the closest i came to romance in my own life was when i bought heart-shaped boxes of chocolate for myself . `` i assure you , '' he said , folding over a hunk of crumbling leaves with hands that shook , `` there must be a misunderstanding . you know that the festival may be canceled because of bad weather . chapter 15 later in the apartment living room i watched benny as he sat counting the money with methodical technique . are you definitely going to lose ? ' 