John had really meant to push her away, he really had, but it had been almost a week without Clara and he had missed her so terribly and her lips were so inviting despite the salty taste of her tears that he couldn’t help but pull her closer. He didn't know what to do except kiss her back as she pressed him against the wall with the weight of her body, even though his mind screamed at him to hold her back. Clara's hands were sliding across his chest, starting to open the buttons of his shirt when John finally found the heart to stop her.
“We had an agreement,” he breathed as they parted lips and yet she was doing a very good job at making him forget all about that.
Clara looked up at him through her tears. “I love you,” she said earnestly, “Forget the agreement. I just want you. I am so unhappy and I just want to be with you.”
“Clara,” he whispered, pulling her closer and leaning his forehead against hers. Why did she have to make it so hard for him? “I love you, too, but that still doesn't change a thing.”
Clara remained quiet in his arms for a moment and John got the impression that she was beginning to calm down. He had to make her see sense, make her understand that he just couldn't do that to his own son but if she kept coming back to him, if she was as unhappy as she said she was he would give in to her sooner rather than later and he knew it.
“What if Alex played no role?” Clara asked suddenly.
“But he does.”
She looked up at him. “Imagine, just for a moment, that he didn't. That he would never find out about us. Would you be with me?”
“If you're suggesting that we run away together-”
“No, it's not that.”
“You know my answer,” John placed a soft kiss on her forehead, “Of course I'd be with you. But I can't see a way that wouldn't at least hurt one of the people involved.”
“I know,” Clara replied in a hoarse voice, “But sometimes you just have to do what is best for everyone.”
She struggled free from his embrace and John only reluctantly let her go. He hated doing this to her, seeing her like that.
“What are you going to do?” he asked.
“The best for everyone,” Clara shrugged, “And I'm sorry. I'll talk to you on Monday.”
She turned around to leave but John held her hand.
“Don't!”
She gave him a weak smile. “You don't even know what I'm going to do. Just trust me. It's the best solution, the only one.”
“What does that mean?” he asked her, suddenly scared of what she was about to do. She wouldn't tell Alex the truth, would she? No, John didn't believe that. But she also knew something she wasn't telling him.
“Don't worry, John. It'll be fine. I know what I'm doing.”
This time he let her leave, still utterly clueless about what was happening. It would be a very long wait until Monday.