Page 3 of Pervade London
“Much better.” I smiled approvingly.
He mirrored my smile while unscrewing the cap. After taking a gulp, he offered it back.
“Keep it.”
Xander chuckled. We both knew I wasn’t drinking that now.
He searched his wrist for a watch that wasn’t there, and then banged his head back against the wall in frustration.
“Were you mugged?”
He touched his scalp with elegant fingers. “They can be a little overbearing.”
“Who? The muggers? We can go to the police.”
“Is that your real eye color?”
An odd question. “Yes.”
“It’s the Tyndall effect, a scattering of light in the stroma.”
“Excuse me?”
“They’re an unusual green. I thought you were wearing contacts for a second.”
“I thought the same about you. Are you an ophthalmologist?”
“Hardly.” His eyes crinkled as he offered me a gorgeous smile, which faded as he looked down at his dirty clothes. “I don’t usually sleep in Tube stations.”
“What happened?”
His bright eyes roamed over my face. “Why did you do that?”
“You were out cold. I was worried about you.”
“No, I mean why did you get your nose pierced?”
Brushing my nose ring self-consciously, I gave him a pass. Homeless people were very often broken people and he didn’t need the hassle of me arguing over my vanity.
His hands disappeared inside his coat. “Shit.”
“Did they take your wallet?”
“They like to make a statement.”
“Who?”
He shook his head, refusing to elaborate.
“Are you out of money?”
He looked concerned. “You’ll miss your train.”
“I’m busking over there.” I gestured at the adjacent corner, expecting to see my instrument.
Ice-cold fear surged through my veins. My violin was gone, the case empty.
My legs felt like they were moving in slow motion as I pushed to my feet and scurried over to where I’d been busking.
