Page 21 of XOXO

I shrugged, wishing this embarrassment would go away.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” She snuggled closer to me, sighing, making my stomach swoop with butterflies and for a second I was sad that she wasn’t looking for something more.

“You should,” I said, kissing her head.

“I can pay you back for dinner.” She pulled back, peering up with those pretty hazel eyes.

I scowled, offended she would even suggest that.

“Okay?” she laughed. “I won’t pay you back, but I do feel bad.”

“Don’t be, like I said, I don’t regret asking you out again,” I said, grabbing her hand. “I have something else planned if you want to go, it's kind of romantic.”

My cheeks heated from her grin. “Levi, you are going to make someone very happy.”

“How about we go and finish that movie we started,” she suggested. “I’ve kind of been wondering how that ends.”

“That sounds great,” I said, happy to do whatever if the night didn’t end.

“What’s in the bag?” Vi asked as we walked back to my condo.

“Some desserts and a bottle of champagne I wanted to share with you in front of the Eiffel Tower,” I said, as my cheeks heated with embarrassment.

“Shit, I’m so sorry,” she said, giving my hand a squeeze. “If you like we can go to the Eiffel Tower.”

I shook my head. “A picnic in my room sounds a lot better.”

Vi embraced my arm, leaning her head against my shoulder as we walked in silence. I liked her like this, affectionate and touchy-feely.

The ride up to the condo wasn’t awkward. I basked in her presence feeling like this might be the last time I was able to. Vi kissed my shoulder softly, and I turned to look at her. I wanted one more kiss as I glanced at her berry lips, I knew it was now or never.

Our lips touched when the elevator dinged and I wanted to groan at the inconvenience. I led her down the hall, pulling out my keys to open the door when Vi kissed my jaw as I slid the key in. She kissed closer to my mouth and as I opened the door, I captured her lips in a soft kiss.

She moaned, granting me access to swipe my tongue against her own. I opened the door needing to lead her into my room because I wanted more even if all we did was kiss. She followed me as I walked backwards, never breaking the kiss, afraid that if we stopped, she’d come to her senses and leave.

Someone cleared their throat and I jerked back.

Matteo was with a beautiful woman seated on the sofa. They stared at us while we did the same, the silence awkward and thick with tension.

“Sorry, I didn’t think you would be home,” I said, as my surprise went away.

“Well, we had plans to stay in and I didn’t really want to leave the condo,” Matteo said, glancing at Vi.

“Sorry,” I said, feeling guilty all over again.

I felt Vi looking at me and then looking at Matteo like she was trying to figure something out. Did she feel the tension too?

“We were just going to watch a movie.”

“I think I should go.”

Matteo and Vi spoke at the same time.

“I thought⁠—”

“I think I should go,” Violet said, interrupting me.

I wanted to say something, but with Matteo and this woman in front of us, it felt weird.