He takes my left hand and turns my palm upward, then presses a kiss to the inside of my wrist, the way he’s done so many times these past weeks. It already feels like a language we invented together. When I asked him why once, he’d said it was because if he stayed there long enough, he could almost feel my heart beating.
“We’ll make it work,” he says, holding my hand. “As long as you want me, nothing is impossible.”
His thumb brushes over my skin. “I know what we lived these weeks doesn’t erase your fears. Or mine. Especially after everything you’ve been through. It doesn’t work that way in real life. But what I feel for you is stronger than fear.”
I swallow. “You say you’re afraid, but I don’t even know what you’re afraid of. You already know all my fears.”
He nods and closes his eyes. “I’m afraid you’ll go home and realize this was only a moment,” he says quietly. “Like those romances that burn brightly and disappear as soon as summer ends...” His mouth tilts into a sad smile. “Except ours happened in autumn. I’m afraid your life, or your fears, will be louder than this. And that one day... you’ll forget me.”
I climb onto my knees on the mattress and cradle his face between my hands. “No,” I say, my voice leaving no room for doubt. “Never.”
I kiss him deeply, showing him just how much I mean it. “Alexander, I know I gave you reasons to doubt. I know the way I held back before is part of what you’re feeling now.” My forehead rests against his. “But I swear to you... that won’t happen again.”
He searches my eyes for a moment, then pulls me into him. The kiss that follows steals my breath and tangles us together until I no longer know where he ends and I begin.
When I sit back down, I can still see something unsettled in his eyes.
“What else?” I ask.
His thumb draws circles over my wrist as he searches my face. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
He hesitates, then exhales. “Your ex-husband. Is there any possibility of the two of you finding your way back to each other?”
“No,” I answer without pause.
He studies me for a long second. “You can be honest with me. I know these things aren’t always black and white. You built a life together... So if there’s even a small chance—”
I hold his gaze until he knows I won’t sugarcoat anything. “There isnochance.” I lace my fingers through his and squeeze gently. “The only way that would ever happen is if I lost my memory and forgot everything about this year. And even then... only if I never saw you again.”
He goes completely still.
“Because the moment I did,” I continue, “I know some part of me would recognize you. Even without memory or history.”
Relief finally shows on his face.
“I will never regret what I lived with Colin,” I say. “For a time, it was our story. From it came Ethan and Alicia, and I love my children more than anything.”
I take a breath before finishing. “It’s for them that I keep the peace and didn’t erase him from my life. But he will never be more to me than their father.”
Alexander releases a breath.
“There it is. That was the knot in my chest.”
“That part was easy. But what about the distance?”
He gestures to the space around us and smiles.
“Alexander, I’m serious.”
He pulls me onto his lap, and I straddle him, my hands resting on his shoulders.
“I know,” he says, cupping my face. “And if you want me in New York... that’s where I’ll be.”
My throat tightens. “But your company in Milan—your family. You built your house here because of Nonna. New York is even farther than Milan and—”
“And you can keep pointing out the obstacles, and I’ll keep seeing them as reasons to change.” He kisses my forehead, his eyes locked on mine. “I can work from anywhere. I can see my family whenever I need to.”
