If she was still feeling as brave in the morning, she’d visit a few stores and get some shopping done, she decided. Maybe she’d even go to Aiyana’s on Christmas with Seth. She might as well enjoy him and his family while she could. She had a feeling her days in Silver Springs would come to an end long before she wanted them to.

The closer she got to Maxi’s place, the more anxious she became to see Seth. She expected him to be in Maxi’s office sculpting or painting when she arrived. He already knew what’d happened with Kouretas and People magazine, and it was night, when he usually tried to get some work done. But as soon as she let herself inside, he came from the living room to greet her.

“Finally,” he said.

She didn’t respond. She just walked into his arms as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I’m glad you’re back safe,” he murmured, his lips at her ear as his arms closed tightly around her.

“I did it,” she told him. “It’s over.”

His fingers slid into the hair at the back of her head as he looked down into her face. “You got the cover of People, Tia. That’s no small thing. And I bet you’re going to look great.”

“I might look okay,” she allowed. “Thankfully, they took a completely different approach than the one Kouretas and his rag would’ve used.”

“How so?”

“They weren’t looking to make it too sensational. They were actually trying to make me look good, as if my face isn’t everything, you know?”

“It’s not everything. There’s so much more to who you are. But you don’t have to worry, regardless, because there’s no way you could ever look bad.”

He seemed so sincere she was tempted to believe he really thought so. “I’m relieved Kouretas is going to drop the charges. Have you heard anything?”

“Not yet. But I’m not worried. From what you told me, his editor won’t let him renege.” He tucked her head under his chin as he continued to hold her. “Did you ask him who told him you were in Silver Springs?”

“No. I was reluctant to let him know he had something I wanted. I didn’t want to provide anything for him to gloat over. I doubt he would’ve told me, anyway.”

“It might be best just to let it go. It’ll only hurt you to find out.”

“I’m pretty sure I already know who it was.”

“Who?”

“My brother-in-law. He hates me,” she said, but if Abram was the one who’d called Kouretas, he must not have revealed anything about himself or her background, or Kouretas would’ve tried to hold that over her head.

“Better him than your sister or your friend,” Seth said.