Page 253 of Valentino

For all the world to see, and he flew all the way to Rome to tell me that he loves me.

He loves me!

“We’ll get a cab.” He puts his arm up on the side of the road.

I stand quietly and wait, and if I could say something I would, but I’m too busy smiling.

The rain is torrential. Giant raindrops that feel extra wet, everyone is soaking.

The umbrella blows inside out and Valentino struggles to turn it back the right way. I giggle as I watch him fight it, but it’s bent and broken beyond repair.

“Fuck me dead,” he cries, he glances over his shoulder at me and frowns when he sees my face. “This isn’t funny, Anna,” he calls over the rain.

But it is, because we are sopping wet with no sight of a cab and no way of getting home. I burst out laughing and he throws the broken umbrella into the trash and looks over, I must look like a sight because when he sees me he breaks into a beautiful broad smile too.

“Kiss me, you fool.” I laugh.

He takes me into his arms and spins me around so that my feet swing in the air as he kisses me, and on the side of the road in Rome, in the pouring rain, I fall in love all over again.

Soaking wet all the way to our bones, an hour later we arrive home.

The elevator rises slowly to my floor and while I’m giddy with excitement, Valentino is majorly on edge.

We couldn’t get a cab, or an Uber, and in the end I made us catch the bus.

I smile when I think of the photo I took of Val glaring at everyone while looking like a drowned rat.

Ha…. This night will go down in history for more reasons than one.

Valentino gives me the side-eye. “I fail to see the humor in this, Anna.”

“I know.” I giggle. “That’s what makes it funny.”

He lets out a deep sigh as he stares straight ahead.

He’s so wet that he looks like he’s just climbed out of a swimming pool while fully clothed. I glance down to see a puddle of water around his feet and I burst out laughing again.

“Really?” he mutters dryly.

“Yes.” I laugh harder as I point to the ground. “Look.”

He glances down and smirks before taking me into his arms. “How is being this wet and cold in the least bit funny?”

“Because I get to do it with you.” I smile up at him.

He breaks his tough guy façade and kisses me softly, the elevator doors open.

“This is my floor.”

He grabs my hand and looks down at it before wincing. “Ugh…. Waterlogged soggy fucking fingers.” He shakes his hand and water flicks everywhere, and I laugh again.

“Oh my God, this is….”

“Hilarious,” he mutters. “You said that already.”

I dig my keys out and unlock my door as he stands quietly behind me and it dawns on me, while I’m excited and giggly that he’s here, he seems to be pensive.

Damn it, why didn’t I deep clean my house before I left home, I can’t even remember what state I left the place in. I push the door open. “This is it.”