Violeta
Life-changing, but nothing lasts forever.
It was the last morning we were on the boat before we docked.
I lied between Matteo and Ru as a little sliver of sunlight peaked through the small window.
Any minute now, Mark would come to wake us up, and that would be the end of the best two weeks I had ever had in the entire time I was in Europe.
What was I supposed to do now? Did I just say, hey, thanks for the best weeks I've had here? It’s not like I could sneak away, we were still in the ocean, unless I chucked my luggage overboard and swam to the coast. Maybe I could go to my room, saying I wasn’t feeling well and sneak off the moment we docked.
“You’re thinking too loudly.” Matteo’s voice was gruff.
“I am not,” I pouted, looking up at him.
“That little furrow of your brow says otherwise,” he said, holding me closer.
“I was just a little sad that this was over and how the last two weeks were the best weeks I’ve ever had,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “This was amazing and I’m so glad you decided to bring me.”
Matteo studied me, nerves making my chest tight, he saw something I hadn’t hidden well.
“Are you going back to the states after this?” he asked, tucking my hair behind my ear.
I shook my head. “I’m not ready to go home. Plus, I wanted to see VI3E.”
“You should message him,” he said softly. “That’s a concert you don’t want to miss. Hopefully he will give you a send-off ticket.”
“I think I would die if I went to their send-off,” I said, rubbing my face on his chest. “Deceased because I got to see Woosung again.”
“You and all the other K-pop girlies,” he chuckled.
“Now you're making me rethink my interaction with him. He probably felt sorry for me and decided to invite me on a whim.” I covered my face, feeling embarrassed again.
“Nah, he invited you cause you're hot, Vi,” Matteo said, kissing my forehead.
“Shut up,” I said, smacking his abs.
“Who thinks Vi is hot?” Ru tightened his arm around my middle, kissing my shoulder.
“No one.”
“Woosung.”
Matteo and I spoke at the same time.
“Woosung from VI3E?” Ru yawned.
“Yeah, he invited her to their concert in Athens,” Levi said, stretching by Matteo. “I’m pretty sure he didn’t think we were together, so that was his way into Vi’s panties.”
“Excuse me?” I snapped.
“You were almost one NDA away from having Woosung,” Matteo chuckled.
“Oh my god, shut up,” I said, feeling Ru pull away from me. “He was not into me.”
I looked over my shoulder to see Ru getting up.
Things had been slightly different with us the last few days.
It was another reason I wanted to sneak out because after we had sex at the cabana; he had been distant.
I don’t know what had happened, but it hurt a little that he wasn’t talking as much or interacting with me.
Last night was the first night he slept by me or even slept with us.
“Rise and shine!” Mark knocked on our door. “Last meal before we depart!”
He knocked again and Ru opened the door for him. They spoke in hushed tones as I grabbed my things, ready to escape to my room. Matteo and Levi got off the bed as Ru closed the door. I looked around the room for anything I might have missed.
“Fuck, can we just live on this boat?” Levi sighed.
“We need Ru to make another hit and we might be golden,” Matteo said.
“Yes, Ru. Go back to work and support us,” Levi teased, but Ru stayed quiet, picking up clothes from the floor.
Matteo and Levi looked at each other, silently communicating. Years of friendship made them telepathic by now. They all had this with each other and I hated being on the outside. It didn’t help that I was nosy as hell.
“I’ll see you guys at breakfast,” I said, feeling the awkwardness like it was my fault.
I left the room, rushing to my own that I had only slept in twice while we were here.
We were usually in any of the guy’s rooms, but mostly Ru’s, since his was the biggest. Sleeping together felt natural and almost every night we would end up tangled up in each other, unless we were too tired from the day’s activities. I would miss sleeping with them.
My chest ached thinking of what I'd be missing out on now that I was going to be traveling alone.
I looked for the rest of my clothes, packing them away after I got ready.
Taking one last look at the room, I exited, hearing the guys heading up.
I could take my time staying in my room so there was no awkwardness, but I wanted one last meal with them, even if it hurt to say goodbye.
Mark took my luggage when I walked up the stairs telling me the guys were already out on the deck. I took in the boat, trying to commit it to memory as I walked to the guys.
“Are you ok man?”
“Yeah, you’ve been off the past couple of days. Did something happen? Maybe with you and Vi?”
I stopped when I heard them say my name.
“I’m fine, just stressed,” Ruwon said.
“You still haven’t made a decision?” Levi asked.
“Nope,” Ruwon said.
“If it’s causing you this much stress, maybe you should walk away,” Matteo said. “Or is Vi making you stressed? I thought things had been good.”
There was nothing but silence for a full minute; that made me uneasy. But I walked out before he said anything that might hurt my feelings.
“Things are—”
Ru stopped speaking when I entered the room, smiling.
“My new life goal is to buy a boat and live on it,” I said, like I had heard nothing.
Matteo grinned, Levi chuckled, and Ru kept eating with his head down. Ok, so maybe it was a ‘me’ problem.
“Invite me when you make that happen,” Levi said, pushing my seat out for me.
“It might take me ten years, but if you can wait that long, then prepare for a DM on Rendezvous,” I grinned, trying to keep things light even though I felt like I was pouting like Ru.
Levi laughed. “Maybe it might be easier if we pool our money together.”
“I think I might want in on this,” Matteo said, while drinking his coffee.
“I don’t know. Maybe I want the boat all to myself,” I said, grabbing a bagel.
“Yeah, don’t tie yourself to a man,” Matteo said, and I knew he was referring to my ex.
“I think I've learned that lesson well,” I said, regretting immediately when Ru and Levi looked at me.
I continued eating, praying they didn’t ask about it.
“What—”
“What are your plans after this?” Matteo interrupted Levi who was giving him a dirty look.
“I might head to Athens,” I said, taking a bite of my bagel. “I messaged Woosung, so let's see if he gets back to me.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Ru asked.
“Probably sightsee and a visit to all the ruins,” I said, glancing at him. “There is a lot to see in Athens.”
“Where will you be staying?” he asked, leaning his forearms on the table, clasping his hands together.
I narrowed my eyes, wondering why the hell it mattered. “Probably a hostel.”
I felt the shift, feeling stupid that I let it slip as Ru scoffed, “No.”
“Not happening,” Levi said.
Matteo just smirked at me, he knew his friends would make a scene.
I opened my mouth to say something, but Ru beat me to it. “We have a house we are renting for a couple of days. You can stay there. We have a few things we need to take care of there so you will have plenty of time—”
“No,” I said, crossing my arms and leaning back on my chair.
Ru and I stared at each other as Matteo and Levi watched us.
“I’m a big girl—”
“Obviously not, because you are putting yourself in danger,” Ru said, completely composed.
“Hostels are fine and I don’t have—”
“After Athens, we can figure out better accommodations,” Ru said, going back to eating.
“Ru, hostels are affordable and I’m safe—”
“Are you truly safe? You’re safe until you're not, and I think we all would like to keep you safe,” Levi said.
“Not you too,” I snapped.
“They are right. Just stay with us and we can figure out other accommodations for your next stop,” Matteo said calmly.
“I’ll pay for you to stay at a hotel if it means you don’t go back to a hostel,” Ru said, finishing his eggs.
“That is unnecessary,” I growled, standing up just as the boat caused me to sway.
Levi held his hand out to balance me.
“Sorry for the abrupt docking, but we are here,” Mark said, walking into the room.
“Thank you, Mark,” Run said, handing him an envelope. “Please transfer our bags to the car, even Violeta’s and we will finish up here.”
“This is unnecessary,” Mark said, giving the envelope back.
“I insist,” Ruwon said, giving Mark a genuine smile. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”
“Anytime. It’s always a pleasure,” he said, putting the envelope in his pocket. “I’m going to have someone do a sweep of the room and I’ll load up your bags as soon as the car arrives.”
“Thanks, Mark,” Run said, taking a sip of his coffee as he left us.
I didn’t know what to say, they were treating me like a child.
“Just say yes, please” Levi said, grabbing my hand and looking up at me.
Levi was good-looking, a hot nerd, but looking up at me like this made him so adorable, like that stupid cat from the Shrek movies. I swear, his eyes grew round and cartoon-like behind those metal-rimmed glasses.
I sighed. “Fine, but once I leave Athens, I will find my own accommodations.”
Matteo laughed. “Good job, Levi.”
Levi grinned as I glared at him. He stood up to kiss me softly, sensually; it made my toes curl from the intimate moment.
“Matteo needs to help me with a contract here, but as soon as it's done, I’ll join you on whatever you haven’t seen,” he said, rubbing his nose against mine.
“Ok,” I said, a little weak in the knees.
I wasn’t ready to say goodbye, but I didn’t like the distance between Ru and I. Maybe this would be my chance to talk to him or maybe it would get worse?
“Um, Miss? You forgot it in Mr. Moon’s room.” One of the women of the crew held out my XOXO necklace.
“Oh my, thank you so much,” I said, grabbing it from her.
“Yes,” she said, smiling and left us.
“I can’t believe I almost forgot it,” I said, putting it on as I felt someone pull my hair up.
“Let me,” Ru said behind me.
He was so close I could feel his body heat. I held up my hair as he clasped it on, laying it on my neck.
“Thank you,” I said, turning around, hoping for a moment, but he had already turned away and grabbed his phone from the table.
I was getting whiplash from this man and it was annoying me.
“Come on, the house we rented is gorgeous,” Levi grabbed my hand. “But sadly, you will have to sleep with one or all of us.”
“Oh, my god, unacceptable! I demand you take me to my hostel,” I said, hearing Matteo laugh behind us.
“Nah, Gorgeous, you’re stuck with us.” Levi threw his arm over my shoulders as we left the boat.
I took one look behind us, gazing at the boat with sadness. The best two weeks of my vacation and I wished it didn’t have to end. I guess the next few days were my consolation prize, even if I never wanted to leave.