•SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA•

Julia's POV

With a glass of wine to hold us over until dinner, Matías and I roamed the spacious hallways. They were much different than what I was used to. There was a sense of haven that painted the walls and the house was much quieter than the Maniscalco house. There was always someone laughing and yelling- oh sorry, "just talking loudly".

"It's really quiet here." I sipped.

"Heh, yeah. Don't get used to it."

One room we explored was filled to the brim with photographs- on the walls, in albums, tucked away in crates. It reminded me of me and my mom's photo collection.

As I sipped my red beverage, I noticed a couple of frames. One with a young Catalina and Matías slathered in what looked like Nickelodeon slime, another with Matìas and two other boys holding up laser tag guns, and another showing a brown skin woman in a floral dress and Matias hands cupping her cheeks.

"Is this Veronica?" I held up the picture gently.

Matías sauntered over, sliding the frame from my curious fingers.

"Yeah, that was right after we got married." His tone shifted into neutral as he set the picture down.

"You two look really happy, I'm almost jealous babe."

Matías wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, "I'd be jealous too. I mean, I'm such a great catch."

"Whoa there buckaroo. I ain't say all that."

My smile stretched from ear to ear as I swiveled and stood on my tip toes against his chest—going 90%

"Thinking it maybe?" His teeth teetered over his bottom lip as his eyes delved into mine.

"Maybe."

He smirked and filled the remaining 10%, exchanging a delicate kiss as he cradled my head allowing the cartilage of my ear to rest between his thumb and forefinger.

"Ah! Matías!," —someone let a distressed shriek from the doorway—"How could you? I thought you loved me!"

A young man with dark brown curly hair that stood about the same height as Matìas rushed over to us, smacking Matìas on the cheek.

It wasn't hard enough to hurt him, but it was heard.

I jumped back, my eyes confused about who to look at first as Matías reached for me before grabbing the man's hand.

"You play entirely too much Sebastian."

Sebastian?

Ohh, his cousin!

Matías shoved Sebastian back with his arm and guided me closer.

Sebastian was dressed better than me. His broad shoulders were draped in a loose fitting multicolored silk button down that he'd decided was best left open, simple black slacks, and a rose gold Cuban link chain that screamed I don't speak broke.

Matías introduced us; and Sebastian, or Seb as I was told to call him, threw me a two-fingered salute.

Something had gone wrong with Emilio's car possibly hitting Matìas' and they wanted him to come see about it.

"I'll be back, scusami." Matías pecked my cheek and zoomed out of the room, leaving me with Sebastian.

"Aren't you going with him?" I pointed to the door.

Seb shook his head casually as he leaned against the mustard colored chair and clasped his hand over his lap.

"Nope. I actually want to talk to you." He gave an indecipherable grin.

"Oh, um, okay." My fingers picked at the new coat of peach polish I just applied last night.

"You enjoying the tour so far?"

My head bobbed excitedly, "Very much. You guy's have a beautiful home."

"Hmm, thank you. I'm glad you're having a nice time. We want you to be comfortable."

I rubbed my moist hands over my arms, "Thanks."

"I heard you and Matìas met through Olivia- you two are like besties or something."

"Mhm, we are. Our father's were best friends too."

"That's right! Terrance Ricks." -he leaned back further, feigning realization- "Quite the financial expert. I'm sure the people he worked for appreciated him."

"I'm not sure. I mean I think they did, but that was a long time ago, ya' know."

"Hmm, yeah. What was that family's name?"

I never knew my armpits could be so sweaty or that alcohol from four nights before could still try to make its way up my throat.

"M-Maniscalco, I believe."

"Of course. Of course. I'm being silly."

My eyes turned to the faces in the frames behind me, secretly hoping they'd come to life and get me out of this interrogation.

"Ha-ha I'm surprised I even remembered ya know." I tried laughing away my nerves.

"Right." Sebastian reached behind him and grabbed two Dove chocolates from a glass dish.

"So you've lived in California for your whole life?"

"No, I used to live in UK with my mom for a bit then I moved here to live with Olivia after Nicolai's dad died."

I always left out the part about me living in Jersey. That was no one's business.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. How'd he die?"

Remember Julia, maintain control.

While attempting to at least look calm I sat on the edge of the bench with multiple pictures on it. A couple of them fell back and I hurriedly turned to return them to their place.

"Um, car crash. Drunk driver hit him."

Sebastian coolly stalked over to help, standing just close enough that I could get a whiff of the  tobacco on his breath.

"Man, that's so unfortunate," -Sebastian paused as his suspicious pupils gave me a once over, sending a frosty chill down my spine- "No where is safe these days."

"Seb, Emilio barely hit my car. What'd you make me go out there for?" Matías voice neared the room.

Sebastian took two broad steps away from me and pivoted to the door, his gaze never faltering from mine, "My fault, but you know me...can never be too careful."

Sebastian smoothly glided by Matías as he hung over the doorway rolling his eyes and extended his hand to me.

"You okay?"

I nodded, succumbing to the growl in my stomach.

"I'm fine."

• • • •

When Mat said don't get used to the quiet, he was right. Seconds after food hit the table, the gloves were off. Jokes went flying, laughs were passed around like napkins, and I couldn't keep myself from smiling. If Vincent wasn't shooting silent arrows into my skull every time our gazes locked, I might have actually been able to fully enjoy the conversation.

"Yeah right...remember you're the one who shaved ya' eyebrows!" Matías jeered at Sebastian while piling seconds on his plate.

"You we're out there looking like you had two brain cells." Emilio blurted, shoving another forkful into his mouth.

Catalina cackled, "One was lost and the other was out looking for it!"

"I'm a fashion forward genius! Non riuscite tutti a capire (you just can't comprehend)!" Sebastian fidgeted in his seat, folding his arms across his chest.

"That's what you said to the guy at Takkos too!"

"Oh they used to have great food!" Amazing piped up.

"Have you ever tried fish tacos from Takkos, Monroe?" Catalina asked.

"No, but there was this place called the Red Clam Basement in Jersey I always used to go when I lived there."

"We used to go there all the time!" Catalina and Matìas cheered in broken unison.

"Wait, you used to live in Jersey? But I thought you said you only lived in UK and California." Sebastian sat forward, his elbows on the table.

"Well I stayed there for a a couple weeks, long vacation." I shrugged, taking a rushed bite of food.

"Long vacation and lived. Those aren't the same, dear."

"Being rude and being a stronzo are the same though. She's not required to tell you anything Seb." Matías laid his large hand on my knee.

Tension gripped our throats as the crisp clinks of silver hitting plates rang out.

Amazing cleared her throat as her light and airy mien wrinkled, "Sebastian, sweetheart. Please help me in the kitchen."

Taking the awkward with them, the conversation resumed as we continued eating.

After dinner, the atmosphere of the house sung in rhapsodic melodies. Amazing had the bay windows in most rooms opened wafting in the vague scent of fresh sea salt and lilac while the boys were upstairs playing, and my tummy was blissfully full with my feet tucked under me.

Matías and his father excused themselves a few minutes ago to discuss business. Not to my dismay. Don't get me wrong I would have loved to snuggled next to Mat reveling in his smokey sage aroma, but his father, without words was continually expressing his disdain for my presence.

"Where is Danny's room? I wanna check on the boys." I asked Amazing.

"Sure, it's upstairs, down the hall and to the left."

I skipped up the staircase, taking in the sublime interior. Besides Sebastian and Vincent, this night had been successful. Just a another couple hours or so, and I was home-free.