Page 62 of It Starts With A No

But he didn’t.

He remained a few steps away from her so his hands wouldn’t be able to reach her even if they moved without his command.

“What did Holly do to you?” Clary asked.

Seth’s jaw twisted.

“Why are you here, Seth?”

“I came to tell you the news.” Seeing the text message from David was a major relief, and the first thing he did was get into the car and drive over here.

“Why? You got what you needed from me.” Her eyes bore into his, earnestly waiting for his answer.

“What do you want to hear me say? That I forgive the Eolenfelds because of what you did for me?”

Clary dropped her gaze again. “I was hoping you’d say that you just wanted to share the good news with me.” She stood and strolled back toward her desk. “And that you’re here to take me out to celebrate.” She closed her laptop, then went around the desk and moved toward the rubber head on the floor. “I was hoping you’d say that you came to find me—Clary Fiore. Not the woman associated with Edward Eolenfeld.”

He grabbed her arm before she could bend forward and pick up the head. “Leave it.” He pulled her back, then stepped in front of her.

By now, the sharp stink of cheap paint was making his nose hurt.

Blocking her view of the head, Seth put the mannequin back into the box and closed the flaps.

He couldn’t be sure what point the sender was trying to make, but the head clearly represented Clary and she didn’t need to have that image in her mind.

“I’ll throw it out later,” Clary said when he stood.

“I’ll deal with it.” He paused and his gaze roamed across her face.

“I’m fine. If I need to, I’ll complain to Jesus.”

“I’m here, but you’d rather talk to your imaginary friend.”

“He’s here too.”

Seth sighed. “You’re just trying to annoy me, aren’t you?” He expected her to smile or laugh it off or just say something completely off the charts. He thought they would get back to the ease and comfort between them.

But she merely dropped her gaze while her lips curled back into a sad smile.

His heart sank, not from fear or shock, but from a strange heavy weight dragging it down. “I’m here for you.” He didn’t know how his hand got to her face, but he gently drew her face toward his because he couldn’t stand her averted gaze. “If you’re up for it, we can go out and celebrate.”

Her brows twitched.

“I can’t say I came here with that thought in mind. I don’t even know why I did.” He shrugged. “I wanted to let you know, then I was here.”

“As in Jesus teleported you here?” She chuckled when he glared at her.

“I drove here.”

“And then what? You were going to tell me and …”

“I didn’t think past that.”

She bit down on her lips.

“Holly …” He swallowed hard, forcing down the invisible lump that had stolen his voice.

“You don’t have to—”

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