Rowan just couldn't help herself. Yes Xander would find a way to parry this with a lethal barb of his own, but that's what made the game fun. If he just took it quietly, smiled and made an offhanded joke to lighten the situation, he wouldn't be as much fun anymore.
Rowan allowed herself the brief fantasy for a moment. Her life without Xander... It lasted three seconds, and she spent the next minute trying to remember their more pleasant times, in an effort to get the bad taste out of her mouth. Or maybe it was the glue.
Out of old habit, Rowan licked the edge of the heavy velum envelope into which she sealed the Polaroid of the naked Christian, and only the piece of note that described what a great night Christian had with her. A lovely cocktail to which she added her own special ingredient.
Xander, my dear friend.
I am very glad you enjoyed your present.
It is so lovely to see the elders of the community giving back to the children. It warms my heart.
Enclosed, please find a photo of a wayward soul. He's newly arrived in Rome, and I feel like the two of you could become very good friends.
I must warn you, he is a bit rough around the edges, but I do asure you, he is a diamond in the rough. And I do recall that you enjoyed roughing it a long, long, long time ago in your youth.