Page 144 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

Lexi

Brock and I gather the guys at my locker on Monday morning and tell them the good news. He and I are officially boyfriend and girlfriend. They all cheer and whoop, Dean lifting Brock and me off the ground and spinning us around. We almost topple over, but the guys catch us in time.

“Geez, don’t kill the happy couple when they barely had time together,” Theo says, which has all of us laughing

Then I find myself and Brock squished in Finn’s arms.

“I’m really happy for you guys,” he tells us, his voice sounding nothing but sincere. “I think you two are perfect for each other, and I know you’ll be very happy.”

When I step out of the hug and look at Finn’s expression, I see that he truly is genuine. There’s no pain or jealousy or any grudge. He’s truly happy for us.

“Thanks, Finn.” I wrap my arms around him. “You’re such a good friend.”

Brock hugs him, too, holding onto him for a long time. “This means so much to me, man. Thanks.”

The guys ask us a million questions, but we can’t answer them all because the bell rings. The guys head off toward Mrs. Hastings’s class, still whooping and cheering for us.

With his sweet smile that melts every part of me, Brock holds out his hand. I slide mine into it and am immediately engulfed in warmth. In protection. In love. In everything that is Brock. Holding hands is such a simple thing, but it means so, so much more. A promise that he and I will forever be connected.

We don’t release each other’s hands, not even after we lower ourselves in our desks. It’s like neither of us wants to ever letthe other go. We’ve been through so much and almost lost each other. There’s no way in heck we’re letting that happen again.

Mrs. Hastings walks in, wishes us a good morning, and instructs us to take out the book we’re reading for English. Her eyes catch sight of my and Brock’s clasped hands, and her eyebrows rise with surprise. She gets such a humongous smile on her face and looks like she wants to dance around with joy. Actually, it looks like she wants to yank us into her arms and hug us until we can’t breathe.

Since class is about to start, Brock and I reluctantly break our hands apart. Mrs. Hastings’s lessons are always so interesting, but I’m having trouble concentrating now because all I think about is Brock. Replaying our conversations and melting at all the sweet and romantic things he said to me.

But I really need to snap out of it and pay attention. Brock isn’t going anywhere because he and I will be together forever and ever. Yeah, we’re only sixteen, but Iknow.

Somehow, I make it through the day and only think about him…every other second.

After school, Brock and I are at his locker, with my back pressed to the locker and him standing close to me, so close that there are only inches between us. The whole world disappears as we stare into each other’s eyes. His gorgeous blue eyes are so deep and intense and hold tons of emotions. Happiness and joy and love and excitement. And hope—a lot of hope. I see a ghost of pain as well, but I know that will always be a part of him. A part of him that I accept and love, and when it grows too intense? I will be there for him. Always.

“Do you want to do something?” he asks, stepping even closer and stroking my hair. Chills run down my back and my stomach flutters.

I reach for his free hand and hold it tightly in mine, once again not wanting to let him go. “What did you have in mind?”

“No idea. I just want to spend hours with you.”

His words cause me to melt even more. We’re not supposed to show PDA at school, but I don’t care. I wrap my arms around him and stretch on tiptoes to press a quick kiss on his cheek. “How are you so perfect?”

“I’m not perfect. Not at all.” His arms come around me and his body sags with relief, as though holding me brings him a comfort no one else can. “But I’m trying my hardest to be the guy you deserve.”

“You don’t have to try.” I press my cheek to his. “You’re amazing just the way you are. The perfect person for me.”

“You’re the perfect one,” he says. “The most amazing person in the world. I think I’m the happiest person in the world.”

“Not as happy as me.”

He laughs lightly and shakes his head. “I would argue for hours, but I’d rather hang out with you. Do you want to go to the museum again? I don’t think there are any new exhibits. Or we can go to the aquarium.”

“We’ve been to those places a million times. Let’s do something different.”

“Okay. But Edenbury is small. We probably did everything here. Do you want to go to River Spring? My dad used to take my mom to the beach there. They claim it was really romantic.”

“Hmm…that does sound tempting, but I don’t think we have time to travel all the way there. We should do that another time. Maybe have a picnic on the beach.”

Brock smiles. “I would love that.”

I tap my chin as I think. “But what to do now…Hey, do you like rock climbing?”