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“Because you and Mrs. E have always been so nice to me. Because …”
“You can say it.”
“Because you may have a lot of money, but … your family does not have a lot of laughs and love.” She cracked a smile as she thought about her parents. “I didn’t have much time with my parents, but I remember running into their arms. I remember laughing so hard with them that my sides hurt. I remember them telling and showing me how much they loved me. And I remember seeing Hugh and the others look at how my parents treated me and seeing the jealousy and sadness in their eyes.”
“And are you with Seth Anderson because you feel bad for him the way you do for Hugh?”
“What? No.” Her eyes widened. “Hugh!”
“What about Hugh?”
“He’s drunk. I need to go deal with him. Bye.” She ended the call and ran out of her room.
CHAPTER 17
Seth stared at the sleeping bag he’d dumped next to Hugh. If his brothers saw him doing this, they’d probably think he’d lost his mind.
He didn’t want to be down here either, but he needed a distraction.
Clary’s disappointed look had carved deep into his heart.
When she’d turned to walk back to her room, he’d taken two steps after her, then stopped. Though he wanted more than anything to pull her into his arms and tell her that he’d give everything up for her, he couldn’t.
Seth ran his tongue under his teeth, then knelt down and unzipped the sleeping bag. “Getting this for you is already more than what any Eolenfeld deserves. If you’re cold, roll onto the sleeping bag on your own.” He stood, then sighed.
Clary would be upset if Hugh died of hypothermia.
And the spoiled Eolenfeld probably would.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” He grabbed Hugh’s ankles and lifted him onto the sleeping bag, then grabbed his wrists and did the same. “I must be out of my mind,” he said as he flipped the top half of the sleeping bag over Hugh and zipped it up.
As he stood, a pair of arms went around him as someone pressed up against his back.
He froze, then instantly relaxed when he realized who it was.
“It’s me,” Clary said.
Seth pressed his arms over hers, because he didn’t want her to move away. He wasn’t sure why she was hugging him, but he didn’t care. He liked her right where she was.
“I keep waiting for you to at least give Hugh a kick. I would have.”
“You already did.”
Her body rocked as she chuckled. “I did.”
Seth didn’t reply. He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t want to risk ruining her lighthearted mood.
It hadn’t been long, but gosh did he miss hearing her laugh.
“I’ll talk to Grandma Moretti tomorrow. Don’t worry about it. I can promise she isn’t going to push me all the way into a corner.”
Seth sighed. He couldn’t understand Clary’s confidence. “She already asked you to choose.”
“She was asked to choose once. That was the last time she spoke to her father.” Clary snuggled against him. “She may not be happy about it, but she’ll come around. She’s just worried.”
“That I’m using you.”
This time, Clary was the one who didn’t reply.
