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Elton peered up at her again.
“My stand is that I’m not an Eolenfeld, but you will see me as one no matter what, so —” she shrugged “—I thought I should change the subject.” Because Elton wouldn’t.
He didn’t bother to answer her question either. Instead, he simply shrugged too.
“You made a big deal out of me preparing for Christmas, but I wasn’t in the equation until this year. You could’ve spent Christmas Eve with your brothers. No presents. Order takeout. Just hang out.”
“We don’t hang out.”
“Why not?”
Elton shrugged again. “We just have our own lives.”
“All still just trying to survive?” She watched him remove the stitches. “Even though you don’t need to.”
Oliver had told Seth that he thought they were all in survivor mode. She hadn’t understood it then, but now she did. The Andersons had all dived into their studies and their work to keep themselves afloat.
And they continued to live that way now.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Just try to have fun,” she said. “Take me out of the equation. You can completely ignore me. Pretend I’m not here and just enjoy the company of your brothers.”
“I’m not in the habit of lying to myself.” He set his instruments aside. “Any numbness in your fingers?”
Clary had completely forgotten about that. She pressed the tip of her thumb’s stick-on Gelish nail against the fingertips of her other fingers. “No.”
Elton frowned.
“I’m not lying.” She repeated her action. “I can feel my nail.”
“Do you feel pain?”
“Not exactly pain. I’m not pressing down that hard.” She repeated her action. “But I can definitely feel it.”
Elton gave a half-shrug as if he didn’t quite believe her.
“Is there a test you can run to prove it? I told Seth that Jesus would heal me. I’d like to annoy him with some evidence.”
Elton rolled his eyes.
“Anyway,” Clary looked at her hand and stood, “it’s your life, your choice. You can choose to have some fun with your brothers or continue to sulk.”
“I’m not—”
“Thanks.” She gave a casual wave and headed out. She frowned when her phone buzzed again. Another text message from Pete Laker. Come and meet me—alone. You’ll see why you need to stay away from them.
CHAPTER 3
Seth pushed the cart along while Clary went through the list and threw things into it. This felt just the same as it did when they were shopping for the ingredients for their Christmas dinner.
It felt absolutely normal.
Though it was far from that.
“Here.” Clary gave his arm a tug and headed down the aisle.
Seth followed.
