Page 52 of XOXO

Not to dwell on how stupid that was to do, I opened Levi’s chat, sending him the pictures he asked for. Paola and I chilled by the pool and took a dip in the lake to cool off before we ate at the hotel's restaurant right over the lake. It was a perfect girl’s day and even though Matteo’s absence hurt me, I loved spending time with Paola. I didn't have many girlfriends and I needed more in my life.

“Hey, Matteo says we should go eat at this new restaurant tomorrow,” Paola said not looking up from her phone. “I told him you were leaving.”

I raised my brow and she gave me a look that she knew what had happened.

“I was thinking about the Amalfi coast,” I said, feeling my cheeks flush.

“That sounds great, girl,” she grinned. “Should I tell him?”

“Nope, what for?” I shrugged.

“You’re right, girl,” she said, typing on her phone. “There’s a train leaving tomorrow morning or a flight tonight. I think you should leave tomorrow morning. We can eat, drink and watch some trashy TV at my home.”

“That sounds perfect,” I sighed, feeling like I needed a night to veg out.

“Great, I booked you a ticket,” she said as a text came through.

I opened the ticket seeing she had gotten me an upgraded ticket.

“There is a forty-five-minute bus ride, but I swear it goes by fast and you get a free meal with Wi-Fi,” she said as she continued typing on her phone. “I can send you with a meal too. Most of the times the food is good, but⁠—”

I leaned over hugging her. Sometimes us girls just need someone in our corner and I loved that Paola had become that person. Still tripped me out that she was Matteo’s sister, but she was amazing, unlike her brother.

That night healed a part of my soul I didn’t know needed healing and just before we went to sleep, my Rendezvous app pinged. Matteo matched with me and a message sat in my inbox.

MATvine: I hope you have a safe trip to wherever you're going.

The text bubbles popped in and out of the chat and I sat on pins and needles waiting to see what he said.

MATvine: If you come back through Milan again, message me. I had things I wanted to do with you before I had to help the hotel.

I scrunched my nose at his stupid messages. I almost wished he hadn’t messaged at all. Another message came through.

MATvine: I’m sorry I wasn’t there for your last day. That’s not how I wanted you to leave Como.

Was he feeling guilty for being an ass? Because if he wanted to, he would, right?

The Amalfi Coast was breathtaking. The moment I got off the bus, all I wanted was to go visit the beach. The hostel was in Positano, one of the nicer ones I had stayed in, and just down the street from a beach. I spent the first two days here visiting most of the coast, tanning, working and reading at the beach.

Last night, I gave Rendezvous another chance—Don’t ask me why, I apparently was a glutton for punishment—and matched with a gorgeous Italian man that might have looked like Matteo, except he was smiling. Adamo was laid back and funny. He invited me to brunch at this gorgeous restaurant I had seen on the first day I arrived.

I wore the skirt and top I had bought in Madrid, feeling sexy in it, even if it was a tad revealing. It had been a while since I had styled my hair and put extra effort into it, blow-drying AND even curling it. My hair was getting long; it was almost to my waist. While I loved the luxurious length, it was a pain in the ass to style. I needed a cut and thinning out.

Getting around the coast was a little difficult because traffic was insane. Taxis were really the only way to get around the city, but they were a bit pricey if you had to go far. The ride to the restaurant was quick, with minimal traffic and I arrived ten minutes early.

Adamo had booked a reservation and they quickly sat me. The inside was gorgeous with plants everywhere and an open terrace that overlooked the coast. I ordered a coffee as I waited, so mesmerized by the place that I didn’t even realize Adamo was running late. Five minutes turned into fifteen minutes and then thirty minutes.

Feeling more embarrassed each time the server asked if I wanted to order or wait for my date was almost enough for me to just walk out. I checked Rendezvous constantly hoping for a message to come through, but nothing but silence.

“Would you like to order something?” The look in her eyes told me waiting was futile.

I had officially been stood up.

“The pizza is amazing, the linguini with prawns is even better and you can’t go wrong with the beef filet,” a man at a table with two other women said to me.

They didn’t look at me with pity, but with warm affection.

“The porn star martini is also delicious,” one woman said, raising her glass.