Page 136 of Before We Break

“I want that,” he says.

Lexi sets him back on his feet and orders them each a scoop of rainbow ice cream in a waffle cone with sprinkles. She carries on toward the register.

I’m so entranced by the view, I forget to follow behind them. Noah’s fingers thread between mine, and he tugs me along. When I open my mouth to place my order, he recites it perfectly before I get the words out. “She’ll have the dark chocolate mocha in a chocolate chip waffle cone with two cherries on top, and I’ll have a scoop of vanilla.”

While the teenager behind the counter works on our order, Lexi and Auggie head over to a booth near the windows.

Noah wraps his arms around me from behind, his scent enveloping me. A flood of warmth spreads through my chest. Not so long ago, gestures like this were for show. Now, I savor each one, knowing how much effort it takes for Noah to let anyone in, let alone allow the whole town to see this side of him.

I spin in his hold, slipping my arms around his neck. “I think you’re going soft, Noah Weston.”

His knuckles trace the contours of my face like he’s trying to map its curve for more of his sketches. “Only for you, princess.”

“Order up,” the employee says.

I take Lexi and Auggie’s cones, and Noah grabs ours, then we head over to the booth and slide in across from the kids. Auggie licks his lips as I hand over his rainbow monstrosity.

He dives in face first, smearing it all over his chin and nose.

Lexi laughs, shaking her head. “It tastes better than it smells, little dude.”

“S’good,” he mutters, completely missing the joke and going in for a second mouthful.

I pluck the first cherry off the top of my ice cream and slip it into my mouth, closing my eyes and savoring the flavor on my tongue.

Noah’s gives my thigh a light squeeze. When I look over at him, his pupils are blown.

His lips ghost over the shell of my ear, and he whispers gruffly. “I’m hanging on by a thread here, so unless you want me to take you out back and fuck you senseless, you need to stop doing that.”

Goose bumps skitter across my skin. “It’s not my fault you can’t control yourself,” I whisper back.

“No, but it is your fault for being so goddamn tempting.”

I take the second cherry and do the same. His grip tightens, and he lets out a low, “Fuck.”

“Down, boy.” I shoulder bump him and jut my chin towards the kids.

They’re too busy to pay us any mind. Auggie’s ice cream is melting down his hands and Lexi’s doing her best to mitigate the disaster with a bunch of napkins.

“Here. Take this.” I hand my cone to Noah and step out of the booth. “Come on, Super Auggie. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

I take him into the family bathroom and wet a few paper towels, wiping the sticky substance from his hands and face. It’s still all over the front of his shirt, but there’s nothing I can do about that at present.

Noah’s not in the booth when we return. Lexi’s still where we left her, holding onto my ice cream with one hand while she takes the last bite of her cone.

“Where’s Noah?” I ask.

She swallows. “He went outside to take a call, but he said he’ll be right back.”

“Ok…” I take the ice cream from her and slide back into my seat.

Noah returns a few minutes later, thin-lipped and shoulders set in a hard line. “Are you ready to go?” he asks, his voice devoid of any warmth.

My heart leaps into my throat as my fight-or-flight instincts engage. “Lexi, why don’t you take Auggie home to get changed? We’ll meet you there in a little while.”

“Sure.” Lexi stands and tosses the pile of napkins into the trash. “Thanks for the ice cream, Noah.”

“Any time, kid.”