Page 122 of Sporty Girls Don't Fall For Loners

After we’re settled in the car, Grandpa drives us to their house. I spend the entire ride updating them on my life and they tell me what they’ve been up to. Before I know it, we pull up before the house.

I grab my bag from the trunk and follow my grandparents inside. It looks the same as it’s always been, modest and welcoming and warm. I carry my suitcase upstairs to my room, passing Brock’s on the way. His door is wide open, but he’s not in there. He must still be out with his friends.

Once I get to my room, I start unpacking. I also send a quick text to my aunt and uncle and my friends to let them know that I arrived safely. I also send a text to Kade.

He wastes no time responding that he’s glad and he hopes I have a good time.

Smiling, I put my phone down and continue unpacking my final items.

The front door closes and a male voice yells, “She’s here?” Footsteps stampede up the stairs and then Brock bursts into my room.

My eyes get so wide they can swallow the bed in my room. “Oh my gosh, I almost didn’t recognize you! You must have grown like five inches.”

He chuckles. “Don’t exaggerate.”

I race over to him, just as he rushes to me. We throw our arms around each other and talk animatedly, him asking me how my flight was and me asking him if he had fun with his friends.

“Wait, wait, wait.” I step back and take him in, noticing that his dark hair has grown slightly longer since the last time we video chatted, especially his few bangs, and his blue eyes have gotten sharper. I can’t believe I have to raise my head to talk to him. I mean, he was already taller than me when he hit thirteen, but to grow that much? He might even be taller than Dad soon.

He gives me a cheeky grin. “Like what you see?”

“Yes.” I stretch to ruffle his hair. “My little bro is not so little anymore.”

“You just noticed that now?” he jokes. “So what did you do on the plane? Watch any good shows or movies?”

“Not really,” I say as I take some things with me to the bathroom, Brock following me. “I mostly read a book my friend Kade gave me.” At least, I tried to read the book.

“Cool. Is he your boyfriend or something?”

I stop walking and spin around. “Why are you all of a sudden asking me about my love life?”

He shrugs. “Lately, you take forever to answer my texts. You never did that before. Which can only mean one thing: boyfriend.”

It takes everything I have not to blush, but of course my cheeks smolder. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

He narrows his eyes at me, a teasing smile forming on his lips. “Maybe you don’t have a boyfriend, but there is someone you like.”

I roll my eyes at him and continue putting my stuff in the bathroom. Then, with my back facing him, I ask, “What about you? Any girls you like?”

He’s quiet for a while. I wonder if he’s thinking about Lexi. They were never a couple or anything—they were best friends for a million years. But it’s obvious to anyone who knows them that they mean much more to each other. Well, at least they did.

I don’t want to give her letter to Brock yet. I don’t want to overwhelm him. Hopefully I’ll find the perfect time soon.

When I turn around to face my brother, he shrugs. “There are lots of cute girls at school.”

“And?” I prompt.

“And what?”

“Do you like any of them?”

He shrugs again.

Clearly I won’t get any answers from him, and I definitely don’t want to push, so I smile and say, “I have a present for you.”

His eyes light up. “You do? What is it?”

“I’ll meet you in your room.”

---