“Stalking again?”
I turn.
Valentina is standing there, arms crossed over her chest in a dress so low cut it barely covers her. She’s wearing a brown fur coat over everything, the collar framing her neck and jaw.
I roll my eyes. “What do you want?”
“You’ve been standing on this corner for a very long time,” shesays with her bitchy smile. “I’ve been watching.”
I look back at the window. “You’ve been watching me? So who’s stalking who, then?”
Ignoring my question, she moves beside me, following my gaze. “She looks happy.”
I growl, glaring at Sophie and Gavin, and Valentina laughs.
“But you don’t want her to be happy?”
“She’s with the wrong person.”
Valentina tilts her head at me, then moves to stand in front of me. If she were taller, she’d be blocking my view, but she’s not, so I keep my gaze steadily on Sophie.
Valentina runs her hands over my chest and I swat her away. “The wrong person, or a person who isn’t you?”
“Same thing.”
She blinks then goes up on tiptoe, planting a kiss on me before I even fucking realize what’s happening. It’s not like it’s the first time, but the way she does it is completely different than ever before. Usually she’s on me like a fucking leech, jamming her tongue down my throat and ripping at my clothes. But this time, she kisses me softly. When I lean away, she laughs, her hand brushing my cock. Fucking psycho.
“I’ve known you a long time, Vin.”
“Yes, you have.”
“I’ve seen you with a lot of women.” Also true. ”I’ve never seenyou standing on a corner in the freezing fucking cold watching someone through a sandwich shop window.”
I say nothing.
“Not with me,” she continues. “Not with anyone. You never blink once you’re out the door.”
“Valentina—”
“I told you the night of that party when she walked in carrying all that food, I told you she was perfect for you. Do you remember what you said?”
I remember.She’s not my type.I’ve never been more wrong about anything in my life.
“You fucked this up,” she says simply. Factually. “More than once, from what I hear and with some real creativity.”
“I know.”
“And you’re in love with her.”
I don’t confirm or deny it, and Valentina nods once.
“She wanted me from the beginning, and I took her for granted,” I say, before I can stop myself. “But now I want forever, and she won’t even look at me.”
Valentina’s eyes widen before she regains her composure. She laughs. “Vin, stop being a fucking pussy, and go get your woman.”
I look at her.
“Sheisyour woman,” Valentina says. “Whether she’s decided to acknowledge it or not, whether you’ve made a complete catastrophic mess of it or not. And she will forgive you. But you have to put in the work. That’s what happens when you fall in love with a nice girl.”
