The Girl Before by Rena Olsen

unsure of what to say. He seems to be deciding something as well.
    â€œMy father won’t let us be together, Clara.”
    My heart stops. I nod, trying to give him a wobbly smile, but failing as tears fill my eyes. Of course I knew it wasn’t possible, but a part of me, the part that allowed daydreams before sleep, had been holding on to hope. All the stolen hours together, the conversations we had had. Glen told me things he’d never told anyone else, and more often than not I had found myself thinking of a future with him, instead of with the client to whom I was promised. I drop my gaze to the pine needle–carpeted ground.
    â€œClara,” Glen says, lifting my chin with his index finger, forcing my eyes back to his. “I don’t give a damn what my father says.” He drops his hand. “That is . . . I mean . . . if you . . .”
    I understand his sudden vulnerability. Despite his bravado, Glenis worried that I might not feel the same way. My heart feels as if it will burst. I wondered if I loved him before, but now I am sure. I reach for his hand. “I do,” I say, my voice barely a whisper.
    Glen’s face breaks into a grin, and before I can react, his mouth is on mine. I have never been kissed before, and I am not sure what to do. He pulls away suddenly, laughter dancing in his eyes. “Oops.” He doesn’t look sorry. “That was your first kiss, huh?”
    I nod.
    â€œLet’s erase that one,” he suggests, moving toward me again, cupping my face in gentle hands. “This should be the kiss you remember.” His lips are gentler this time, lightly brushing mine at first, then becoming more firm. I mimic his movements, growing more confident under his patient tutoring. I thrill at the tingles running up and down my body. I am kissing Glen! My daydreams never came close to the actual moment. I want to climb inside him and live, and never be apart from him.
    I lose track of time, but too soon Glen’s kisses gentle, and he moves away, keeping my face in his hands. My hands rest on his hips, though I am not sure how they got there. It feels natural, and he doesn’t seem to mind.
    â€œClara,” he breathes. “I’ve thought about this a lot. I’ve been making some plans. I went to my father today as one last attempt to reason with him.” His jaw clenches, and he raises a hand to a spot on his cheek that is already starting to bruise. “We have to run away. You will go with your client in a few months, and we’ll never see each other again. I can’t let that happen.”
    â€œOkay,” I say. I would agree to anything he suggested at this point. My pulse races, and I wait for my breathing to return to normal.
    â€œIt has to be tonight. Papa will be signing your final papers any day. Leaving now will give him a chance to find a replacement and smooth things over. I don’t agree with him, but I don’t want to ruin him, either.”
    So soon. But what Glen says makes sense. I want a good future for my sisters. “Okay.”
    â€œAfter the girls are asleep tonight, go to the cellar. There’s a set of doors at the far end they never patrol. Wait inside, and I will come for you.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œYou can’t bring anything with you, Clara,” Glen warns. “I’ll stash a jacket and boots for you, but you can’t be caught doing anything that will tip them off. And you can’t say good-bye. We won’t be back.”
    My heart squeezes as I think of my sisters. I would be leaving them in a few months anyway. And this way, I’ll be with Glen. “Okay.”
    His smile warms me to my freezing toes, and he gives me one more quick kiss. “Go,” he says. “Before they realize you’re missing.”
    I tighten my fingers on his waist briefly, then remove his jacket from my shoulders, gasping at the sudden chill. I take