Page 31 of Rosé with My Fake Fiancé
“You too,” Jade says. “We want to see your new apartment and hear all about Tavira.”
There are two cabs waiting, and I get in mine, alone again.
* * *
The boxesI shipped over from the States wait for me in my new apartment. It’s furnished with two bedrooms. It’s also self-check-in, so I wander through the apartment by myself. One bedroom has a small bed and a desk in it, so that’s going to be my office.
There’s no air conditioning, a fact that, after living in Texas for so long, will take getting used to. I open the windows and the door to the Juliet balcony that overlooks the street, letting fresh air in. The kitchen is compact, tucked into an interior room of the house, and since I like to cook, that’s my least favorite part. But the reason I picked this place is the main terrace off of the living space, which has retractable shades and a view of rooftops and the ocean.
I have a lot that I need to do: unpack, grocery shop, set up my new office. But the host left a bottle of wine out—nota rosé, a vinho transmontano—and the evening is lovely, so I uncork the full-bodied red wine and sit out on the terrace to watch the sunset.
I’m halfway through my generous pour when my phone buzzes with a message. It buzzes again and again, notices filling up my screen.
Sara
Just got to Zoe’s place! Had a great weekend, ladies.
Then there’s a picture sent from Jade, a selfie of her and Emma with a huge skillet of paella between them.
Jade
Emma picked paella for dinner tonight. We both agreed that we wouldn’t make it to a normal Spanish dinner hour after all that travel, so we’re going to have an early dinner and then our first night of a month-long pajama party!
How’s your place Tessa?
Tessa
I’m at my Airbnb. It’s nice - clean and spacious and I’ve got a terrace!
I send a photo of my view, and they send back compliments, but then the chat dies down. They’re busy with other things.
I stay up too late putting my apartment together, setting up my office, and adding the few touches of home that I brought with me. The furniture is practical and impersonal, so I make a list of items I want to buy to spruce it up a bit. Jade has an obsession with polaroid pictures and always has a corkboard above her desk with dozens of pictures tacked to it. I stole the idea and hang a board up on my wall. I put up a few pictures: the four of us out touring Paris, some pictures from back in Texas.
I wish I had a photo with Luc, if only to remember the way he made me feel.
16
Luc
It’s beena few days since Tessa left, and I need a distraction. She needs time, and I need to think about something else instead of her. Besides, it’s the first afternoon I have had free, and I need to return the outfit I wore to Siempre.
I pick a cleaner near Mémé’s apartment and Bernice’s shop and then, after prepaying for the cleaning, knock on my grandmother’s door.
“Luc!” she says when she opens it. “What a treat.” She says that every time I stop by.
I kiss her cheek in greeting and come in. “Have you eaten yet?” There’s a new book on the coffee table, and the smell of cigarettes in the air.
She waves me into her kitchen, and together we set out a spread of cold meats and cheeses. Mémé makes tea while I slice a baguette. She tsks when I pull down the Nutella and ignore the jams.
“How was your night?” she asks, dunking the tea bag.
“Loud. Fun. We only had to deal with her ex and his fiancée for a little while. Mostly we danced.”
While we eat, I tell her about the club and the rest of the evening up until we left, of course. Mémé, like usual, doesn’t eat a lot, but I’m hungry, so my story is dragged out while I eat.
“Are you going to see her again?” Mémé asks over the rim of her teacup.
“I want to.”
