Chapter 1431 The Tennis Star:> 33

• Soon enough it started growing dark outside. We'd discussed where to go for our last night, but settled on getting a pizza and hanging at home. Iryna told me it was far more special than I realized. "Do you know how hard it is to get good pizza anywhere but America? You will."
• We ate, watched a movie, and held each other. After a while and without a word she scooped me into her arms and carried me back to our room, where we made love late into the night. I savored every taste, sound, and touch of her, etching them into my memory for the long, lonely nights to come. Two months ago she was just a figure on TV. Now my life was incomprehensible without her.
• I remembered something Mitch had said in college when I'd griped to her that I'd never fall in love. "You will, but don't rush into it." When I'd asked her why, she said she knew me, and that I would only love once, and it would be deep and pure and forever. She said it was who I was. I thought she was crazy at the time. Now I clung to those words like a lifeline.