"Finally, I get to hear your voice. How have you been?" Nia asked softly over the phone.
"Hey, Nia! I am great, and you?" Beauty answered with a smile.
"Oh, I am good. I'm happy to hear you're doing great. And Jessie?"
"She's fine."
"Great... mind if I ask, how are you coping... you know... the reunion... Beyoncé and...?"
Beauty sighed deeply.
"It's... well... It's ...it's a bit complicated," Beauty admitted, glancing towards their room, her mind swirling with memories of their earlier interaction.
"Complicated? You mean because of him? Don't tell me you're thinking about ignoring the fact that he disrespected you and was sleeping with that bitch..."
"He was innocent, Nia."
Nia was quiet for a minute, as if she misheard those words, and had to ask.
"Innocent?"
Beauty sighed, rubbing her temples as if trying to erase the memory of how she messed everything up.
"Bruno was blackmailed by Beyoncé, Nia. He had to give in to save me from traumatizing shame."
"What shame... how... what blackmail?" Nia asked impatiently.
Beauty bit her lip, unsure if she could trust her new friend. She looked around the hall for any sign of movement; she didn't want anyone to hear about it.
After her delayed reply, Nia sighed.
"It's fine if you don't want to share with me. But if he's innocent, are you two back together now?"
"No... Nia... it's... it's... complicated. He broke up with me because I never gave him a chance to explain himself, and now... we are roommates, and since this trip, he has been kind of softer with me... I don't understand anymore."
"Wait... Roommates? Trip?"
"Yeah, the company tour to Puerto Rico. Somehow we ended up as roommates... and I want my peace of mind back."
Nia laughed lightly. "Now this is interesting."
"You wouldn't believe it. We had a... moment earlier, and then I just couldn't deal with him. He was so infuriating! I told him to put on a shirt, for crying out loud!"
"Okay, okay, calm down, Beauty. You need to breathe. If he's meant to be, he'll come around. Just focus on yourself for now. Are you enjoying the Puerto Rico tour, at least?"
"Sort of? It's just so hard to enjoy anything with him around. One minute, he's acting like a complete jerk, and the next, he's all charming and sweet. I can't keep up."
Beauty leaned back into the couch in frustration.
Nia's voice softened.
"Well, tell me about the 'sweet' side then. Did you guys... you know...?"
Just as Beauty opened her mouth to respond, her gaze caught movement in the corner of her eye.
Ferdinand, the manager, was walking past her. She paused and watched him walk outside, then saw him start talking with Mrs. Lola Cruz before they both headed to the other building in front of the guest house where they lodged.
"Hello? Beauty? Are you still with me?" Nia's voice pulled her back.
"Yeah, sorry! Just... someone walked by, so I had to... Anyway, what was your question again?"
"You guys make out?" Nia asked the question and threw her off guard.
Beauty coughed.
"Wait... what... of course not."
"You thought about it, huh?" Nia giggled.
"Nia... please, you should be different from Jessie. You girls are so annoying."
Nia laughed.
"Don't dodge the question, honey."
Beauty bit her lower lip and stared back at the door of their room, wondering what he might be doing there.
"Well... he is... hot... you know... and sweet... he is not like any man I know."
"I get you... Bruno surprised me at the reunion. Well... keeping the stuff with Beyoncé aside, he was supportive. He went viral for his respect towards women a year back, and I've been a fan. It's not every day you get a man like that."
"Well... now he is trying to kill me with his sexiness and the teasing...and his stare ...that his eyes...his eyes....they never leave me alone.ugh!"
Beauty rolled her eyes in frustration.
Nia laughed this time.
"Lucky...man, you are still head over heels. That reminds me I have some stuff to run... I'll chat you up later."
Beauty sighed.
"Nia... thanks for checking on me, but I really choose to focus on myself now."
"Good choice! Just stay away from Bruno's temptation. Also, say hi to Jessie for me."
"Will do! I'll tell her you said hi. Thanks once more."
"Have a great trip, take care of yourself."
"Goodbye, Nia."
As she ended the call, Beauty took a deep breath and let her phone fall back into her lap.
Leaning into the cushions, she closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm her racing thoughts. But even with her eyes shut, the memory of Bruno's smirk, his bare chest, and his stare kept coming back to her.
"Great," she muttered to herself. "Three days left, and he's all I have in my head."