Page 28 of Before We Break

“Uh huh. He lets me have chicken for breakfast,” he replies.

“Score!” Lexi holds up her hand for a high five, and Auggie reciprocates. “Now I want nuggs. Can we stop and get some?”

“I don’t see why not. Let me text Noah and ask him.”

“Please please please,” Auggie says.

His begging is adorable. I miss when Lexi was his age. She was a little spitfire. Still is, but now she’s taller than me and has an attitude to match mine.

I pull up to the fast-food place and park in the closest spot.

Me: Do you mind if we stop for nuggets?

Asshole Landlord: Did Auggie put you up to this?

Me: Yes. I’m being held hostage. Send help.

Asshole Landlord: Don’t let him have ketchup. It’ll be all over your car.

Me: Noted. Want me to bring you anything?

Asshole Landlord: Just the kid.

Wow. That’s the most we’ve interacted without a thinly veiled insult, or an overt one, for that matter. I’ll take that as a win. “Good news! Noah said we can get nuggs.”

“Yes!” Auggie shouts.

They high-five again, smiling from ear to ear. I can’t help but match them as I pull up to the drive-through speaker and request a family-size order of chicken nuggets with an assortment of dipping sauces. I’m not afraid of a little mess; this car has seen some shit over the years.

Between Auggie and Lexi, they manage to scarf down at least twenty nuggets, and by the time I pull into my parking spot behind Lunar Ink, Auggie’s eyes are glazed over, and his face is covered in a sticky layer of ketchup.

I grab a pack of wet wipes from the glove box and hand them to Lexi. “Mind wiping away the evidence?”

Auggie winces and squirms as she wipes his face.

She laughs. “Chill, dude. I almost got it.” She keeps wiping until every smudge is gone, then tosses the wipe into the fast-food bag. “There. All done.”

She slides out of the car and helps Auggie out of his seat, taking his hand as he lands on the pavement. They chatter all the way to the door, and she holds it open for him, pausing at the bottom of the stairs leading to the apartments.

Lexi’s mouth pulls into a mischievous grin. “Last one to the top is the rotten egg!”

Auggie rushes up the stairs, and Lexi lets him have a head start.

The scene plays out like a long-forgotten dream, and my chest aches at the reminder of a future I’ll never have. Lexi would’ve been the best big sister.

I take the steps slowly, not even trying to catch up to them.

“You can’t get me,” Auggie chants.

When I reach the landing, I double over, feigning shortness of breath. “You’re too fast for me, Super Auggie.”

The door to my left opens, and Noah appears on the threshold, his muscled biceps on full display and a scowl firmly in place. Dammit. I hate how fucking sexy he is.

SEVEN

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♫ Risk - Gracie Abrams