Page 46 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

She holds up both hands. “No, I’m sorry for pushing. Clearly you don’t want to talk about it and that’s fine. But are you guys getting close again?”

I release a breath. “I’m trying to, but it feels like there’s this wall between us. I don’t know.”

She thinks about it for a bit. “It might take time, but I’m sure you guys will get there.”

“Yeah, I hope. But enough about me. How’s Kade?”

Her boyfriend is in college a few hours away from her and he’s studying criminal justice. His dream is to be a detective.

Zoey sighs heavily. “He’s too far away,” she complains. “Before you called, he texted me good morning. But that wasn’t enough, so I called him and we chatted for like two hours. Ugh. I hate being so far from him.”

“But he’s not that far. Only like two hours away.”

She scowls. “Three hours.”

“That’s still fine. It’s not like he’s on the other end of the country.”

She scoffs. “When you fall in love, baby brother, you’ll see.”

“Did you just call me ‘baby?’ You do realize how old I am, right?”

“Doesn’t matter how old you are. You’ll always be my baby brother.”

I frown. “I’m only two years younger than you.”

“And?”

I grit my teeth. “Behave or I’m hanging up.”

She pouts. “Aw, my baby brother is so rude to me.”

“Zoey…”

“Okay, okay. I won’t call you that anymore. Tell me how school is. And the kids. Is anyone giving you a hard time?”

“No, everyone has been very nice. I mean, they look at me with pity sometimes, but I can’t really blame them.”

She nods. “True, but if anyone ever hurts you or makes you uncomfortable, tell me and I’ll fly to Edenbury and give them a piece of my mind.”

I let out a small chuckle. Zoey has always been tough, always protected me, not that I really needed it. But the crazy thing is she’s so tiny. Tiny, but she means business.

“Thanks, Zo, but I think I can take care of myself. I’m not a little kid anymore and I can handle anyone who tries to harm me or my friends and family.”

“You know you’re like a giant now?”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t exaggerate.”

“I’m not. You’re like a tree.”

I give her a look. “Want an apple?”

“Ha ha.” Her smile drops. “But seriously, Brock. You can talk to me. How are you really doing? Coming back home couldn’t have been easy.”

I lean back in my seat, crossing my arms over my chest. “No, it wasn’t easy, but I’m doing okay. I’m not completely broken, just damaged.”

“Don’t say that. You’re not damaged.”

“Every time I used to shut my eyes, I’d see his dead body lying on the street. It’s not as bad anymore, but it still happens sometimes.”