Page 11 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

“Yeah, I’m good.” I squint at her. “Did my mom or dad tell you to spy on me?”

She shakes her head. “No, of course not. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

I force a smile. “Yep, totally okay. Cool class, by the way.”

“Thanks. You know I’m here for you if you need me. Or if you’re more comfortable talking to a guy, Uncle Brayden is here for you, too.”

Uncle Brayden is Mom’s older brother. He’s the football coach and PE teacher at Edenbury High. He was QB when he was in high school and then went to play for the Silverton Sharks. Such a legend.

My mom and Uncle Brayden had an older brother, but he died in a car accident when he was in high school. His name was Brock, and both Zoey and I are named after him, her middle name being Brooke. He was also QB for the Edenbury High Lions.

I used to be sporty when I was younger. Everyone thought I’d follow in Mom, Uncle Brayden, and Uncle Brock’s footsteps. But I lost interest after Andy died. He liked sports as much as me, and we used to play ball a lot. And we hung out at the basketball hoop in the park and at Uncle Zack’s house a lot. I always beat his butt, but he never complained.

“Brock? You okay?” Aunt Ally pulls me from my thoughts.

I blink. “Yeah. I’m fine.” I wish everyone would quit asking me that, but I get it. They’re worried I’ll sink to rock bottom like I did after the accident. I don’t know where I’d be right now if Mom and Dad hadn’t pulled me out of the dark hole I was in.

Aunt Ally presses her lips together like she doesn’t believe me. She’s about to say something, but students file into the classroom for next period.

I rush to my next class. Biology. Lexi and the others are standing outside the classroom, grumbling that no one shares this class with her. Apparently at least one of the guys has always shared a class with her and she was never alone.

“We should demand that they put you in one of our classes,” Cooper says, shaking his blond head. “The nerve of them.”

I pull my phone from my pocket and check my schedule. “I have bio with Mrs. Cassidy next.”

“Awesome!” Gael says. “Now you’re not alone, Lexi.”

She and I latch eyes on each other and smile. Is it bad that I’m glad I share a class with her alone and not with the others?

“See you guys later,” Dean says as the rest of them walk away. Lexi and I enter the classroom, choosing seats across from one another. The teacher hasn’t arrived yet, even though the bell rang a few minutes ago.

Lexi places her school stuff on her desk table, while I take out my paperback.

She bends forward to take a peek. “You still like to read, huh?”

“Yeah.”

Silence.

“Cool,” she continues, a bright smile on her face, though her eyes are unsure. “I wish I liked to read books, but you know me. Only comics.”

I nod, wishing I could just get some darn words out. But I can’t talk to her like we’re friends. There’s still that thing I need to do first.

Sitting up in my seat, I say, “Look, Lexi. About that thing I need to talk to you about?”

She nods.

The teacher enters the classroom, calling for everyone to quiet down. Man. Why do I keep getting interrupted?

Lexi mouths “lunch” to me and I nod. We have a few classes until lunchtime, which sucks because I really need to try to fix the mess I made between us. If that’s even possible.

***

While the guys head to the cafeteria for lunch, Lexi and I remain at her locker. I’m leaning against it with my arms crossed over my chest, my eyes on her. Lexi stands before me, biting her lip.

She shifts from one foot to the other. “So, um, what did you want to talk to me about?”

I let my eyes wander around the area because I don’t exactly know how to say this. The fact that she’s even giving me the time of day shows what a special person she is. Someone else would ignore me the same way I ignored her. But not Lexi. No, she’s got a heart of gold. It’s no wonder everyone loves her.