Page 67 of Before We Break

Why do I want to let him? Maybe I should lean into whatever this is and agree to his proposal.

The threat lingers in the air as he shoves away from the locker, taking all of his warmth with him. “Let’s go before someone comes looking for us.”

“Honestly, a private tryst in the hallway might help our cause.”

“Probably not a good idea for your career.”

He holds his hand out between us, and I twine our fingers together without hesitation. This is starting to feel too natural. He’s right, I need to remember what this is—and what it isn’t.

We walk back into the gym hand in hand, all but announcing our engagement to anybody who hadn’t already heard the news. He stops beside the duck pond, and I start to pull away.

“Come here.” Noah tugs on my arm, and with one hand on my waist, he brings my wrist to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss against my pulse point. He lingers for a moment longer than is appropriate in this situation, but I can’t bring myself to care.

“Uncle Noah! Miss Clio! I got a whole cupcake!” Auggie ambles toward us, grinning, with a layer of blue frosting smeared around his mouth.

“That’s what you get for leaving him with the Hayes family. Nobody’s safe from Olivia’s baked goods.”

“Great. Now I’ll have a sugar high to contend with.”

A laugh bubbles out of me. “The crash will get him sooner or later.”

“Yeah. You’re probably right.” Noah’s eyes dart from me to Jeff and back again. “See you at home, princess.” His meaning is unmistakable, like he’s staking a claim in front of Jeff and everyone else in the vicinity. Mine.

The event slowly dwindles until there’s one lonely duck left in the pond. “Rock paper scissors for it?” I say.

Jeff laughs that loud, boisterous laugh that often always carries down the hallway. “It’s all yours. Consider it my apology for flirting with you earlier. Guess I waited a little too long to shoot my shot.”

I’m not sure what to say, so I just smile my usual friendly smile and pick up the duck, unsurprised to find a red heart stamped on the bottom. The prize is a gift certificate to Branch Out. “I’ll just give these to Lexi since they have the teacher appreciation thing.”

“The what?”

“You know… the teacher appreciation discount. We get free coffee.”

“I don’t think that’s a thing,” Jeff says.

“No, it’s definitely real. I’ve been getting free coffee all year.”

Jeff’s brows shoot up, and his lips tip into a smirk. “Whatever you say.”

Once the sensory table is back in my classroom and the rest of our station is cleared, Jeff heads out. On my way to the parking lot, I grab my phone to text Quinn. Something’s been niggling at me for the last hour, and I can’t shake this strange feeling.

Me: Question.

Quinn: Answer?

Me: Have you been lying about the teacher discount?

Quinn: I’m sorry. I can’t hear you. You’re breaking up.

Me: Very funny. Explain.

Quinn: Can’t. I was sworn to secrecy.

Me: If you don’t tell me, I’ll sneak into your house and fuck up your record collection.

Quinn: Rude.

Me: I mean it. Say goodbye to Wicked.