Page 98 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

My lips shake as I attempt a smile. No, my favorite thing in the world is her. “Yeah. I mean, I don’t want to spoil it in case you one day decide to read novels and pick this one up.”

She laughs. “You think I will one day?”

I shrug. “Maybe. When you decide to becultured.”

She laughs again. “Well if I do, then this…” She taps my paperback. “Will be the first book I read. Because Brock loves it.”

We smile at each other, and for a second it feels like things are back to how they were only a few days ago. But then I remember I need to keep my distance and look away from her. I know this hurts her, but if I keep giving her attention, she won’t give Finn a shot. Even though it’s not up to me to determine what happens between them, I don’t want to be the reason she rejects him.

Luckily, we don’t sit in awkward silence for too long because the teacher walks in and starts the lesson.

***

“The arcade?” Cooper asks us after school as we stand at Lexi’s locker. “Ugh. Not in the mood.”

“Come on, man,” Theo says. “It’ll help get your mind off Eloise. Besides, we haven’t been there since before school started.”

Cooper frowns. “I don’t know, guys.”

Lexi snorts. “He’s worried he’ll lose like he did last time,” she teases.

“I did not.”

Nate rolls his eyes. “Dude, you lost, like, every single game.”

The rest of them chuckle as they talk about all the games Cooper failed at. I once again feel left out, but I’m trying not to think about it.

Cooper scowls. “Fine, fine. I’m in.”

“Yay,” Lexi says. She turns to me. “You coming, Brock?”

I shrug. “Don’t have anything else to do.”

Finn wraps an arm around me and laughs lightly. “This guy. You know, it’s not embarrassing to admit you want to hang out with us. You don’t have to make an excuse.”

“I’m not making excuses,” I argue. “It just feels like something you guys share.”

Dean throws his hands up. “Dude, what the heck? You’re part of us, so whatever we share you share.”

I smile in appreciation. “Thanks. Okay, let’s go to the arcade. Uh…I’ll meet you guys there?”

We separate, them to Finn’s van and me to my bike. Before I get on, I stare at it. Memories flash in my mind, of a certain beautiful girl with adorable curls behind me, her hands wrapped around my waist, squeezing tightly as we zipped through the streets.

My heart stops pumping for a second. What will it take for me to forget her? Am I doomed to cry after her for the rest of my life?

Shaking that off, I put on my helmet, get on my bike, and make my way to the arcade. The guys, Lexi, and I used to go there all the time when we were kids. I haven’t been there in four years and wonder if it’s the same.

The others are inside when I enter, fighting over the many arcade games. After giving the place a quick sweep, I notice they’ve added many more games and have gotten rid of old ones that no one played for years.

“Brock.” They wave me over.

Dean says, “Since you haven’t been here in forever, you choose.”

My gaze wanders around the arcade. There are many kids our age and younger here, all at the machines. “I don’t know. Doesn’t really matter to me.”

“You’re no fun,” Theo complains. “The Brock we knew was always so competitive at the arcade. Remember how you and Lexi owned all of us?”

Lexi and I exchange a glance and smile. She playfully rolls her eyes. “You never beat me.”