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“And now you’re no longer working at Safe Homes.”
She shrugged. “Maybe it was time for a change.”
“Clary, when people lose control, they do stupid things. You should know that.”
Clary’s gaze softened, and she covered his hand with hers. “Seth, Grandma Moretti would never hurt me.”
“You don’t know that.”
Clary’s lips disappeared between her lips.
“I know you probably think I’m being paranoid.”
“I understand where you’re coming from. I’m just thinking how to explain this to you.” Her eyes shifted to the side. “When you felt Aldric betrayed you by saying those awful things about you, did you do anything to him?”
“No, but—”
“Because he’s your brother, and you love him. You may be really annoyed with him, but you wouldn’t do anything to actually hurt him. Holly was sick. Most of the Eolenfelds are crazy, but Grandma Moretti and Mr. E treat me like their own.”
“And look how the old man’s own children turned out.”
“Okay, maybe I should’ve left Mr. E out of it.” She stepped forward and leaned into him as she wrapped her arms around him. “I know my nonna. The worst that could happen is us having a shouting match, and then I storm away. A few days later, she’ll tell me that she made dinner, and we’ll have dinner and chat like nothing happened.”
“I think this will be different.”
“At worst, I’ll pull out the story of Romeo and Juliet.”
Seth frowned.
“Grandma Moretti was kicked out of her family—a very rich and prominent family in Italy—for eloping with Grandpa Moretti. She really loved that story, especially since unlike Romeo and Juliet, she and her husband survived and had so many good years together.”
“Most psychologists say Romeo and Juliet’s love would’ve fizzled out if their parents had just let them be together.”
Clary made a disapproving noise. “I just told you a romantic story.” She tipped her head back. “Why aren’t you hugging me back?”
He laughed as he felt the weight fall from his shoulders. He wrapped his arms around her, then pulled her tight against him.
She slapped his back and struggled in his arms. “You’re suffocating me. At least warn me so I can turn my face to the side.”
“Clary, I love you.”
She froze.
Seth winced. He hadn’t meant to say it. It was way too soon, right? But he couldn’t find any other words to explain how he felt, how seeing her bubbly cheeriness warmed his heart like nothing else.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“No.” She leaned back to look at him. “Don’t be sorry. I was just caught off guard.”
“Okay,” he dragged out the second syllable. He waited for a second, a tiny part of him hoping she’d say those words back to him.
But she didn’t.
He cocked his head to the side. “Should we—”
“I don’t mind that you can’t put me in first place.”
His brows twitched.
