gallery slipped b

hs, a drink with a stranger. But Adrian's eyes... the way they saw throug

with friends - but insi

reminded myself,

he t

ith a stranger? N

n necessary. He shouldn't affect m

riosit

y city streets, filled with soft jazz and th

rk shirt, sleeves rolled, eyes warm but cautious

said, standing

ied, sliding into th

y, but not arroga

Work. Music. Art. But the more w

on sliced through th

hurt

fr

't waver - steady,

oice cracked under the w

s possession, the humiliation of trusti

ul. "You don't have to tell me now," he whispe

f me wanted to believe him

.. unsure if I was

pieces of the past didn't