Page 63 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

After he calls me, we start the documentary. Wow, it’s so cool! I’ve seen so many movies on ocean life, but they never cease to amaze me. Nature is such a mesmerizing thing.

“I think I might cry, Brock,” I say into my phone. “Everything is so gorgeous.”

“I know.” His voice sounds choked up as well. “It makes you appreciate life more, doesn’t it?”

I sniff. “Definitely.”

After we’re done with this documentary, we watch another. And another. Until Brock and I fall asleep, still on the line.

Chapter Nineteen

Brock

“Man,” Cooper groans as he turns over onto his stomach. It’s Friday after school and he and the others are squished on Lexi’s bed, some of them trying to read the same comic book together while the others wait their turn. I’m on the floor with my fantasy book. “I’m bored,” he continues. “Is it my turn yet?”

“No,” Nate says as he turns the page. Gael and Theo are trying to read with him, arguing when one of them finishes the page before the others. Lexi, Finn, and Dean are reading old comics as they also wait.

I lift a brow at them. “You know you can buy more copies, right? You all don’t have to share the same comic book.”

“Nope,” Finn says. “This is a limited edition. We were lucky to snag this one.”

“Hey, man, pass me your book,” Cooper directs at me. “I’d read that over staring at the walls.”

“Heck no. This book is mine.”

He scowls.

Lexi bends over to peek at my book. “Why does that look like it’s falling apart? And why are there so many scribbles?”

I smooth my hand over the wrinkled pages. “This was my grandfather’s. The one who died in the fire. Dad gave it to me when I was eleven, but I never read it. Until now. I was scared to ruin the pages. But it’s fun reading his comments. My granddad wassucha nerd. See here?” I point to some scribbles. “He’s fanboying over this dragon. And see here?” I go on to talk more about his notes.

Lexi smiles. “You feel connected to him? Reading the book, I mean.”

“Yeah. It kind of feels like I’m getting to know him, you know?”

She smiles again as she squeezes my hand. A tingle shoots down my spine as my eyes dart to where her fingers are wrapped around mine. I notice Finn also looks in that direction before Lexi drops my hand.

Cooper holds out his palms. “If the book is delicate and means that much to you, keep it. I probably wouldn’t make it past page one.”

“And you’d lose all the pages,” I tell him.

“Yep.” He lies down on the bed, banging into the other guys who start complaining.

Dean glances at all of us. “Anyone want to get out of here? There’s a party at Sarah Linn’s house.”

Gael’s eyes widen. “Right! It’s supposed to be epic. First party of the year and all that. Edenbury High is known for killer first parties.”

I frown. I’d rather stay home with Grandpa’s book. “Pass.”

“Yeah, man,” Nate agrees. “We’re good here.”

“But we’ve gone to parties in the past,” Dean argues. “Maybe we’ll meet girls.”

Cooper sits up. “Girls? I’m in!”

Nate frowns. “It’ll only be fun if all of us go. Lexi, you in?”

She glances at me. “If Brock comes.”