Page 45 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

“College is good. A little overwhelming. It’s hard to be so far from home. I miss you guys.”

“We miss you, too.”

Her smile is sad. “I especially miss you. It feels like we’ve barely spent any time together since…you know.”

I nod and swallow. “I’m sorry for staying in Boston for so long—”

“No, don’t apologize. You did what you had to do to get better.”

I twist my mouth. “You used to bug me about coming home all the time. And about Lexi.”

She nods slowly. “You’re right. I did. I just wanted you to come home because I missed my little brother. But I’m glad you’re back now and are doing so much better.”

“Thanks.”

“Speaking of Lexi…”

“What?”

She bends closer to her phone as if she thinks I’ll share some secret with her or something. Her eyebrows wiggle. “What’s going on there?”

I give her a look like I have no idea what she’s getting at.

“Are you friends?” she asks.

“Yeah. We’re friends.”

“And did you apologize to her?”

“Geez, Zo.”

“It’s important, Brock.”

I puff out my cheeks. “Of course I did. Multiple times. But I don’t think it’s enough. Maybe words can’t fix the damage I caused. I hurt her so much.” I squeeze my eyes shut. “I shouldhave listened to you all those times you told me to contact her. But I ignored her instead. I was such a jerk.”

“Hey, stop that. You can’t change the past, all right? All you can do is be the amazing person that you are. Lexi knows how special you are. You’re very important to her.”

“I’m not amazing or special.”

“Yes you are, and I won’t hear another word about it. True you made mistakes, but you were just a kid trying to survive something horrible you went through. As long as you’re working on yourself to be a good person, the past doesn’t matter.”

I play with a loose thread on my shirt. “Since when did you become all-knowing?”

She laughs. “Since graduating high school? But really, I’m just trying to help you see that your past doesn’t define you. The person you’re striving to be is what’s important.” She lifts a brow again. “So…are you and Lexi…?”

“What?”

“You know. A thing.”

My eyes widen. “I just told you we’re friends.”

She clicks her tongue. “Come on, dude. Everyone knows you and Lexi were more than friends. Or at least we all predicted you’d end up together.”

“That was before my friend died before my eyes.”

She snaps her mouth shut.

I curse under my breath. “Sorry.”