Page 146 of Share with Me

He saw his box of music manuscripts.

When he had been touring the world trying to establish Jade Strings as the go-to ensemble, he would stop at old music shops across Europe and pick up old violin music sheets, some in ink, some pencil, and all handwritten. He could ask Matt if his antique store would like to have them. He could get an estimate and give Matt a discount. It would still be a better deal than what he could get from the pawn shop in Brunswick.

He dived for his cell phone at the first ring. “Yeah?”

As expected, it was Sebastian. “Hey, I called Rémy, my maître d’, and he said that it’s all been taken care of.”

“That’s what I’m saying, Seb. Whew. You rescued me from embarrassing myself in front of Brinley.” It was bad enough that he had no money. It was worse if Brinley saw him in his poverty. Not that she hadn’t already figured it out. But a man had his dignity.

“I didn’t do anything, Ivan. I told you.”

Oh no.

“My phone had no battery. I got it charged up this morning, and heard your message for the first time ten minutes ago.”

This is bad.

“So who paid for my dinner last night?” Ivan asked, fearing the answer.

“Well… Rémy said the lady paid in cash.”

The lady paid in cash.

Brinley.

Now my shame is complete.

Ivan couldn’t remember the rest of the conversation with Sebastian, but he hurriedly said goodbye and hung up.

“Who am I kidding?” he asked himself. “I can’t even go to a restaurant like rich people, eat like they do, and pay like they can.”

They’re the lords and ladies of the manor, and I’m just a poor serf.

“Note to self! We live in two different worlds. There can’t be a middle ground.” Ivan ran that thought through his mind as he got more upset by the minute. “I’ll always be the hired entertainer. Nothing more.”

Not a hired entertainer, but a bottom feeder.

Yeah. Once a bottom feeder, always a bottom feeder.

“How can a bottom feeder date a lady of the manor?” Ivan knew then that he and Brinley were never meant to be. In the scheme of life, she was the one who had everything, and he, the one who had nothing.

We live in two different worlds. There is no middle ground.

What about their kisses at the pier and lighthouse?

I’m sure the kisses were a stupid mistake.

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