Page 59 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

No more thinking about Lexi. It’s time to focus on school now.

Chapter Eighteen

Lexi

Lexi: Since when does a comma go there?

Brock: Since forever?

Lexi: I swear you’re making me add all these random commas just to mess with me.

Brock: And risk you getting a bad grade on an essay for my aunt? Never.

I smile as I make the corrections to my essay. I sent it to Brock earlier for his opinion, since I really want to get a good grade on the assignment. But instead of giving me advice or constructive criticism, he’s focusing on my grammar mistakes and typos.

Lexi: You’re like the grammar police.

Brock: Can’t help it. They just get under my skin.

Lexi: And I have yet to hear what you think of the actual essay.

Brock: It’s really good! I love your thoughts on the book. It’s very enlightening.

Lexi: Thanks. So I have a chance for an A?

Brock: If you fix all those grammar mistakes.

I send him a sticking-out-its-tongue emoji. He responds with a laughing one.

We continue to text here and there while we work on the rest of our homework. Texting with him feels natural, as though we’ve been doing it our whole lives. My mom bought me my first phone right before I started seventh grade, just a few weeks after Brock left to Boston. So he and I never had a chance to text.

Of course I’m also texting the other guys throughout the evening, but would it be bad to admit that I enjoy texting Brock more?

Lexi: There’s this shark documentary that was just added today. Want to watch it with me over the phone?

Brock: Sure! I never say no to shark movies or documentaries.

Lexi: Duh.

Brock: But we need to finish our homework first. Get to fixing all those grammar mistakes before I arrest you for beingso uncultured.

Lexi: Haha.

Twenty minutes later, my phone rings. I assume it’s Brock and wonder why he’s calling me—I’m not at all done with my homework—but then I see Aidan’s name flashing on the screen.

“Aidan!” I leap onto my bed and get comfy, waving as his face appears. “Hi! How are you? I feel like I haven’t spoken to you in ages.”

His brown eyes brighten when he sees my face. “Hey, little sister. How’s life?”

Aidan has shaggy brown hair, though it’s shorter than how he wore it in high school. It definitely makes him look more mature.

“Life’s good,” I gush. “Where’s Ava?”

“She got together with her Musketeers and will be home soon.”

“Nice. Hey, do you know I was cast as—”

“Clara, yes. You texted me the news like five million times. Congrats! I’m really proud of you.”