Page 64 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls
“Not sure I’m in the mood.”
“Brick,” Theo groans.
My eyes snap in his direction. “Did you just call me Brick again?”
He smiles crookedly. “I’ll call you that until you agree to come with us.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Pass. I want to read my book.”
“Brick.”
I narrow my eyes at him.
Lexi glances from me to Theo. “Am I missing something here? What’s with this Brick thing?”
Theo spends a few minutes telling everyone about it. They laugh, a few slapping hands at how ridiculous that story is.
“Let’s call him Brick until he agrees to come,” Theo says.
“Brick! Brick! Brick!” Everyone except for Lexi chants. She playfully rolls her eyes at how irritating the guys are. I know they’re just messing with me and don’t mean any harm. One of the best things about our friend group is that we’re so comfortable with each other that teasing doesn’t bother us. At least, that’s how it was in the past. I’m glad the guys aren’t treating me any differently.
“Brick! Brick! Brick! Come on, Lexi.” Theo elbows her in the ribs. “He’ll listen to you.”
“He doesn’t want to go and I won’t force him.”
Gael drops down next to me, folding his hands under his chin, his eyes widening in a begging manner. “Please, man. Do a guy a solid.” His eyes widen even more. They’ll pop out soon.
I sigh. “Look, I really want to read this book. You guys can go without me.”
“I don’t want to force you to go if you don’t want to,” Lexi says. “But you can always read the book when you come back.”
“Yeah, the party is for one night, but you can read the book any time,” Dean says.
I take a few seconds to scan my friends. Gael’s still begging with his eyes, Cooper looks like he really needs to get out of here, Dean is bored out of his mind, the others appear like they just want to have a good time. And Lexi smiles sweetly like I’d make her night so much better if I came.
The truth is, Icanread Grandpa’s book later. It’ll be waiting for me when I return. I’m trying to go back to my old self, which means I can’t hide in the house anymore. I should hang out withkids my age and have a good time with my friends. I owe them at least that for ignoring them for four years.
“I’ll go on one condition,” I say.
“Anything,” Dean says.
I direct my attention to Theo. “No more calling me Brick.”
He chuckles as he rams his fist into mine. “You got a deal, bro.”
We make our way out of Lexi’s room and down the stairs. Lexi, Finn, and I walk together, behind the other guys.
“Have you gone to parties at your old school?” Finn asks me.
“A few. They weren’t really my scene.”
“Did you dance with girls?” Finn prods.
Lexi’s ears perk up.
“Not really. I mean, I talked to girls and hung out with them, but most knew I wasn’t looking for a girlfriend.”
Lexi’s mom is in the kitchen, talking on the phone. Sounds like it’s her boss or someone else from the elementary school.
