Page 83 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

Man, I was such an idiot for attempting that stunt. I just wanted to impress her. But lesson learned. I’m not doing something like that again. I won’t put myself in danger again.

I force myself to focus on my homework and not Lexi.

After I’ve moved on to my other homework, the doorbell rings. Hmm. I don’t think we’re expecting anyone. Maybe a family member or a friend has come to visit my parents?

“Brock!” Mom calls from downstairs. “Finn is here.”

Finn?

I leave my room and make my way toward the stairs, meeting Finn who has just climbed up. He smiles and waves. “Hey, man.”

“Hey.” I give him a curious look, since it’s not like him to just come over without telling me first.

“Sorry to barge in like this, but I need to talk to you.”

“Sure.” I gesture to my room, where he follows me inside. We drop down on my bed. Finn keeps his gaze on the floor, as if he has a lot on his mind.

“So, what’s up?” I ask.

His mouth opens, shuts, and he shakes his head. “I don’t know how to say this.”

“You can say anything. It’s okay.”

He looks at me, puffing out his cheeks. “It’s about Lexi.”

I sit up sharply. “What about her?”

He stares at the floor again. “How do you feel about her?”

I don’t think words can encompass how much she means to me, but I’m not going to tell him that. “She’s Lexi.”

“I know, but…you know what I’m getting at, don’t you?”

“Yeah.”

He lifts a brow. “So?”

“What exactly do you want me to say? You want me to admit that I like her?”

“So you like her?”

I push some bangs out of my eyes. “It’s not like I ever stopped.”

He doesn’t say anything.

We sit in silence for a few minutes.

“Do you like her?” I ask.

He releases a heavy breath. “Yeah, I do. I’ve liked her for quite some time now.”

I nod slowly. So I was right when I thought he liked her. He wouldn’t just cuddle up to her if he didn’t.

“And you came here to tell me to stay away from her or something?” I ask.

He sighs again. “Look, I don’t want to be a jerk about it, but you have no idea what you’re doing to her.”

My insides squeeze together. “What are you talking about?”