Page 50 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

“I know,” Aunt Kara says as she reaches to touch Melly’s hand. “Feels like only yesterday when we were in high school.”

“Making friends and falling in love,” Uncle Brayden adds as he kisses his wife’s cheek.

Aunt Ally pops a light kiss on Uncle Zack’s lips, then turns to her friends. “We’ve had quite a ride, haven’t we?”

Aunt Kara nods as she flings an arm around Aunt Ally. “All because of book club,” she says. “If you wouldn’t have walked into room 1B that day, we probably never would have become friends.”

“Or met our wonderful men.”

“So true. If not for you, Dani, and Charlie, I would never have the confidence to talk to Brayden.”

He wraps an arm around her, pulling her close to him. “I’m glad you did.”

“And if not for you guys, I would have been a social outcast,” Uncle Zack says to my aunts and uncle. “Have I ever thanked you for including me in the friend group?”

“More than once,” Uncle Brayden says with a chuckle. He slaps his hand. “We married wonderful women and have amazing kids and an adorable granddaughter. Life has been good to us.”

Uncle Zack’s face brightens, as if his sixteen-year-old self could never have imagined his life would turn out the way it did. “Yes, it has.”

Hearing them fills me with hope that I’ll be like them when I’m their age. Happy and not stuck in the past.

We continue talking and eating. It seems like we can never get enough and we don’t want the night to end. But Evie and Noah need to take Melly home and put her to bed. Aunt Kara and Uncle Brayden need to leave as well. We hug and promise to get together more often.

Aunt Ally and Uncle Zack remain a bit longer. Dad and his brother discuss Dad’s book—I’ll give him my feedback later—while, Mom, Aunt Ally, and I talk about other topics going on around town. Then they leave and I help my parents clean up the kitchen.

Chapter Sixteen

Lexi

Finn slides into a parking space at the Edenbury Dance Studio after school on Tuesday, and the seven of us pile out. As we make our way toward the entrance, my stomach muscles clench with nerves. Because today is the day we’ll find out what role we’ll have inThe Nutcracker.

The loud sound of an engine blares in the distance, and I spin around. Is that Brock? I wasn’t sure if he’d join us today. But he’s here!

The guys go on ahead into the studio, but I hang back to say hi to Brock. After sweeping into the empty spot near Finn’s van, he yanks off his helmet, causing his hair to roll out. It’s a little messy, and my hands itch to run through the strands. But I curl them into fists.

He gets off his bike and smiles when he sees me. “Hey.”

“Hey. I didn’t know you were coming to watch us today.”

“Dean told me it’s a big day for you guys, so I figured I’d come here to offer support.”

“Thanks. That’s so sweet of you.”

After tucking his helmet under his arm, he and I head into the studio. The place is louder than it usually is, with dancers yelling, cheering, and do I hear crying?

“Dani must have posted the cast list already,” I squeal before zooming further into the studio. On the bulletin board near Studio A is the cast list, and there are so many dancers crowded around that I can’t make it through.

“Lexi, congrats!” Gael says as he throws his arms around me. “You and me. This is awesome.”

“Wait, what?” I try to ask, but the other guys also launch themselves at me, Dean lifting me a few inches off the floor.

Once I’ve been hugged to death, I gently push through the crowd to get to the cast list. What are the guys so happy about?

Then I see it. The name written down next to Clara.

Lexi West.

But…how? I mean, I know I put my all during the auditions, but I didn’t think I was good enough for the lead role.