Page 47 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

Her eyes fill with sympathy. “I wish I could hug you.”

“Ew. Just kidding.”

She sticks out her tongue at me. “And I’d kiss your cheek because I know how much you hate it.”

I give her a crooked smile. “Well, then it’s a good thing you’re so far from home.”

She laughs. “It’s really good to see you smile, Brock.”

“It feels good to smile. I mean, I think I’ll always feel guilty that I’m alive and he’s dead, but he’d want me to live.”

“He sure would.”

She tells me more about her college life and I’m glad she’s adapting well. She enjoys her classes and her freedom.

“But I miss Mom and Dad being in my business all the time. Where are they, anyway? They told me they wanted to ride their bikes.”

“Yep. They’re on their date. They didn’t want to leave me alone, but I told them I’ll be okay. I don’t mind being alone.”

“You’re not alone. You have me.” She grins.

“Yeah, but I don’t want to ruin your plans.”

She waves her hand. “I don’t have plans. Kade’s taking me out later, so I’m all yours. Tell me more about what’s going on in your life.”

I shrug. “Not much to tell. School and boring stuff. Lexi, the guys, and I watched a movie based on one of my favorite book series. They liked it.”

“That’s great. So you’re all friends again? No one has shut you out?”

I shake my head as I play with the pen on my desk. “No. They’ve accepted me like nothing has changed. They’re really amazing friends.”

“They definitely are.”

“Like your friends. You probably miss them.”

She sighs. “It’s so hard. Mia is in L.A. and Rylee is traveling somewhere in Europe. But we make sure to have online book club twice a week. We’re not giving that up.”

I smile. “I’m so happy to hear that.”

“We’ll probably end up back in Edenbury. Just like the Four Musketeers and Junior Musketeers.”

The Four Musketeers are Aunt Ally, Aunt Kara, and their friends, Dani Knight and Charlie Park. Their kids, Lily, Liam, Chloe, Ava, and Willow, are the Junior Musketeers. Zoey, Rylee, and Mia are the Musketeer Trio.

“Cool,” I tell her. “I don’t know where I’ll be. I don’t even know what I want to do with my life.”

“That’s okay. You have time. You’re talented and can accomplish anything you set your mind to.”

“Thanks, older and wiser sister.”

She bows. “This wonderful older and wiser sister of yours—”

“I never said wonderful—”

“—wants to know more about you and Lexi.”

“Ugh.” I bang my head on my desk. “Why?”

She shrugs. “Why not?”