Page 128 of XOXO

I felt like I was five again, but Violeta’s small smile was worth it.

“No, the guys and I are working on something. Minsoo was the one who orchestrated the entire thing,” I said, his name leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

“Excuse me? This is Minsoo’s fault?” Her voice was steady, but the bite in her tone was full mama bear.

“Long story short, my ex-fiancée had me followed to Europe. Minsoo told his PI where to find us,” Violeta explained.

“I see,” my mother said. “I still want you on a plane. You can lay low here while we figure out what to do with your disgusting ex and your agent.”

“Mom, we can’t leave yet,” I sighed. “Violeta wanted to see VI3E tonight and we have tickets.”

“I can see them another time. I think your mom is right,” Violeta said, rubbing my shoulder.

“No, you wanted to see them and after that we can leave,” I said, shaking my head.

“I can see them another day,” she said, as Levi entered my room. “It makes no sense for us to go to a public place.”

“We can figure out a statement at the airport, but I think we should head back to Italy,” Levi said.

Matteo came up behind him. “I agree, once things have settled down we can take her to as many VI3E concerts she wants. Plus, my mother already has a car waiting for us outside.”

I laughed. “Eomma.”

“I know, Nae-saekki. Come home and we will figure everything out.”

“Ok,” I said..

“She didn’t give us much time to head to the airport, but let’s get going,” Matteo said.

“Are you sure you want to make a statement?” Violeta asked, grabbing my hand. “You don’t owe anyone anything.”

“I figured staying quiet was the wrong way to go about this,” I said, helping her into the car that was waiting for us. “I need to say something because hiding makes it look worse.”

“That makes sense,” she said, biting her lip.

“It might take the heat off of him while we figure things out,” Levi said, sitting next to her.

“What are you going to say?” she asked, her brows furrowed.

“I don’t know. Maybe you can help me?”

“Of course,” she said, looking at Levi and then Matteo, who was leaning against the door. “I know we didn’t get to talk, but I just wanted to say thank you for coming to get me. I was already looking for an out because I couldn’t spend my days wondering ‘what if’?”

“There is no if here,” Levi said, cupping her cheek. “It pissed me off that these two let you get away. I’ve always wanted you, and the fact that you’re with my best friends is more than I could ask for. You leaving needed to happen. If we were to ever do anything, it had to be on our terms.”

“We knew we messed up,” Matteo said, walking into the room, sitting on his haunches in front of Violeta. “We were in Levi’s room at five in the morning talking about what we could do to get you back. We couldn’t last a day without you. We don’t ever want a day without you.”

Violeta sniffled, cupping his cheek. He leaned into her hand taking a deep breath.

“Letting you go was a mistake. We didn’t want to make that mistake ever again,” I said, grabbing her other hand. “I don’t know what brought us together, but I will not ignore this pull I have towards you. We all feel it and I’d rather give us a fighting chance than to always wonder what could have happened. It felt like fate wanted us together and I didn’t want to take a chance that fate was done with us. I love you.”

“Ru,” Violeta whispered.

“I know it might be too soon, but I do,” I said, my voice cracking. “I love all of you. Levi and Matteo might not be romantic love, but I’ve always felt like they were mine and you, my sweet Violeta, are ours. We were supposed to walk on this earth together and there is no one else I’d rather do this with than with my best friends and you.”

“Guys,” she cried, looking at each of us like she needed confirmation.

“Nothing has ever felt so right,” Levi said, leaning his head against her.