Page 32 of Before We Break

I lean back against the counter and stuff my hands into my pockets. “I don’t canoodle.”

“Well, you do now because I wouldn’t expect anything less from my future husband. I offer canoodling lessons if you’re interested.”

“Just because you haven’t seen me date doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do it, princess.”

Her lips pull up at one corner, forming a dimple in her right cheek. “Alright. I’ll play your game. We’ve been together for a year. What did you plan for our first date?”

Movement out of the corner of my eye draws my attention, and I see Charlene looking straight at us from across the room while Auggie digs around in his box of crayons.

As if my feet have a mind of their own, I take two steps toward Clio and place one palm against the counter on either side of her hips. “Don’t tell me you don't remember our first date,” I mutter against the shell of her ear.

She smells sweet, like sugar and orange blossom.

My stubble scrapes against her cheek, and her breath hitches on contact. “I picked you up at your apartment. You were wearing that ridiculous pink sweater with the strawberries all over it, jeans, and your red sneakers. You had your hair down for the first time since I met you.” I run my fingers through the silky strands to emphasize the point.

She turns her head to the side, and our lips almost touch, but not quite. “I remember that day. You had on that tough guy leather jacket, and you didn’t smile once the whole night.”

“I smiled, princess. Maybe you weren’t paying attention.” Intent on putting on a good show for the social worker, I sweep a lock of hair off Clio’s shoulder. “I took you to Saps and Swirls to get ice cream. You picked your favorite… dark chocolate mocha in a chocolate chip waffle cone with two cherries on top.”

“How did you know that’s my favorite?”

“Every good fiancé remembers his girl’s favorite things.”

Her pupils dilate, deepening the green on the outer ring.

“After ice cream, I took you for a ride on my bike to the willow tree near the cliffs. We talked while the sun set, then I drove you back home and walked you to your door.”

“Such a gentleman. Not like you only live two st⁠—”

I press my finger to her mouth to silence her, instantly realizing my mistake. Now all I can think about is replacing that finger with my lips.

No.

I don’t want to kiss Clio.

Annoying, maddening, irritating Clio.

Beautiful, kind… fuck.

“Did you kiss me, Noah Weston?”

“I wanted to,” I whisper, my gaze flicking to her lips before staring into her eyes once more. “I really, really wanted to.”

Her palm flattens against my chest, and she leans forward just enough so that her cheek grazes mine again. “Too bad I don’t kiss on the first date.” Her expression falters, and she mutters under her breath, “or ever.”

I don’t have time to dwell on the remark as Auggie steals our attention. “Uncle Noah! Come see what I made!”

I blow out a shuddering breath, my hands fisting and unfurling as I try to regain my composure. Seemingly unbothered, Clio saunters into the living room and sits in the chair across from Charlene.

As I perch next to Clio on the arm of the chair, Auggie hands her a piece of paper.

“I asked August to draw me a picture of his family,” Charlene explains.

Auggie vibrates, shuffling on the tips of his toes. “That’s me.” He points to a stick figure with brown curly hair in the center of the drawing, then moves his finger over to the two figures next to him, one blonde and the other with vibrant red hair. “That’s you and Lexi. And Uncle Noah, that’s you!”

His finger hovers over the one that looks vaguely like me, and that’s where the sweet family portrait ends, because to my left is the likeness of my brother behind bars, and in the sky is an angel with a bright yellow halo.

Until now, I hadn’t realized how aware he was of everything around him, but I should’ve known. Kids are perceptive as hell.