Page 119 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls
“Sending more hugs and kisses.”
I smile. “Thanks. And thanks for listening to me.”
She dips her head. “It’s what older sisters are for. So how do you feel about…?”
I don’t hear the rest of her question because there’s a knock on my door. “One sec, Zo. Someone’s knocking.” I make my way to the door and open it.
My heart freezes when I find Lexi standing there.
She looks at me and I look at her.
“Brock?” Zoey asks from my phone. I’m still holding it in my hand. “Who is it?”
Lexi peers at my phone. “Is that Zoey?”
I blink. “Yeah.” I face the screen to her.
Smiling, Lexi waves. “Hi, Zoey. How’s college?”
She and Zoey chat for a bit, but I find myself not able to remove my eyes from Lexi. She’s here. In my room. Why is she here? Where’s Finn? They told me and the guys they were going to Mikey’s tonight.
“I can’t imagine being so far from home,” Lexi is saying to my sister. “It seems so scary.”
Zoey nods. “Yeah, it’s scary in the beginning, but you get used to it.” She glances from me to Lexi. “I should go and let you kids chat. Talk to you soon.”
I wave while Lexi says, “Bye, Zoey.”
“Hugs and kisses to you both.” She waves, then ends the call.
Lexi and I are left standing here in silence. I squeeze my phone because I don’t know what else to do. Lexi plays with her curls.
A few seconds of silence pass.
“She seems so happy,” Lexi says with a smile. “Like she’s living her life.”
“Yeah. I mean, we love our parents, but the freedom must be nice.”
She nods. “Totally. Uh…can we talk? I mean, that’s why I’m here. To talk.”
I search her eyes. “I thought you and Finn were going out.”
“We went out.”
“Oh.” I avert my gaze.
“But we cut the date short.”
I look at her. “Why? What happened?”
She reaches for my hand and slowly, so slowly like it’s taking a hundred years, locks her fingers through mine. Without uttering a word, she leads me to my bed, where we sit facing each other.
Still clutching my hand, she gives me a shy smile. “Finn and I broke up.”
“You did? I’m so sorry.”
I feel bad, but would I be a jerk to admit a part of me is relieved? No. I have no right
“Brock.” She takes both my hands. “We broke up because I wasn’t happy with him. Finn is my best friend, but that’s all he’ll ever be.”
