Page 19 of Pervade London
I studied his face. “So…would you like to be friends?”
Though after that trick he’d claimed to pull on the train, he would make a dangerous ex.
He looked conflicted. “A good friend of mine once told me I’m like one of those priceless Ming Dynasty vases. Seemingly perfect, with an invisible crack running through me that makes me deeply complicated.”
“Why would she say such a thing?”
“Becauseheknows me.”
“I don’t believe that about you.”
“Don’t let this be the good advice you didn’t take.”
“You’re asking me to walk away?”
He pointed. “The exit.”
“I made it this far, right?”
“You don’t scare easily, do you?”
I ignored that. “You heard me play?”
“It was selfish of me.”
“You gave me a Stradivarius.”
“Hearing you play makes everything worth it.”
“What do you mean?”
He shook his head to avoid answering. “It had to be equal to the kindness you showed.”
“That’s silly. This violin is worth millions.”
“Perhaps I should have done more.”
“Oh, stop. Now I oweyou, Xander.”
He looked thoughtful. “This is where we part ways.”
“Why?”
“You are everything that is good.”
“And I believe that about you.”
“My life is…complex.”
I wasn’t ready to let him walk out of mine. “Did you find somewhere to live?” I asked.
“I did.”
“You have enough to eat?”
“Yes, I have access to money now.” His gaze roamed over the violin case in my hand. “I’m so happy you kept it.”
“I went to Sotheby’s.”
