Page 48 of The Seer

“Yeah? So why does it hurt so bad to reject what he’s offering?”

“Because you still care, even if you don’t want to.”

She cocked her head. “Is this a takes-one-to-know-one situation, Creed?”

“No. This is an observant man telling a friend she can never be too cautious.”

“I thought Fintan was your friend.”

An amused half-smile curled his lips. “He is. Probably one of the best I have. Certainly the longest. But I’m not blind to his faults or his problems.”

“So I shouldn’t apologize for wanting to date someone else?”

“Not if you truly want to date them. If it’s to rub it in his face, then yes. You definitely should apologize.” With that sage piece of advice, he stood and held a hand out to Narissa. “Time for bed.”

Her brows shot up, and a sly smile curled her full lips. “Why, Creed Caldwell! I declare, I didn’t believe you cared enough to ever sleep with me again.”

“I don’t, and I’m not. You’re exhausted and haven’t fully recovered from today. Stop with your games and get your ass upstairs.”

Narissa’s chin shot up, and the light of battle entered her eyes. “You’re not my caregiver. I’m capable of lookin’ after myself, sugar.”

With a frustrated huff, he drew back her chair and scooped her up.

“You’d cut off your perfect nose to spite your face, Narissa Sullivan.”

“It’s Wells. Narissa Wells.”

His mouth twisted as if he suppressed a laugh. “Oh, drop it already. Everyone knows you’re real name by now. You’re not hiding from Odessa and your mother anymore.”

“It’s my legal name.”

“This is probably the dumbest argument we’ve had,” he muttered.

“No, sugar. That would be the one where you wouldn’t believe I didn’t betray you.”

Creed’s features transformed into an icy mask.

“Time for bed,” he snapped.

After they left, Taryn rose and gathered the dishes. After witnessing the sad state of affairs between Creed and Narissa, she easily convinced herself to seek out Fintan and apologize. She didn’t want bad blood between them or for him to continue to avoid her whenever she visited Brenna.

“We’ve got this, love.” Eoin took the plates from her hands. “You’re our guest, yeah?”

“I can help.”

Brenna kissed her cheek. “Shoo. Go find Fintan.”

“How did you?—”

“Oh, maybe it’s the fact that everyone at the table tried to talk to the two of you at one point or another and were ignored?” she teased. “Seriously, though. It’s the first time I’ve seen him not actively hide from you, and he’s wearing his heart on his sleeve. That’s promising on many levels.”

“I don’t know what to do,” Taryn confessed. “I don’t want my heart broken by him again.”

“Again?”

Brenna and Eoin shared a confused look. “When was the first time?” she asked.

“When he was in a boy band.”

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