Chapter 44 Mateo
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Mateo
It was very rare that I lost my temper. But between the blood on Levi’s face and the tears in Avery’s eyes, the moment we were out of her studio, I grabbed Austin by his collar and punched him hard enough that he dropped onto the sidewalk.
“Holy shit,” Evie gasped, tugging June out of the way.
Levi put his hand on my shoulder, pulling me closer to him. Despite everything, having him at my side was a comfort.
“Fuck, Mateo,” Dallas gasped, kneeling down next to his brother.
Austin stared at me, dazed as he sat up. “You lied to me,” he said. “You went behind my back. Why didn’t you just ask me about Avery?”
“Because I know how you are,” I said. “And because Avery asked us not to tell you. And I agreed because I’ve been in love with her for two fucking years, Austin. Two years.”
“Why haven’t you done anything?”
“Because you act like this,” I said. “Ever since she’s come back to Whynot, you’ve been completely overprotective. You haven’t given her any space. You’ve been constantly overstepping.”
“It’s really none of your business—”
“It is now,” I said firmly. “I am dating your sister, whether you approve or not.”
“Then you’re not my friend anymore.”
That hurt. Every muscle stilled as I blinked at him. “Really?”
He slowly got up, glaring at both of us. “Neither of you are friends. Levi, I asked you earlier this week after dinner. And you—”
“I told you that you have nothing to worry about,” Levi said firmly. “Because I leave on Monday. And that’s the truth.”
My stomach twisted as he said that.
“That makes it even worse!” Austin yelled. “So you sleep with my best friend and my sister, and then just leave? Is that really who you are?”
Levi’s hand left mine. “Yes,” he whispered.
Dallas tightened his grip on Austin before he could lunge at Levi. “And you lied to all of us about it.”
“Well . . .” Evie interjected, trailing off. “June and I have known.”
His mouth dropped. “What?”
“We’ve known,” June said. “And we’ve supported this too, because Levi and Mateo have made Avery happy. I don’t think they intended to hide from either of you for so long, but you guys have been too much since Kevin.”
“Kevin hurt her,” Austin rasped. “And then to see bruises on her—”
“Austin,” Evie cut in. “We all need you to drop the bruises. Avery consented to those. It has to do with BDSM.”
He blanched to the white of a ghost. He slowly turned to look at me and Levi again, but Dallas shook his head.
“We all need to take a breather,” Dallas said calmly. “This all blew way out of proportion. Austin, we both owe Avery an apology.”
Austin shrugged Dallas off and shook his head at us. “Neither of you deserve her. And you never fucking will.”
Levi remained quiet as Austin spun and stomped down the sidewalk. Dallas cast us an apologetic look and then stalked after him.
Evie blew out a long breath. “Please go check on her.”
“We’ll take care of her,” I promised. “If I need anything, I’ll call both of you.”
“Good,” June said. “We trust you.”
I blew out a breath, feeling the weight of that. Coming from June, it meant a lot. She didn’t hand out trust easily.
“We’re headed home for the night,” Evie said. “But remember, we’re just a call away.”
I nodded and reached for Levi, but he stepped away before I could touch him. Evie and June left us, heading across the street to their cars.
“Levi,” I said softly. “We need to go back inside.”
“I can’t face her right now.”
My heart stopped. “What do you mean? She needs us.”
“She needs you,” he said. “Not me.”
“She does need you,” I argued, my brows pulling together. “I need you.”
Levi shook his head, wiping the blood in his beard on his sleeve. “I can’t . . . I can’t. I just can’t, Mateo. I need to go.”
He started to turn around to leave. Panic sprang up and I reached out, grabbing his hand. “Levi,” I rasped. “Please. I need you. We need you. I—”
Levi yanked his hand around and spun back. “I told you what this was from the beginning. I told you I’m not good at relationships. I told you that I’m going back to Minnesota.”
“I know, I know.” Tears sprang to my eyes. “But this is different. This relationship is different. It means something, Levi. Every time I’m with you, I feel whole. We fit. We work.”
“No.” He shook his head. “None of this works.”
“It could. We can figure things out. We can work together to create a future—”
“I’m not in your future, Mateo,” he whispered. “I don’t belong there.”
Levi stared at me for a moment longer.
“I’m sorry, Mateo. Love her for me.”
But what about me? I wanted to scream. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. I couldn’t speak or move or cry or breathe or think as he walked away. His steps quickened, and he was running. Running away from me. From Avery. From everything we could have had.
I couldn’t go after him.
Tears streamed down my cheeks. I rubbed my eyes and raked my fingers through my hair, trying to pull myself together, but the parts just wouldn’t fit. Not without him.
“Fuck,” I cried. “Fuck.”
My body trembled as I opened the gallery door and walked down the long hall like a zombie. Her studio door was still wide open. When I looked in, my heart crumbled.
Avery held the ruined painting in her lap, cheeks red, shoulders shaking with sobs. She looked up at me with wide, glassy eyes.
“Can I come in?” I croaked.
She nodded and scrambled up as I stumbled to her. I wasn’t sure who grabbed who first, but we both sank to the floor.
“Where’s Levi?” she whispered.
“He’s gone, Avery. I’m sorry.” Her hair was damp from where my face pressed. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
“I love him.”
“I know. I love him too.”
“And it’s not enough.”
I tightened my hold on her, squeezing my eyes shut. My words had run out and I just . . .
I just couldn’t . . .
I couldn’t lie . . .
I couldn’t tell her it was fine . . .
And I couldn’t stop crying.
My heart couldn’t stop breaking.