he screeched to a stop in front of my apartme

d down the window, wavi

oln Arts Academy, now workin

lwind, acting like ev

?" I slid into the passe

rin. "There's a private dinner tonight, and your ac

r Ethan

es li

cience, with countless influential p

ly? W

voice bubbled with excitement. "I was going alone, but I knew you'd want

hich did suit a formal event.

ring a friend. With your expertise, yo

ce tonight's dinner wa

demic idol was

or thinki

e buzze

ry for making you wait.

avoid misunderstanding. "It's just... seeing her while married

age, feeling a

action, but his careful devot

er seemed deeper t

otected like that must

nd," I repl

ded quickly. "I know this might seem

screen and asked curiousl

he question. I couldn't exactly sa

we arrived at the pr

sically elegant, unde

he dinner's in a private room on the top floor. The hos

o the top floor, openi

and Lily pushed open

mostly middle-aged strangers who

ted, with warm, dim lighting cr

ly whispered, nodding toward

w, chatting softly

y-gentle smile, intelligent ey

was the man at the

d-eared guy" f

ectly combed, sitting with poised eleganc

e made the room seem t

htened up instantly, his calm d

ng for the teacher to call his

ast was a

Lily said, clearing her thro

to me, and I n

asked kindly, his e

ochemist specializing in neu

d when he heard my name, a flicker cros

able lightly, as if stru