Page 241 of Valentino

“No, I wasn’t just hungry,” he scoffs with widened eyes. “I was fucking starving.”

I giggle at his dramatics. “I’m sorry.”

“You were out to it; I couldn’t wake you.”

“Must have been all that physical activity yesterday.” I shrug, or all the panicking all night. “Anyway.” I open the menu. “What are you having?”

“I already ordered.”

I look over the top of the menu at him. “You ordered?”

“Your favorite.”

“Such as?” I test him.

“Espresso, cornetto with strawberry jam.”

I smile over at him. “You remembered.”

“Of course I remembered.” He sips his coffee. “What will I be having?”

“Prosciutto and cheese with bread. Fruit and yoghurt.”

He smiles into his coffee.

“Here you are,” the waitress says as she puts our breakfast down onto the table. “Thank you.” Before leaving us alone.

We begin to eat in silence, is he going to say anything about anything or do I just blurt out with it? I mean…how do I even start this conversation without sounding whiny and pathetic?

“So….” I widen my eyes.

“So?” he replies.

“You said you wanted to talk today,” I reply.

“No. You said you wanted to talk today. I want to talk tomorrow.”

“Why tomorrow?” I frown.

“It gives us one more day to enjoy each other without…” he pauses if choosing his words wisely, “…fighting.”

I stare at him for a moment. “Why would we fight?”

“Well, I don’t know that, for certain. I guess it depends on what you want to say, doesn’t it.”

Oh…this is just great.

I sip my coffee; this is going very bad already.

“So?” He raises an eyebrow.

“So what?”

“So what do you want to say, Anna?”

I act casual. “Nothing really, I guess. Why? Do you have something that you want to say?”

He narrows his eyes as if knowing my game. “Alright then, I believe you wanted to talk about seeing me again.”