Page 18 of Before We Break

Auggie shakes his head. “Nuh uh. Banilla.”

“It’s vanilla mixed with banana,” Emma explains. “Sounds weird but it’s actually pretty good. I’m Emma, by the way. This dipshit is my brother.”

Clio and Emma shake hands, and I suddenly feel like I’m in for a world of trouble if these two band together.

Auggie holds out the cone and nearly smears it on Clio’s nose, but she manages to dodge. “Wanna try?”

“No, thanks. It’s all yours.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask. “I thought I was picking him up?”

“Change of plans. I was in the neighborhood. Auggie wants to go to the park. You in?”

Auggie bounces on his feet as ice cream melts down his hand. “Please.” He draws out the word until it loses all meaning.

“Sure. I’ll take my bike and meet you there.”

“Can Miss Clio come, too?” Auggie asks.

“Aw. I’d love to, buddy, but I hurt my ankle.”

“Oh no! Did Uncle Noah kiss it better?”

Emma snorts. “I bet he did.”

I try not to think about kissing Clio. About how soft her lips would be, and how she’d taste. The way her body would fit against mine. Something stirs in my gut, but I shove it down.

“Emma,” I grit out.

“Noah,” she says in a mocking tone. “God, you’re such a killjoy. Maybe you need to get l⁠—”

“Anyway,” Clio says, loud enough to drown out the rest of Emma’s statement. “I should get going. You have fun at the park, ok? You can tell me all about it at school on Monday.”

“Ok,” Auggie mumbles as he licks the trail of ice cream off his hand.

“Thanks again, Noah.”

I offer a curt nod as she hobbles toward the door between the shop and the entrance to the apartments.

“Are you really going to let her limp all the way up those stairs?” Emma whispers like we’re sharing a secret.

“What do you want me to do?” I respond in the same tone.

“I don’t know. Maybe don’t be a dick and help her.”

Clio struggles to hold open the door and walk through it at the same time.

“Set a good example for your nephew,” Emma says.

I loathe to admit she has a point. Letting out a sigh of resignation, I walk over to the door and wrench it open. Clio’s hand slips off the handle, and she stumbles into my chest.

“Someone should wrap you in bubble wrap,” I mutter.

“It’s not my fault you keep standing in my way,” she quips, righting herself. “Maybe you should stop stalking me.”

“If I hadn’t been here, you would’ve fallen on your ass.”

She jabs one rainbow-tipped fingernail into my chest. “If you hadn’t pulled the door out of my hand, I would’ve been on the other side of it by now.”