Page 55 of Unrecognizable Player

“Sure I do other things.”

I can feel her eyes on me. Seeing things I’m trying to hide. “Like what?”

“Like study.”

She shakes her head.

“Just don’t forget to have fun okay? And you don’t have to do what they tell you to do.”

She ruffles my hair and tosses her cigarette before going back inside, and I’m left with the weirdness of our conversation floating around in my head.

When I was rejected from Julliard, I was a mess, I agree. But it’s been years now, and I got into a good school. I’m on track. Not to become the next violin sensation, but to have a career of some sort at least.

My father’s oldest serving staff member Artemis is in the kitchen when I go back in. The second she sees me, she bundles me up, her floral perfume engulfing me along with her big hair.

“My you’re so handsome!” she says, making me blush. “But too thin, Apostolis, he’s too thin.”

Baba runs a hand over his face to hide his smile.

“Fat and jolly’s out of fashion now Artemis,” Maria says. “Women like men lean these days.”

“Fat? Men should be strong.”

Maria winks at me before bringing the next order out and Baba shakes his head, telling me to ignore her.

“You’ll play your violin tonight?” She asks. Patting me down as if she’s going to find it in my pocket. “You have it with you?”

“I have it, it’s behind the waiter’s station, and yes, I’ll play it for you.”

“Good. You play so beautifully. Doesn’t he play beautifully?” She looks at Baba for confirmation.

“Yes, he does.” Baba agrees.

I stay in the kitchen, trying to help and getting shooed away until I roll my sleeves up and start washing dishes.

“You don’t have to help. You go rest. You had a long trip.” Baba says.

“No, it’s okay, I don’t mind.”

Baba gives up trying to stop me and carries on with what he was doing.

When Artemis comes back in carrying plates smeared with food, she looks flushed. Her eyes wide and her hair somehow more mussed than before.

“The most handsome man I’ve ever seen just walked in!” She says.

Baba laughs. “Go and get his number then.”

“He’s too young for me!” she says, sounding scandalized and holding her hand to her chest. “He says he’s here for Stefanos.”

My face feels like it’s been set on fire. I can’t even look at Baba.

“That must be your friend from school, go and say hello and take a plate out.” Baba says.

When I walk out into the restaurant, I spot Alexei by the hostess station and I understand what Artemis saw. Yeah, he’s probably the most handsome man I’ve ever seen too.

He’s wearing a brown jacket with a sheepskin collar, his hair half hidden under a grey beanie. For once he isn’t in sweats, but nice blue jeans.

It’s like he’s a God who’s been dropped into the human world and now he’s just trying – and failing miserably – to fit in.

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