Page 70 of Before We Break

She turns to walk away, but I need answers. I need to know why she kissed me, and more importantly, if she wants to do it again. “Stay. I’ll just tuck him in and then I’ll be right back.”

Her green eyes search mine, and whatever she must see is enough to convince her to stay. “Ok. Fine. I’ll stay.”

The door snicks closed behind me as I pad down the hallway. Clio is sitting crisscross on my couch, having made herself at home, and I have to admit she looks damn good in my apartment. I sink onto the sofa beside her and cradle her face in my hands. “What are you doing here, princess?”

“You tell me. You asked me to stay.”

I shake my head, silently counting all the freckles dotting across the bridge of her nose. “Why did you come here? Why did you call me a liar?”

She sucks in a deep breath then blows it out as though she’s trying to center herself. “Why did you tell Quinn to lie about the coffee shop discount?”

I sink back, pinching the bridge of my nose. “She told you?”

She wobbles her head from side to side. “Kind of. I had to pry the answer out of her.”

“It’s not what you think.”

She lets out a humorless laugh. “I honestly don’t know what I think, Noah.”

I scoot closer on the couch, my knee bumping against hers. “Do you remember last year when I ran into you on the sidewalk, and you spilled your coffee everywhere?”

Something solemn crosses her features before she hides it behind a small smile, but it’s too late. I already caught a glimpse. I want to know what caused it.

“So, you admit it was your fault?”

“I was an asshole. I didn’t mean to ruin your day.”

“Yeah. But that’s kind of your brand.”

“Only with you for some reason.”

“I bring out the worst in you. Got it.”

“No. You’re just always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Everywhere I turn, there you are and I just… I can’t escape you.”

Her hand touches mine on top of my knee. “Why was it the wrong time?”

“It was the day I found out Auggie’s mom had died.” I don’t know why I feel comfortable confiding in Clio. I’ve never told anyone this story before, not even Emma. “Andrea overdosed the night before, and Emma called to tell me she’d be staying with Jonah, but that he didn’t want me there.”

My chest tightens at the reminder of what felt like the cruelest betrayal. “My brother was facing the most difficult time in his life, and he just… didn’t want me around.”

“Oh, Noah. That must’ve been so hard.”

“It was my fault. I was hard on him, and I think he felt like I would judge him… both of them. He wasn’t wrong. I was harboring a lot of mixed feelings at the time.”

“And now?”

“I just want my brother back. The version of him that existed before the accident that started his addiction.”

“That version of him is gone, Noah. He’ll always be your brother, but there is a before and an after, and Jonah is living in the after. You have to join him there if there’s ever going to be a chance to reconcile.”

I nod, but I can’t bring myself to continue, and Clio doesn’t press me for more. She has this uncanny ability to know when to pry, and when to hold back.

After a long pause, she says, “You didn’t ruin my day. That day is always hard for me.”

“Why?”

“It’s the anniversary of the day we lost Aunt Penny.”