Then, before she could think better of it, she typed out a text to Malcolm.
Clara: Hey. Just checking if you’re free? I’m at CJ’s.
Malcolm: Hey, Clara. Sorry. Just got home from a twelve-hour shift. I’m wrecked. Definitely next week.
It wasn’t going to happen. She just needed to accept that she was never going to speak to him. Maybe she just needed to text him the information and be done with it.
Sudden throbbing in her head made her massage her temple. Man, she was tired, and exhaustion always gave her a headache. Maybe she should have stayed home tonight.
“Are you okay?”
She jumped—and looked up to see Holden standing beside her, concern on his face.
Holden studied Clara’s eyes.They weren’t as bright as usual, and she had circles beneath them. “You’re tired.”
“I am.”
She didn’t even deny it like she usually did. And that made worry surge through him.
He stepped closer and touched her hip. “Let me take you home.”
She shook her head and stepped away, forcing his hand to drop. “I only just got here. Plus, you’re with Briar.”
“I’m notwithBriar. I came to have a drink with your brothers. They had to go, and Briar saw me before I could leave.”
“You should return to her.”
“She left. But even if she hadn’t, I’d want to stay withyou.”
Clara swallowed and looked away. “It’s okay, you know.”
“What’s okay?”
“Briar’s pretty. And if she’s what you’re into—”
“I amnotinto Briar.” And Clara saying she wasokaywith him choosing Briar left a sour fucking taste in his mouth. He glanced at her phone. “Who were you texting?”
“Helen. Then Malcolm. I was hoping one of them could meet me here.”
That sour taste raced down to his gut and coiled. “You wanted to have a drink with Malcolm?”
She rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t some prelude to sex, if that’s what you’re wondering. I want to tell them about Scarlett’s brownies.”
His muscles tightened at the mention of her roommate. “Is she still moving out?”
“As far as I know.” Clara stared at her drink like it was the most fascinating thing, before looking back up at him. “Holden, I’ve been trying to tell you withouttellingyou, but…I think we should take a break from each other.”
For a second, he couldn’t catch his breath. He should have been expecting it, so why did it still hurt? “A break?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Her brows shot up. “You can’t just say no.”
“I just did.”
Her mouth opened and closed. “You don’t get a say.”
