Page 74 of XOXO

“Damn, I missed this,” Ru said, as we floated together like we used to when we were teenagers.

“I think that's the longest we've ever been apart,” I said, as the wave crashed into us.

“Never again. I don’t care if I have to join the military, too,” Matteo said, pushing the water out of his face.

I laughed. “You’re an idiot. I love you, but I’m not built for the military.”

“God. Knowing you, they’d put you in some fucking top-secret shit,” Matteo rolled his eyes.

“He would become some insufferable general,” Ru chuckled.

“Nah, I would build some shit or run the cyber warfare division,” I grinned. “I’ll leave you two to the fighting.”

“Fucking princess, I swear,” Matteo laughed.

“Nah, strategic,” I cackled.

“I need a drink, are you ready to get out?” Ru asked.

"Yeah, let's get some drinks and get some sun,” Matteo said.

I rolled my eyes. “Not all of us are blessed with tanning evenly.

“I just want some color,” Ru said, shaking off his hair as we started walking on the beach.

“Same, but I don’t need to burn,” I said, looking around the beach.

“Then we better get some sunscreen on you.” Matteo bumped into me.

I smiled, bumping into him. We grinned together as I thought I saw Vi. I looked around Matteo wondering if my eyes were fooling me, but there she stood, looking around the beach with her hand shielding her eyes. My heart beat faster as excitement jolted through me.

“Vi!” I yelled, before I thought better of it. She startled before finding me. She grinned, waving back.

“What the fuck is she doing here?”

“Violeta?”

Matteo and Ruwon said together. What the hell did they say? I hoped my excitement didn’t ruin our day, but it was damn good to see her.

20. Violeta

What are the fucking chances? I swear its serendipity and I’m not a stalker.

Budapest was amazing. Most of my stay there was filled with all the touristy things, and forgetting about Rendezvous. That was until Ruwon matched with me. He sent a message saying he had had a great time with me and if I wanted to meet up he would be in Greece.

Waking up alone infuriated me that he hadn’t give me a chance to say goodbye. I didn’t hold onto that anger because I had no reason to be mad. I had left countless people in the same way. It also made me wonder if this was karma for leaving Levi the second time, even though Matteo had left me too. It wasn’t a good feeling to wake up alone, and it didn't help when I saw that he had left me a necklace that I had been eyeing but didn’t end up getting.

The necklace was dainty with the letters XOXO in the middle.

It was so ironic that he would leave me with an XOXO and I couldn’t help but be happy he left me something to remember him and this entire trip by. I hadn’t taken it off since that day I left for Budapest. Now I was in Nafplion, Greece, visiting a fortress, wondering if Ruwon was here?

I might have come to Greece a little early, wondering if it was stupid to message him and ask him if he was here. So far I was being stubborn, telling myself I didn’t need a man to enjoy Europe, but traveling solo was taking its toll on me. I was tired of traveling, it was exhausting and I had enjoyed my days with Ruwon. If I was being completely honest, my best days were with the three men who hadn’t left my mind.

Did they think of me too?

I still talked to Levi on occasion, his work and the deadline he had was coming up were keeping him busy. He had been silent the last few days, making me think he either didn’t finish or he did and was dead to the world. Matteo and I hadn’t talked to each other, which was no surprise, but his sister still talked to me every day, so I got updates on him. Sometimes I wondered if he told her things, hoping she would pass them along. On late nights, there were a few times I wanted to message him, but it felt weird and honestly, what the hell would I say?

Maybe it was time I went home, even though the thought of going home made me physically ill.