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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?
