Page 79 of Before We Break

“Ugh. You know I hate it when you call me that.”

“Order up,” a voice says from the kitchen.

Ben disappears, and Catherine swipes her hand over the board, starting the drawing from scratch.

The bell chimes above the door, and Callie appears, slumping into the seat across from me. She takes a dramatic inhale and blows it out again. “Ahh. I love the smell of carbohydrates in the afternoon.”

I giggle. “Hungry?”

“Starving,” she practically growls the word. “Did you order already?”

“Mhm. Grilled cheese, extra pickles as requested.”

The kitchen doors make that telltale swooshing sound as they swing closed behind Ben. Catherine watches him as he strides toward our table holding a tray of food. Front and center is a pair of red baskets lined with parchment and the most gorgeous-looking sandwiches I’ve ever seen in my life. The cheese is oozing out of the sides of golden brown sourdough, garnished with parsley, and there’s a heap of fresh-cut fries beside it.

On the edge of Callie’s basket is a trio of large, juicy pickles. She reaches for one and takes a bite, mumbling a muffled, “Thank you.”

Ben sets down our drinks and a couple of straws. “Can I get you anything else while I’m here?”

“Nope. I think we’re good. Thanks, Ben.”

I expect him to walk away. Instead, he drags a chair from the next table over and spins it around, sitting with his arms propped on the seatback.

“Can we help you, Benjamin?” Callie waves a pickle in his face.

He dismisses her with a wave. “Just eat your pickles. I’m more interested in talking to your sister.”

She props her head on her hand, her eyes wide. “Say more.”

Ben spears me with a look. “Noah’s a good guy.”

“I know.”

“But he’s got a lot of fucked up shit he’s dealing with.”

I grab a fry and swirl it in the cup of ranch. “I know that, too.”

“Just… be patient with him, yeah? He’s a real pain in the ass, and he’s going to fuck up at some point, but he’s worth it.”

“Did you want to date him or?” Callie deadpans.

For the briefest moment, his eyes cut to Catherine, who’s adding shadows to what appears to be a tuna melt. “No. Just looking out for my friend.”

I rest my hand on his forearm and squeeze. “I have no intention of hurting him.”

If anybody’s going to get hurt in this situation, it’s going to be me, but that’s a can of worms I’m not eager to open right now, lest we forget that this whole thing is fake.

But lately it doesn’t feel so fake.

Ben stays quiet for a long moment, letting me get a few bites of my food. “Noah cares about you.” His tone is matter-of-fact. “He doesn’t usually care about anyone, except Emma and Auggie. And Jonah… not that he’ll admit it.”

He isn’t telling me anything I hadn’t already deduced on my own, but I get the feeling Ben’s worry runs deeper than looking out for his friend. I can’t tell him Noah’s already starting to open up to me because I’m not sure how to explain what’s happening between us, so I stay silent and let him continue.

“Is there a point to this?” Callie asks.

He glares at her like an irritated big brother. As Jaxon’s best friend, they’ve gotten close over the last couple of years. Ben is the twins’ godfather, which seems fitting since we’re in a deli that looks like it could be the set of a mob movie. It’s more of a symbolic title than anything—a way for Jax to honor their lifelong friendship.

“What?” Callie says sardonically. “Clio’s not going to break his fragile little ego if that’s what you’re worried about.”