Page 106 of Valentino

He twists his lips and it’s as if he’s thinking, or perhaps to stop himself from saying too much.

“Why do you have to think about that?” I frown. “It’s a yes or no question.”

“I do.”

“Think it’s a possibility?”

“Think it’s too late.”

Oh no….

“Why?”

“I still adore her and therefore want to put her needs ahead of mine. I believe that she deserves to know the truth.”

My heart sinks, this isn’t how I thought this conversation would go, all day I’ve run over it in my mind and he wasn’t supposed to say any of this. I brace myself for the hit, I know something that I don’t want to hear is coming.

“What’s the truth?” I ask.

He reaches over and fiddles with my ring as my hand sits on the table, such a simple act but somehow it feels deeply intimate.

“You should stay away from me, Anna.” His gaze stays fixed on my ring as he twists it.

“Why?” I ask softly.

Silence....

“Val?”

His fingers twist my ring again and I know he’s struggling with whatever he’s trying to articulate. Maybe Francesca has it all wrong, and he’s about to tell me he’s still in love with Giovanna.

Damn it, have I misread every sign?

“Look at me please,” I ask. “Why do you think I should I stay away from you?”

He drags his eyes up to meet mine. “Because you were correct in what you said this morning.”

“About what?”

“I am everything you think that I am…only much worse.” He continues to twist my ring, as if holding on to it is the only thing keeping us connected.

“I don’t believe that.” I turn my hand over and catch his in mine.

He swallows a lump in his throat as he stares down at our entwined hands.

“You’re a good man, Valentino,” I reply. “You gave up everything to look after me and keep me safe.” I smile softly.

“I wish that were true.”

“You didn’t have to move in with me and yet, you did. You guard me every night while I sleep.”

“Ha, guard you in your sleep, that’s a joke,” he huffs. “Do you want to know what I was doing last night while you slept, Anna?”

“What?”

“I was fighting off an animal that lives inside of me.”

Huh?