Page 36 of XOXO

“I was getting to that, asshole, just a little in shock, ok.” I rolled my eyes at Matteo.

“Jae is around here somewhere too,” he said looking around. “If I see him I’ll send him your way.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I said quickly.

“I have a feeling he’d love to meet you,” Woosung smirked.

“Yeah, Jae is not meeting her,” Matteo and Levi said together.

Woosung laughed. “Well, that answers my question.”

My face grew hot that he knew about us.

“Get out of here before I tell Vi your deepest, darkest secrets," Matteo threatened Woosung playfully.

“What about that one time we were in Bangkok⁠—”

“It was lovely meeting you, Vi,” he said, holding out his hand and I shook it. “Don’t believe a word they say, rascals they are.”

I laughed. “Thanks for everything.”

“Hope I see you in Athens! Message me, don't be shy.” He waved to the guys as he left.

“So, you’re a K-pop girlie?” Levi looked amused.

“How can you not be when they look like Woosung and sing like angels,” I grinned.

“He’s not that good.” Matteo rolled his eyes.

“Oh, but Matteo, he is that good. Don’t be jealous, it’s unbecoming of a man,” I said, patting his cheek. “Smile more while you’re at it.”

Levi laughed. “Matteo’s factory setting is scowl.”

“Oh, I see how it is,” he grumbled, pursing those luscious lips.

“Don’t be a baby,” Levi patted his back. “Drink your whiskey, we gotta leave this festival with a bang. Chug chug.”

“Literally or figuratively?” I smirked.

Levi cackled and Matteo rolled his eyes. I saw the fondness he held for Levi, and it went both ways. I would bet money that they loved each other, but were too afraid to say anything. Matteo did say he was straight the other night. It’s never too late in life to have a bi-awakening and I hoped he would because I think they deserved each other.

My watch buzzed me awake, but my body was not ready to get up. I regretted setting my alarm clock so early, but sober Violeta thought it would be better to leave early in the morning, even if I didn’t want to. Looking over my shoulder, Levi was fast asleep. He looked so different like this, so boyish and innocent. Matteo was nowhere in sight like usual in the mornings.

I sighed, debating if it was the right thing to run away early in the morning again. The first time I left, I had felt a little guilty, but this time it had grown exponentially and it would be so easy to have breakfast with them and then leave. But I already knew Levi wouldn’t let me leave without a fight. Matteo was the lawyer, but Levi was very convincing and I knew I would agree to something I should not be agreeing to.

He tightened his grip around me as I tried to escape and thankfully he released me without waking up. I debated leaving him with a soft kiss on his cheek, but I couldn’t risk it. My bag was already packed and I dressed in what I had laid out for today. A shower would have been nice, but it would have to wait until I figured out my next move.

The tent we had stayed in was very nice, they split it into three rooms. Two bedrooms and a middle living room area we never really hung out in. It was glamping at its finest and I loved it. I walked out to see Matteo sitting on a sofa on his phone.

His brows raised up as he noticed me. “Sneaking out again?”

“It’s for the best,” I shrugged, feeling guilty again.

“For you?” Matteo’s dark eyes still held a little contempt.

We might have had sex, but his feelings toward me had barely changed.

“For us,” I said, trying not to get defensive.