Page 120 of XOXO

I sneered at his comment. “I think you need to be grateful to Ruwon. You can book him all the jobs you want, but if people don’t like the way he acts, they won’t hire him again.”

“I made those opportunities happen and they won’t happen again if I’m not here,” he snapped.

The underlying threat made me want to hit him.

“Ok, keep telling yourself that,” I said, all but pushing him out of the house. “Ruwon will stay here for the foreseeable future, and if he needs you he will call you.”

I slammed the door in his face. Minsu was an asshole and I don’t know how Ru put up with him.

“Thanks,” Ru said, sitting down.

“Anytime,” I said, going to the kitchen to grab us a beer. “I think you really need to find someone else. He’ s such an asshole.”

“Minsu knows too many people in the business and if I leave, he wouldn’t hesitate to trash talk me to everyone who would listen,” he sighed, grabbing the beer from me.

“He can’t know everyone,” I scoffed.

“Is it sad that I’m too scared to find out?” He ran his hand through his hair.

“No, he’s a scary asshole, who I’m sure has a lot of influence, but anyone would be fucking lucky to have you,” I said, patting his shoulder. “You need someone to help raise you up, not take all the credit where he has none due. You know you are the star right? People want you, not him.”

He nodded absently like he was agreeing just to agree.

“I’m fucking exhausted, I’m going to sleep,” he said, walking to his room as he chugged his beer.

Watching my best friend leave the room with the weight of the world on his shoulders gutted me. I leaned back against the sofa as I finished my beer. It was getting warm and it felt like my life. Everything was cool before Vi and as I got to know her, I kept drinking even though things were getting warmer. That was a stupid analogy, but it felt true. I knew things probably wouldn’t last with us, but I just couldn’t let her go.

My heart twisted, just thinking about what she would be going through. She didn’t need to marry that asshole and the fact that she was willingly doing it, spoke volumes about her. She was protecting us at the cost of herself. I hated it and I admired her for it at the same time.

I got up from the sofa, getting one more beer as I searched for Levi. He had left and gone out on the terrace. I slid the door open, looking around, disappointed when I didn’t see him. It was muggy outside, not the place Levi would hang out, but he was furious and I didn’t doubt he would take a walk to calm down. Looking back and forth to see which way I wanted to go, I chugged my beer, leaving the empty bottle on the wall before I left. I went out the gate from the terrace looking for him in the neighborhood. Maybe he needed to walk to clear his head. The night was quiet as I walked around the houses mindlessly.

After my first turn around the neighborhood, I knew Levi wasn’t out here, but walking outside gave me some peace. My chaotic mind was thinking about everything that had happened the last few months. It was strange how Vi kept popping up in different places and meeting us, almost like fate was making sure we didn’t miss her or pass up this opportunity with her.

My chest felt tight as I realized. Violeta wasn’t just another girl. She was our fate, our reason and our future. I took a deep breath, letting the truth settle me in a way I should have before. Violeta was ours and I just had to figure out how to get rid of her sleazy ex fiancée because I was not going to let him ruin what we had.

Turning around, I went back to the house looking for Levi again before I knocked on his door. There was silence at first, but I heard the smallest muffle. My Cuore Mio was crying and I couldn’t have that.

“Lee, open the door please.” I knocked again.

I was met with silence.

“Please, Cuore Mio,” I pleaded. “I just want to make sure you're ok.”

And have you help me hack into things that might get her back.

I should have said that out loud except Ru was across from Levi’s bedroom and I couldn’t risk making him panic. He was probably already worrying himself to death; he didn’t need something else on his plate.

“Baby, please.” I pleaded again.

“Leave me alone, Matteo, or I swear I’m leaving the house and flying out of here just to have some fucking peace,” Levi said, his voice hoarse.

“I’m sorry, I know⁠—”

“Stop. I don’t care,” he cried out. “I can’t do this with you. Leave me alone.”

“Ok, Cuore Mio.” I laid my forehead against the door. “I’ll be here if you need me. I’ll always be here for you.”

The beer I drank on an empty stomach made me warm and fuzzy. My room was too far to get to, so I turned around, leaning against the door and sliding down against it. I leaned back, feeling exhausted. My bed was a better choice to sleep in, but I needed to make sure Levi was ok and if that meant a shitty night’s sleep, so be it.