“…er.”
All the neon lights in his studio exploded into life.
Violet’s mouth dropped open.
She went completely silent.
This must have been what Theo felt like when he first showed this to me, Audrey thought, watching her best friend take in the full truth of Theo’s secret. His hands were so warm, hers started to sweat in response. But Audrey knew he was nervous about this; he always was about sharing the things most precious to him.
The things that mattered most.
Violet, for her part, had gone awfully quiet. “You—neon?!” she finally gasped, gathering herself as she trotted over to stare at the signage on the far wall. The large, yellow letters ofSullivan Lightworkswere on proud display and took up the most immediate visual real estate. Violet lifted a hand in wonder as she traced the perfect curves of the massive sign with a single finger.
“You do neon art?” She finally spun on her heel with her mouth fully dropped open. “Oh my god, that’s so cool! Okay, for real: Do you know Lightm4st3r? I know I’ve asked you before, but surely you must, especially if you both work in the same medium. There can’t be that many neon artists working in Brooklyn.” She wandered around and began peering at some of the other more traditional signs on the wall, standing on her tiptoes to look at the wiring behind them before leaning back and contemplating the colors and the shifting, flashing shapes.
Theo and Audrey exchanged a glance—and then both turned to look at Imogen. The attorney was busy staring in disbelief at Violet, her perfect, platinum eyebrows raised high in surprise.
Audrey met Theo’s gaze again. She shrugged.
He sighed, closing his eyes as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“Uh…well, no, there’s not that many of us. It’s a niche art.”
“So you’re saying that’s a yes?” Violet called over her shoulder. “Yes to knowing Lightm4st3r?”
“Yeah, Violet. I know him.”
She spun on her heel and clapped her hands together, shrieking in excitement. “OH MY GOD IS THAT WHY I HAD TO SIGN THE NDA?!” She trotted back over and ripped his hand away from his face, tugging eagerly at it. “Can you introduce me? I have so many questions I want to ask him, all about his process and his inspiration and—”
“Well, you’re looking at him, so fire away, I guess.”
Violet quieted. Her face fell.
She blinked.
A little too much.
A little too rapidly.
“What?”
Audrey wasn’t sure Violet was breathing.
Theo rolled his lips together and pointed behind Violet. “Hiscommercial art is on the wall you were just looking at. But, uh, that’s…well, his latest abstract sculpture he’s working on is over there. Because it’s the latest oneIam working on.” He winced and twisted the handle of his cane in his other hand until the padding groaned again. “Me is he. I am Lightm4st3r.”
Violet let go of him like he was suddenly on fire and staggered backward until she knocked into one of his worktables. Her eyes were as wide as saucers.
“You…are him. You’re him? You’re Li-Light…m4st3r?” she stammered. “The notorious reclusive Radon Renegade of Brooklyn?”
“Radon is radioactive and I don’t use it, that moniker is a misnomer.”
“The Argon Apostate?”
“As far as I’m aware, I’ve never been excommunicated from any church.”
“The Neon Ninja?”
“I’m nowhere near that nimble anymore.”
