“They hashed out a plan that was a little unlikely, very determined, and mostly crazy and headed for the warehouse.”

“EVE, I LOVE YOU. I LOVE THE HELL OUT OF YOU. YOU’RE ONE CRAZY BITCH!”

“Stop. Stop that. Tell me what happened to you.” She gently ran her fingers down the length of his chest.Blake shook his head. “My life outside of this train station won’t touch you.” His green eyes swam with pain and determination.”

“It was nice of you to help that ungrateful little girl out.” Blake unloaded his belongings onto his bed.“Ah, I’ve got a soft spot for kids. They’re so fucking little.”

“The music sounded crazy. Crazy—as if Blake had never known how to create a coherent song on a musical instrument.Maybe this Livia thing has finally broken him. A soul like Blake’s can’t make it in this world.”

“Four hundred forty-six,” Cole whispered.“What?” she asked.He kept his head down in what seemed to be a prayer. “He counts. You’ve smiled at him four hundred and forty-six times as of a few minutes ago. He announces the number every time I see him.”“I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t think you were real. Considering my line of work, I should have more faith in humanity.” Cole shook his head. “I think it was smile two hundred eighty-six that drove me the most crazy. It was the night train. Blake was so sick, feverish. Honestly, I was considering taking him to the hospital. But no. He didn’t want to miss a smile. He wouldn’t even let me drive him. Blake walked the whole way in the pouring rain for number two eighty-six.”

“Blake had his own idea. He didn’t lead her to the dancefloor. Blake took her deeper into the corner behind their table.With the pink rose cradled carefully in their combined hands, Blake and Livia began a slow dance to music only they could hear. Livia danced to the symphony she heard flowing out of the church window the night she found out he could play. She opened her eyes to see Blake’s serene face. She wondered if he danced to music he was composing in his head at this very moment—music that had not yet been played.”