Page 228 of Valentino

“It’s a romantic concept when you think about it.” He throws another nut into his mouth. “I do believe it though.” He looks over to me. “You never heard of it?”

“No.”

“It suggests that you and your soulmate are connected by an invisible and unbreakable thread.”

I take another nut from his sachet.

“And no matter the time, distance or circumstance, you will always run into each other until what is supposed to happen, happens.”

I stare at him as I listen.

“And as soon as it does, that’s it.” He shrugs.

“What’s it?”

“You’ll never run into them again in this lifetime and still feel the same way.”

“Why not?”

“Because things change. They’ll move on and marry someone else, or you will, and the next time you see them everything will feel different. The two of you will never feel the same about each other again because it played out how it was supposed to.”

My heart sinks at the mere thought of Valentino moving on. “I thought you said it was romantic; that’s a terrible story.”

“Not if you were meant to be with that person.”

“Well how would you know?”

“They keep showing up.” He smiles. “Again and again, until you both get it right.”

I stare up at him. “What if they don’t show up?”

“Then it was never meant to be.”

“Oh….”

“Excuse me, can I get another coffee please?” He begins to talk to the stewardess, and I turn my attention back out the window.

I stare out over the clouds as my mind wanders over the last twenty-four hours. It was so weird that he was at the very same hotel as I was at the very same time.

Was it the invisible string theory…or did we just cut it forever?

Maybe that was the last time I’ll ever see Valentino in this light or vice versa.

Maybe next time we run into each other he’ll have moved on. He made his intentions and wants clear.

In love, I guess. Happily married, hopeful of starting a family.

Damn it. Those five-year goals are exactly the same as mine.

I drag my hand through my hair as panic runs through my system. Did I just make a monumental mistake?

No.

You did the right thing.

Our past history is filled with lies and mistrust. His night life, the strip clubs, and the copious amounts of beautiful women that throw themselves at him every day are enough to battle, but even if we did get through that and actually fall in love and build a marriage.

Living a life terrified that my husband is going to be killed at work and won’t be coming home tonight…isn’t the recipe for happiness.