Page 129 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

I’m busy thinking about the book I’m reading so I won’t think about Lexi, when something shoots past me, nearly hitting my head. The ball slams into the wall.

“Brock.” Uncle Brayden is at my side within seconds. “You okay?” Placing his hands on my shoulders, he looks at my face, assessing me for damage.

“I’m fine. It didn’t touch me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Can I sit the rest of the class out? I’m not really feeling it today.”

“All right.”

He walks away, reprimanding the kid who threw the ball.

I’m left alone with my thoughts as I watch the kids play. They’re not throwing strong balls anymore.

When class is over, I head to the exit with the rest of the kids, but Uncle Brayden calls for me to stay behind.

I walk back to him. “Yeah?”

He rests his hand on my arm. “Is everything okay? Your mom told me that you’ve been very quiet over the weekend. She’s worried about you. Your dad’s worried as well.”

I don’t know what to say, so I keep quiet. It’s not a secret that I’ve been distant. I tried to talk with my parents as much as I could, but I really just wanted to be left alone.

“Come, let’s go to my office and chat,” he says.

I lift a brow. “I have class.”

“I’ll write you a note.”

He leads me to his office, where we sit facing each other at his desk. Uncle Brayden leans forward, clasping his hands together. “So how’s it going?”

I shrug. “Fine.”

“Your parents wish you would talk to them, but I know it’s sometimes awkward to talk to your parents. Especially about girls, hmm?”

I gape at him. “Who said anything about girls?”

“That’s why you have me,” he says with a smile. “I’m an expert on love.”

I snort. “Lame, Uncle Brayden.”

He grins. “I did marry the girl of my dreams, have three amazing kids who also fell in love with the guys and girl of their dreams, and I have a beautiful granddaughter. I did pretty well, wouldn’t you say?”

“Sure, but what’s your point?”

“My point is you can talk to me. Come on, Brock. What’s up with you and Lexi?”

I sigh heavily, running my hands through my hair. “I don’t know. We like each other, but it might not be healthy for us to be together. Too much has happened between us.”

“Hmm.”

“I mean, I want to be with her. I really do. She makes me very happy. But she needs to step back and figure out whatshewants. I don’t want her to be with me out of guilt or anything. I want her to be happy. And whatever she decides, I’ll be okay with it.”

Uncle Brayden places his hand over mine. “That’s a lot for kids your age to deal with.”

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I’m basically waiting for her to tell me what she decided.”

He nods slowly. “What about what you want?”