Page 58 of The Breaking Point

Grace had come downstairs wearing tiny soccer shorts and a tank top. She also hadn’t been wearing a bra. And in the past few months, she’d been developing quickly.

She sat down next to me in the living room, and my gaze zeroed in on her nipples poking through her shirt.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” She gave me a confused smile.

I could feel Ben glaring at me. I grabbed a nearby pillow to cover my crotch.

“I’m not looking at you,” I replied, defensive.

“Yeah, you were,” said Grace.

“Why would I look at you? You’re just a baby. I don’t care about babies.”

Grace looked hurt. She got up and went to a chair opposite, her expression like I’d kicked her.

“You’re a jerk, Brady,” she said as she wiped her nose.

My boner had gotten worse when she’d gotten up. She was so ... bouncy. How had I never noticed that before?

I waited a few more minutes and dashed upstairs to my room, locking the door behind me.

Then there was another instance when we’d all gone to the local swimming pool. Grace had worn a two-piece for the first time, at least that I’d been aware of.

“Dad know you’re wearing that?” Ben had asked his sister.

Grace raised her chin. “No, and who’s going to tell him? You?”

“Uh, I might.”

“Then I’ll tell him I saw you making out with Carrie last Sunday. And you had your door closed when you know you’re supposed to keep it cracked.”

Ben glowered. “You little shit.”

Grace just stuck out her tongue and jumped into the pool.

Ben turned to me. “You’re so lucky you don’t have a sister. They’re the worst.”

I barely heard him. I was focused on Grace standing near the shallow end, water sluicing down her body, her bikini barely covering her—

And then, last weekend, Grace’s parents had been out of the house to attend one of Ben’s hockey games. It meant that Grace and I were alone. Usually, that wouldn’t have been a big deal, at least before I’d started noticing her. I usually did my thing, and she did hers.

A lot of the time I was playing hockey anyway. Hockey was also a good way to avoid being around Grace. I didn’t need to keep feeling these weird feelings anytime she came around.

But today? Today, it’d been too hot to go outside, so I’d been stuck inside without much to do, so I’d been going between watching TV and messing around online to pass the time.

It was near dinnertime when I called up the stairs to Grace. “Do you want me to order pizza?” I yelled.

After a few seconds, Grace yelled back, “Okay!”

Mr. and Mrs. Dallas often left us some cash to get food when they were gone. The first time they’d done it, I’d been shocked that they’d trust their kids with money like that.

None of my previous foster parents would’ve let me get within ten feet of their money. More than one kept their wallets, purses, and other valuables in safes or behind locked doors.

I hadn’t blamed them. Too many kids like me were prone to steal. Hell, I’d stolen shit when I’d had no other choice. When you’re hungry, you’ll do whatever it takes to fill your empty belly.

“This is for food,” Mr. Dallas had said as he placed a crisp twenty on the kitchen table. “And I know how much a pizza costs, too.”

Grace had just rolled her eyes at her dad. I’d been too astonished to say anything at all.

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