Tempted by Destruction

13) Unfinished Business

Juliette

I watch Alex as he walks toward the car, my eyes tracing the confident way he moved. There was something about him—effortless, self-assured, like he always knew exactly where he was going and what he was doing. Just like his brother.

His blondish-brown wavy hair catching the light from the street, falling perfectly in place, short and neat. It reminds me of Lucas from One Tree Hill, but not as boy-next-door, longer and more sharp and refined.

I find myself comparing him to Matteo again. Matteo's hair was always a little messy, his dark curls longer, always wild from how often he ran his hands through it. Where Matteo was raw and intense yet composed, Alex was only composed, put together, like he never let anything get under his skin. But tonight, I'm not sure I believed that entirely.

There was something under Alex's calm exterior—something that had been simmering ever since Matteo showed up.

My thoughts shifted as Alex opened the door to his car, a sleek black Nissan Z, and looked over his shoulder at me, his blue eyes catching hers. "You ready?" he asked, his voice smooth. His smile was small but genuine, a soft curve of his lips that seemed effortless.

"Yeah," I mummer, slipping into the passenger seat. The car wasn't too flashy, but it was definitely a sports coupe. A car that had style without screaming for attention. Like Alex himself. I settle into the seat as Alex started the engine, the low rumble of the car vibrating beneath me.

We drive away from the club, the city lights blurring past in a streak of colors. I stare out the window, trying to shake the tension that had been clouding my mind since the run-in with Matteo. I couldn't even explain the strange energy between the two of them tonight. And the way Matteo had touched me earlier... I raise my hand subtlety, lightly tracing the skin her touched. I push the thought away quickly, focusing on the present, with Alex.

"Thanks for tonight," I say after a while, my voice breaking the silence in the car. "It was... nice."

Alex chuckled softly, glancing over to me. "That's one way to put it. I guess it wasn't the night you expected."

"No, not at all," I admit, shaking her head, letting out a quiet chuckle. "But it was interesting."

His hand rested casually on the gearshift, his fingers tapping lightly as if he were thinking. "Yeah... about that." He hesitated, his eyes flicking to the road before looking back at me. "Matteo can be... a bit intense sometimes. Just don't let him get to you."

"I wasn't," I lie quickly, sounding overly defensive, even I could hear the edge in my voice. He glances over at me again, looking a little skeptical. "How do you know Matteo anyways?" I speak up. I glance over at Alex, seeing his hand grip the wheel tighter, not enough to make his knuckles white this. "Never mind, sorry for being nosy." I say, leaning back into the leather and looking out the window. I don't want to make him uncomfortable but he could at least offer some sort of explanation for his behavior.

I brush it off, feeling as though I'm overreacting. I stare out the window for the rest of the ride.I look at all of the building and restaurants as we drive past them, trying to figure out where we're going or at least where we are.

~~~~

After driving for about 30 minutes he pulls into my apartment's parking lot. I glance over at him, offer a soft smile. "u-um," I face palm myself in my head.

"Do you wanna come in or do you have somewhere to be" I ask, keeping my eyes down. Glancing at the clock, it's almost 2 am. There's nowhere anyone has to be right now.

"Yea sorry I do have to be somewhere," he rubs the back of his head. "But I'll call you tomorrow" His eyes connects with mine and I don't protests. "ok. Goodnight" i force a smile before climbing out of the car. As soon as I take a few steps away from the car, he's pulling off and driving away from the complex. "Fucking dipshit." I spit angrily under my breath before I blink the tears threatening to spill from my eyes.

I wrap my arms around myself, realizing I left my jacket at the club. I clutch my purse with one hand, still hugging myself. Pretty sure I look dumb as fuck right now. I rush into the building and head straight for the elevator. As soon as the doors close I strip off the 4in heels Camryn forced on me, they make me look 5'8 but in reality I'm no taller than 5'3.

I step out of the elevator and pad straight to my apartment. Bursting in, immediately plopping onto my couch. I pull out my phone and check for any notifications. I see a text from Camryn pop up.

Camryn: Julieee wtf happened to you It feels like I haven't got an update in forever.🥺

I laugh at her exaggeration.

Julie: Girl we talked less than 2days ago😭. But theres a lot to tell you. wanna meet tmrw morning??

I throw my phone down on the couch and walk into my bathroom.

I start the shower, making sure it's hot enough to steam the glass, before stripping off my clothes.

I step into the shower, letting the hot water hit my skin, the steam quickly fogging up the glass. The sharp heat helps calm my racing mind, but the tension doesn't quite fade. I stand under the stream, my fingers idly running through my tangled curls, my thoughts still stuck on tonight—on Matteo, on Alex, on everything that's been swirling around me like a storm I can't quite control.

Then, just as I start to relax, there's a loud knock on my apartment door. My eyes snap open, the sound making my heart skip. I freeze for a second, unsure if I imagined it, but then a second knock comes—harder this time. The tension in my chest tightens.

"What the shit...?" I blurt out.

I grab a towel from the rack, wrapping it around myself as quickly as I can, then walk toward the door, my mind racing. It's almost 2:30 in the morning. I glance around, half-expecting the doorbell to ring next, but instead, it's just that persistent knock, echoing down the hallway.

I stand in front of the door, my heart still beating a little faster than usual. It can't be Matteo. It can't be.

But then I think back to earlier, how his touch had lingered, how he'd looked at me with something I couldn't quite place. Was it possible? I don't want to open the door and find out, but... what if it's him?

I swallow, pushing the irrational fear aside, and open the door a crack.

And there he is.

Matteo stands in the hallway, his stance casual, but his eyes intense, like he's been waiting for me to open the door. His dark hair is messier than earlier, curls falling into his eyes. His jaw is tense, his mouth set in a line, but there's something else—something uncertain behind that usual cool exterior.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, my voice sounding sharper than I meant it to.

Matteo doesn't answer immediately. His gaze flickers down, briefly scanning me—taking in the towel wrapped around me, my wet hair draping over my shoulders. His jaw clenches as if he's forcing himself to look away, but I catch the flicker of something in his eyes. Regret?

"Juliette..." he starts, his voice low. "Can we talk?"

I hesitate, gripping the door, my heart pounding. Matteo's gaze is intense, flickering with something raw and unspoken.

"Can we talk?" he asks, his voice low.

I search his face, torn between slamming the door and letting him in. "Talk about what?"

"Everything," he says, almost desperate.

I bite my lip, knowing I shouldn't—but I step back, leaving the door open as he steps closer, tension crackling in the air between us. And in that charged silence, I know that whatever he's about to say might change everything.