Page 72 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

He smiles. “That’s awesome. What kind of shark?”

I head over to the display of different plushies and pick up a whale shark. “This seems perfect because it combines two of our favorite sea creatures. Sharks and whales. Looking at it will remind me of the fun day we had today. And it’s so soft.” I squish it to me.

Brock stretches his hand to give the whale shark a head massage. “Yeah, it really is soft.” He taps his chin. “What should I get?” His eyes roam around and widen as they settleon something in the distance. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this before.” He goes to the other end of the shop and picks up a box.

I hurry to his side and take a look at what he’s so interested in. “An LED great white shark light. That’s really cool!”

He stares down at the box with an excited grin. “Okay, it’s definitely coming home with me.”

“Nice. Anything else?”

He shrugs. “Yeah, the mug. Maybe I’ll get a T-shirt, too.” He walks over to where the clothes and caps are and takes a green one. After we pay for our stuff, we leave the museum, climb onto his bike, and make our way to Mikey’s.

Like the museum, there are a lot of people, but we manage to find a booth in the back. “I bet if we came here five minutes later we’d have nowhere to sit,” I tell him.

“Probably. You know, this place hasn’t changed at all.”

“Not one bit. But that’s what makes it so special.”

He nods. “It’s crazy that my parents and aunts and uncles hung out here, too. And if I have kids one day, they’ll come here with their friends.”

“Yeah. And they’ll be eating the same burgers and fries we eat today.”

He nods.

Macy, one of the servers here, comes over to us with a tablet. “What would you like to order?”

She’s been working here forever, since she graduated high school over thirty years ago. After we give her our orders, she nods and walks off.

Brock bends close to me, whispering, “And she still doesn’t smile.”

I poke him in the ribs. “Don’t be mean.”

“Sorry, but my aunts and uncles told me how horrible she was to them in high school and after she started working here. Thankfully, she’s gotten better.”

“Yeah. So, did you have fun today?”

“Of course. I always have fun when I’m with you.”

Even though this isn’t the first time he’s said this, my insides tingle. “Thanks. I always have fun with you, too.”

He grins cheekily. “I know.”

I playfully shove his arm. I love when he’s like this. It feels like everything is back to normal with us. His eyes still carry some pain, though, a constant reminder of what happened.

Macy returns with our food, muttering for us to enjoy. Brock and I thank her, then dive into our burgers.

Chapter Twenty-One

Lexi

Rehearsals forThe Nutcrackerhave been going very well. Every single dancer has been putting his or her all into it, and the results are stu-freakin-pendous.

But there’s always room to improve, which is why Gael and I decide to stay after class on Tuesday to work on our dance numbers. Brock is here as well, and instead of going home, he offers to join us and be our cheerleader.

After we chug down cups of water, we make our way into the empty Studio C, and Gael and I pick up from where we left off during the class. Gael’s movements are powerful but graceful and he lifts me so effortlessly, like I’m made of cotton candy. I love when I’m high in the air, even though it’s only for a few seconds. Feels like I’m soaring in the sky.

“Beautiful form,” Gael encourages as he lowers me and does the next move.