"Few people do," Anton said simply. Most didn't bother to wait out the enthusiasm and the invasiveness to find out what was there. For a man who needed to feel wanted, Larrikin was very good at driving people away--not without cause, perhaps.

The question made Anton turned back to the bookshelves. "As normal." Something of a lie, though not completely. Anton had never stopped missing Larrikin, but until now the grief had hidden itself over the years. "Is there something with which I can help you?"