Page 101 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

He chuckles sheepishly. “Yeah, sorry. I guess I heard you say ‘kiss’ and my brain short-circuited.”

“Oh, haha.” My cheeks heat up. “You don’t have to worry about that. These lips have never touched other lips.” I point to them.

Finn laughs again.

Ugh, why did I mention kissing or my lips? And why did things get so weird? Things were so much more natural with Brock—

No. Enough with the comparisons.

Finn clears his throat. “Do you want to go to the comic book store? I haven’t gone in a while and they might have gotten new stuff.”

“Cool, that sounds like fun.”

When dance class is over, the seven of us pile into the van. My eyes linger on the spot where Brock used to park his bike. I miss him. I miss riding behind him on his bike. I miss talking to him and texting him like we used to. He and I didn’t say much to each other these past two days. I hope things can still be normal between us. I mean, as friends, we should be totally cool with each other, right?

After Finn drops everyone off, he drives us toward the comic book store. We mostly talk about the ballet and school on the way. Things seem more natural now that we’re talking about things that don’t pertain to our feelings. Though I still feel like he’s choosing his words carefully. Like he’s worried he might say something that might offend me. As friends, we can joke around and say whatever we want. But it’s different with a potential girlfriend or boyfriend.

And when I tease him, I worry I might have crossed a line. Geez, are things ever going to feel natural? Why do they feel more natural with Brock?

Oh my gosh. For the millionth time, stop comparing him to Brock.

“Here we are.” Finn parks in an empty spot before the comic book store, and we get out of the van. I haven’t been here in a while. Usually, Finn is the one who’s always buying the new comics and sharing them with the rest of us.

“Are we on a mission to find a new comic or do we want to find an old treasure?” I ask as he opens the door for me. “Thanks.”

“I just want to read something good,” he says.

“I’m in the mood for a tough, kickbutt heroine.”

“I’ll keep my eyes peeled for that.”

As we walk further into the store, I notice the humongous gumball machine against the wall. “They still have that thing?” I ask. “It’s been there forever.”

“I know, right? Hey, remember how Nate forced us all to buy a gumball every time we came here?”

“And they were so big, I thought my jaw would snap.”

Finn laughs. “I remember! And I think they gave me a few cavities, too. Want to buy some?”

“Sure, but if they’re still too big for my mouth, I’m spitting it out.”

“Fair.”

He walks up to the machine and produces quarters.

“I can pay for my gumball,” I offer.

“It’s okay. I mean, this is kind of a date, right?” His cheeks grow pink as he glances at me.

“Oh, um…yeah, I guess.”

He clears his throat and loads the quarters into the machine, releasing two gumballs. An orange one and a dark blue one.

“Dibs on the blue one!” I grab it before he can and pop it into my mouth. The thing is really big, but unlike when I was a kid,I can actually chew it without breaking my jaw. “Mmm. I forgot how good these things are.”

“My flavor sucks,” he mutters with a frown.

“Bummer,” I joke. “Because mine is awesome.”