

The video call connected and Tamsin's face popped up. She was lying in bed surrounded by "PINK." Pink bedframe. Pink sheets. Pink walls. Pink reading table and lamp. Pink curtains.

Amy: "What the heck! Tammy, where are you?"

Judith: "Is that your room in Madrid? Gosh I'm genuinely creeped out."

Tamsin groaned, falling back on the bed. "Yes welcome to my nightmare. The Salamanca Mansion.

Judith: "I thought the Mansion would be elegant? Isn't Dacio Bruno like rich?"

Tamsin: "The Mansion might be elegant for Hugo and Dacio Bruno. But for me it's a pink prison. Mom says the air hits differently here. She even called my room pretty. And she knows I hate pink."

The words came out sharper than she meant. 

Because it wasn't just the pink. It was Teal acting like this was normal. Like this was home. Like eight months didn't happen. Like her dad didn't die alone in his office.

Her chest felt tight.

Judith: "Okay rewind. Salamanca? Mansion? Dacio Bruno? Start from the beginning. What happened?"

Tamsin sighed. "I'm genuinely tired. And it's not even been a day. I wish I could close my eyes and be back in Manhattan."

The lie sat heavy. She didn't miss Manhattan that much. She missed her dad. She missed being one big happy family. She missed not having to deal with two strangers.

Amy: "I know that tone. Tams baby, is everything okay over there?"

Tamsin: "Yeah. But I can't live in the same house with that jerk. He pisses me off."

Judith: "By jerk you mean your new step-brother. What's his name again?"

Amy: "Hugo right?"

Tamsin: "Yeah Hugo. Can you believe it? He's a total jerk."

Judith: "Wait up. Let me goggle him."

A minute later. "Tams. This guy is loaded."

She turned her ipad to the screen.

Hugo. All black hoodie and baggy jeans, standing close to his Bugatti. Unbothered look. Jaw sharp. Hot and untouchable. Trouble wrapped in luxury.

Amy: "Omg Tams. Is that the same Hugo? Dacio Bruno's son?"

Tamsin frowned. "Yeah that's him. Forget the pictures. He's arrogant and proud."

Judith: "He has the face and body of a model. Those blue eyes. God Tams, you're leaving in paradise and not appreciating it."

Amy: "Yeah Tammy. He's handsome. My dream guy. I wish I could meet him once."

Tamsin: "Gross. Can you guys stop fan-girling? He's rude and acts like he's above everyone."

Amy and Judith. "And we heard you."

Tamsin: "If he was the last guy on earth,  I'd stay single forever."

Judith: "What did he do that's got you on edge?"

Tamsin sighed. "So we got here some hours ago. Dacio's house is huge. Marble floors, paintings worth millions. Hugo was already there looking like I offended him. He turned and walked upstairs immediately he saw me."

Amy: "Then what?"

Tamsin: "Then Mom made me go upstairs to call him for tea, saying he'd been up there all morning and I should be polite."

Judith: "And did you go?"

Tamsin: "Yes. So i go knock. No answer. Knock again. Nothing. Third time, he yanks the door open with angry eyes like I offended him."

(She did the voice impression)

Tamsin as Hugo: "What do you want?"

Amy (laughing) : "Oh no. Tell me he didn't."

Tamsin: "He did. So I told him that Mom sent me to call him for tea, even though I didn't want to come. Then he asks me if I'm puppet. Tells me never to come to his room again."

Both: "He did not."

Tamsin: "So I snapped. I told him I only came because my mom asked me too. I told him I didn't like seeing his face either.

Amy: "And?"

Tamsin: "He just said 'Good." Then he tells me when I'm about leaving that he won't be opening the door for me again. I told him I wasn't planning on coming back either. Then I walked away. I think he said something in Spanish but I was too mad to care."

Amy: "I'm Soo sorry, Tammy. You just moved countries and this is your welcome?"

Tamsin: " I miss my old life. I miss our penthouse in New York. I miss not having to deal with Hugo."

The words tasted like ash. The new york penthouse was locked. She couldn't go back even if she wanted.

Judith: "You shouldn't have to. That's true."

They went quiet. Tamsin picked at the comforter. It felt expensive under her nails.

Judith (suddenly) : "So how's Jordan?"

Tamsin froze.

The air left her lungs.

Tamsin: "What?"

Amy: "Judith."

Tamsin: "Why are you suddenly asking about Jordan? We haven't talked in three weeks. He stopped texting so I stopped too. He's still probably mad about the move."

Judith looked away. "Oh. I just....wondered."

Tamsin: "Judith where are you going with this?"

Judith: "I don't---"

Amy: "Judith you know something."

Tamsin's heart hammered. "Tell me. Do you know something about Jordan?"

Judith rubbed her forehead. "Fine. A friend saw him. At two bits. With....

Tamsin: "TWO BITS? WITH WHO?" Speak up."

Judith lowered her head. "With....a girl."

The room spun.

Tamsin: "That's a lie. You're lying right? How did you know?"

Judith: "My friend works there. She sent me a picture yesterday. I wasn't going to say anything because you two were fighting."

Tamsin (heart broken) : "So you knew and didn't tell me?"

The betrayal hurt worst than the news.

Amy: "Okay, okay guys breathe."

Tamsin: "No. It's been just one day since i left NYC and he's already with other girls. No texts. No calls. Nothing.

Her voice cracked. Humiliating.

Judith: "I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you again. After the fight...."

Tamsin cut her off, tears falling. "I'm already hurt. I'm in a pink room somewhere in Madrid fighting with Hugo, and the one person I miss is going on dates with girls."

Amy: "New rule. We don't keep things from each other, no matter how much it hurts. And we'll figure out Hugo together, Tamsin. But firstly, are you okay?"

Tamsin laughed wetly. "No. But I have you guys. And I have great comebacks ready for Hugo.

Judith: "Now that's my girl. Also that pink is a crime."

Tamsin: "I know right?"

They all laughed. For the first time in hours, the room didn't feel as lonely.

But when she ended the call, the silence came back louder than before.