Page 79 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

I bend forward and lay a sweet kiss on his cheek. “I forgive you.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Lexi

Finn and I have to work on a history assignment together after school on Thursday. Once Finn makes sure the guys have other ways to get home, he and I get in his van and he drives us toward my house.

“Good thing we were able to choose our own partners,” he says as he fiddles with the music. “I hate when teachers treat us like little kids and force us to pair up with whoever they choose. Like, we’re almost seventeen. We don’t need to be treated like we’re in middle school.”

“You definitely have a point,” I say. “But think about the kids who don’t have friends, or who don’t have friends in that class. They would feel pretty crappy if no one wanted to partner up with them.”

He sends me a smile before focusing back on the road. “See, that’s what makes you so amazing, Lexi. You’re always thinking about how other people feel.”

“Thanks. I mean, yeah, we’re practically adults and don’t need anyone to hold our hands and help us find partners, but we are still in high school. And some people have a very hard time.”

“That’s true.”

“Wasn’t it funny when Brock tried to function without moving his left hand? It’s a good thing he’s a righty.”

“Yeah, it was pretty hilarious. Too bad I wasn’t there to see him wipe out. It was probably epic—er, minus the fear of death part.”

“Believe me, you would have crapped your pants if you were there.”

“Would not!”

“Would so! It was pretty scary.”

He’s quiet for a bit before nodding sheepishly. “You’re probably right. You’re much braver than me.”

I scoff. “Sure.”

“No seriously. You’re braver than all of us. That’s why we look up to you. Because you’re so comfortable with who you are and you aren’t scared of anything.”

“I’m scared of a lot of things.”

“Less than the average person. I mean, you always went bug hunting with us when all the other girls ran away.”

“Because I would have rather had them on my hands than in my hair,” I shoot at him.

He laughs and shakes his head. “We only did that like once. And I don’t think I participated in that.”

“Pretty sure you did.”

“Boys are stupid at that age.”

“Boys are always stupid.”

“True.”

We both chuckle at that.

We reach my house and go up to my room.

“Is that new?” Finn points to the whale shark plush sitting on my bed.

“Yep. I bought it at the museum gift shop.” I drag a second chair over to my desk and sit down.

He settles down on the first chair. “You and Brock aren’t sick of that place yet?”