“Yes, it does,” I say through a small smile. “Thank you for forgiving me.”

“You’d do the same for me in a second. I love you, you emotional hermit.”

“I love you more.”

“Can I ask you one more thing, though? And then we won’t talk about that topic any more today.”

“What is it?” I ask hesitantly.

“If the roles were reversed, if you were with someone you weren’t in love with and then you got the chance to be with Ryan again...would you have been able to hold back? Or would you have slipped?”

I take a deep breath. “I don’t know,” I answer.

But I do. In my heart, I know.

A few weeks later, I’m heading back towards my apartment after a solo guided tour of St. Angelo’s castle. Liam didn’t feel well this morning so I’ll make sure to check on him later. For now, all I can think about is having a shower, a snack and one mother of a nap. I’m halfway through the courtyard when I hear someone calling my name.

I turn around to spot Paolo, my favorite stocky, middle-aged Italian who is the manager of the apartment complex. He’s bounding out of his little office/hut near the front gates of the property, carrying a small package in his hands.

“Buongiorno, Signorina Sullivan. I have a delivery for you.” He hands me an unaddressed package wrapped in simple brown paper.

“For me? Thank you. I mean, grazie.”

Paolo smiles at my effort and heads back to his office. I think about waiting to open the package until I get inside but I was never one to do well with suspense. I pull at the string holding the wrapping together and the paper easily falls away.

My knees nearly buckle.

I am now holding a black leather journal with a photo of me, Ryan and Duke glued to the cover.

The book is smooth and heavy in my hands and I don’t know how or why it’s here. What I do know is that the strongest force on earth couldn’t wrench it out of my hands right now. Whipping the book open, I find a piece of stationery folded inside. I tuck the journal under my arm as I open the note with trembling hands.

Kara,

When I left New York after Jason and Cristina’s wedding, I knew that I’d single-handedly destroyed what would have been the best thing in my life.