Page 85 of XOXO

“I don’t know. I feel played,” I said, putting a pastry on a plate.

Matteo studied me for a moment.

“I felt the same way,” he said, taking a sip of his coffee. “It feels serendipitous or it’s some fucking crazy coincidence. But that’s all it is.”

I nodded. “I know, I can’t help but think she used you guys to get to me.”

“She’s not Pamela,” he said, reminding me of the woman who had made sure we always crossed paths a few years ago. “She snuck away in the middle of the night and you know Pamela never missed a chance to spend the day with us.”

I nodded as he sighed. “We can ask her to leave. Levi might be upset⁠—”

“No, bad thoughts are clouding my judgement,” I said, running a hand over my face. “I’m jealous, wary, and really fucking confused when it comes to her. I just⁠—”

I groaned, hating that I was so unsure about everything lately, but I still wanted her to stay.

“Look, your peace is more important than her,” he said, looking like the words made him sick to say.

“No, she looks like she is good for you and Levi,” I said, sipping my coffee.

“Just because she’s good for us doesn’t mean it's ok for you to be uncomfortable,” he said quickly.

“No, even though I’m feeling anxious, I still want her to stay.” I finished my coffee, putting my cup in the sink. “My time with her was amazing, but isn't it weird that we all have slept with her?”

Matteo shrugged, “I can’t judge her for something I have done too. It was shocking she slept with you too because, what are the chances? I don't know what the hell is going on, but it feels like she was supposed to be here with us.”

“I told her I was going to be in Greece,” I sighed.

“Well, then it's not so weird she is here right?” He raised his brow. “Unless she put a tracker in your ass.”

“Shut up,” I laughed, pushing him. “No, it's not, it feels like fate that we ran into her. You don’t do repeats.”

“No, I don’t, but I also don’t kiss my best friend so there's that,” he said, walking away.

“What?!” I yelled, walking after him. “You can’t just say that and walk away.”

“Hurry up, we are going to be late,” he said, like he hadn’t just dropped a bomb on me.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I grumbled, walking after him, needing more information.

I didn’t want to admit it, but dammit, maybe she was good for all of us.

“Look up to the left,” the photographer said, clicking away on their camera.

I was not in a leather thong and harness, much to the guy’s and Violeta’s disappointment. Matteo and Levi left her no option to leave, saying it would be fun while they drank and ate everything that was provided for us. She looked like she might leave after the photo shoot, but Matteo made sure she left her bag back at our home.

Was I letting my best friends do my dirty work? Damn straight I was, because I was a coward and them making her stay was easier than saying ‘I was an asshole, please stay’. Apologizing was hard when I still felt a certain way about her. She was right to call me out, but I didn’t know how I felt about all of us sleeping with her or the fact that it didn't sound as bad as I made it out to seem.

“Can we get a wardrobe change, please?!” the photographer called out. I got up from the chair I was sitting in, on the balcony of the hotel room we were in.

The entire shoot would be in this grand hotel room and then one outside by the beach. It was the first time I had worked with this company which led me to worry that it would be chaotic and unorganized. They proved me wrong, having everything in order and on a schedule. I welcomed the easiness that came from a good planner.

They led me back to one room they had changed into a dressing room with racks and racks of clothing. Most of the items they were photographing today were belts, jewelry, bags, loafers and a leather jacket I wasn’t looking forward to wearing outside. Violeta’s laugh was carefree in the other room. Their company was gracious enough to let me bring them with me.

“So, who is the girl?” my agent asked in Korean.

“A friend of Matteo and Levi’s, we met here in Greece,” I said, putting on the pants and polo shirt.

“Do we have to be worried about her?” he asked, not even looking up from his phone.