Page 17 of XOXO

“Shut it,” I grinned like an idiot. “Damn, I've really missed you.”

“So have I,” he said, his tone back to being serious. “I’m ready for our vacation. I need to get out of here, but my manager needs to speak with me and I need to figure out what the hell I’m going to do now.”

“Don’t rush into anything, you deserve to rest and enjoy being free for a bit,” I said, looking at our favorite boulangerie.

“Shibal, we must have summoned my manager,” he sighed. “I’ll call you later, ok?”

“Yeah, of⁠—”

The call ended before I could say bye. I sighed, hoping he didn’t jump right back into work. I decided to be civil and act like nothing was wrong, starting with buying his favorite treats at the boulangerie.

I knocked on the door as Perla came out from the back looking furious, but one look at me had her softening.

“I thought you were some crazy customer,” she said in French as she let me in.

“I mean, I kind of am,” I replied in French, locking the door and following her towards the kitchen. “I always want croissants right out of the oven.”

“You’re the owner, so you can do whatever you want.” She rolled her eyes as she checked on a mixer.

“It’s yours,” I scoffed. “I just helped when you needed it.”

“Same thing,” she mumbled, grabbing dough out of one mixer. “I have some pain au chocolat that should be out in a few minutes and if you stay an extra fifteen, I will give you a few choux à la creme.”

“Choux à la creme? You hate making those.”

“Yeah, but they sell. Now make yourself useful, go grab me all the trays of croissants from the proofer while I finish these for you,” she instructed with a scowl on her face.

Perla acted like she was always annoyed with me, but I knew she loved me. Why else would she put up with me?

The sun was rising as I walked into our building. The espresso and a croissant were just the things I needed to get ready for the day and to talk to Levi. Perla had put me to work, giving me time to think about what Ruwon had said about Levi and me. Maybe I was jealous of Levi pulling away, living his life without me. It was stupid to think about it like that, but I didn’t know what else to wonder when we had spent most of our lives together.

I opened the door, walking into the condo quietly. Levi’s alarm wouldn’t go off for another thirty minutes and he deserved to sleep in. It also gave me a chance to put all the pastries out and attempt to make him coffee.

Psyching myself out that I was going to make him the best coffee distracted me enough that I didn’t see the striking young woman walking down the hallway. We saw each other at the same time, freezing, and I instantly didn’t like her. It was such a visceral reaction that I almost felt guilty for it. She hadn’t done anything but go out with Levi, but in my mind she was the problem.

“Uh, good morning,” she said, waving awkwardly while simultaneously looking a little guilty.

“Who are you?” I asked in French, deepening my voice.

“Oh, I’m Vi. Levi and I went out yesterday,” she replied.

Her French was good. I didn’t hear a hint of an accent.

“Sneaking out before he wakes up?” I raised my brow. “The walk of shame isn’t a good look.”

She tilted her head as she studied me. “Well, I guess it isn’t a good look for both of us.”

I narrowed my eyes as I waited for my brain to come up with something to retort.

“Have a good day,” she said, grabbing her purse, walking towards the door, but not before swiping a croissant and smiling before she bit into it. “Thanks for the breakfast. Best walk of shame I’ve ever had,” she said with a quick wink.

She left me speechless and I stared at her like an idiot as she left. I couldn’t help the twitch in my lips and smiled at her boldness. She was not what I had expected and I didn’t want to like her.

I didn’t hear Levi exit his room until he called out for Vi. He was all sleep rumpled, shirtless, pajamas slung low on his hips, his happy trail disappearing into his pants as he walked in from the hallway.

“Good morning,” he said, a little too happy for my liking, but that glow from sex looked good on him…too good.

“Morning,” I said, trying not to grumble