Page 22 of Before We Break

“Many women in this town would let that man ruin more than just their jeans. You know that, right?”

“They haven’t had the pleasure of sharing a hallway with him.”

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”

I sigh, shaking my head. Ever since Callie found love, she’s wanted the same thing for everybody else. Her intentions are pure if a little misguided.

An unfamiliar voice reaches my ears, and I’m nothing if not nosy. “I can meet you at Branch Out tomorrow, if you’re free.”

I follow it only to find Lexi standing with a boy near the YA section.

“I’ll have to check with my mom, but it should be ok,” Lexi says, batting her lashes. “What time?”

He holds out his hand, palm up. “Here. Give me your phone so I can text you.”

With hearts in her eyes, she places the hot pink checkered phone in his hand. He types for a moment and hands it back to her.

“Shit,” I mutter.

Callie glances up from the computer. “What’s wrong?”

“Lexi’s here with a boy.”

She follows my line of sight to my worst nightmare playing out in the middle of the library. “Oh. Yeah. That’s Hayden. He’s harmless.”

Harmless, my ass.

“He’s looking at Lexi like…”

“Like what?”

“Like her dad used to look at me, and we both know how that turned out. My first crush is a walking, talking sixteen-year-old girl now.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Cici, but Lexi isn’t you. She might look like you, and sure, sometimes she opens her mouth, and you come out, but sixteen-year-old Clio was reckless. We had nothing to lose—not in that house.” She reaches across the desk and gives my forearm a reassuring squeeze. “Lexi has a good mom and a good head on her shoulders. Even if something did happen, she has choices, and a whole support system around her.”

Lexi materializes at my side. “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself. You didn’t tell me you were meeting a boy here?”

“Hayden? He’s the other lead. We were just running lines.”

“You got the role? Why didn’t you tell me?” I pull her in for a crushing hug, my heart full to bursting with pride. “My little girl. An actress.”

She pats my back twice. “You can let go now,” she says, her voice muffled.

“I’m so proud of you.” The words come out choked, but I know how important it is for a girl to hear them—how badly I wish I had when I was Lexi’s age.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Way to go, kiddo,” Callie says. “Remember me when you’re rich and famous, yeah?”

Lexi laughs. “It’s just a high school play. No big deal.”

I squeeze her hand. “It is a big deal. It’s your dream, Lex. This is just the first step to bigger things.”

“Soo…” Callie interrupts, amusement evident in her tone. “Have you practiced the kiss yet?”

I sense the color draining from my face as Lexi’s flushes bright red. “Aunt Kiki!”