Page 104 of Popular Boys Don't Fall For Geeky Girls

“I’m sorry, Colt,” Willow says in a low voice. “He looks so…”

“Broken, I know.” I sigh. “I think he needs to talk to someone, but he’d never agree to go.”

“Maybe what he needs right now is for you to be there for him. Don’t give up on him. And maybe one day he’ll be ready to talk to a professional.”

I nod as her words make sense in my head. “Thanks, Willow.” I push my worry over my dad aside because I want to be happy when I’m with her. “So since you and your friends love books, want to tell me what you’re currently reading? What’s the plot about?”

She taps her chin. “Hmm. Or you can read it.”

“Nah.”

She frowns. “I don’t think we can date unless you love reading as much as I do,” she teases.

“If that’s what it takes to win your heart, I’ll do it.”

Her eyes widen for a second before she realizes I’m just kidding. Honestly, I’m not so sure I am.

I laugh awkwardly, running my hand through my hair. “I’m tired. Should we call it a night?”

“Y-yeah. Sure. Good night, Colt.”

“Good night. Sleep well.” I wave and end the call.

As I lay in bed, trying to fall asleep, I can’t stop thinking about her sweet smile and cute laugh.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Willow

As soon as Colt pulls up in front of my house in his car Thursday morning, he gets out and opens the passenger door for me before I even make it to the car. Even though he’s been doing this for me for days, a thrill passes through me. There’s just something so sweet and generous about him that I love to see.

“Thanks,” I tell him as I slide in.

“My pleasure.”

After he gets in and pulls away from the curb, we talk about school and our apps, and many other topics. It seems we never run out of things to talk about. I’ve realized that the more time we spend together, the more I consider him a really good friend. I haven’t made friends with anyone other than my Musketeers all my life. I never wanted any other friends. But Colt has proven to be someone Iwantin my life.

A part of me wonders what will happen to us once we go our separate ways. Weeks ago, I didn’t think much about it, but now…things are different. He opened his heart to me, let me in, and I’ve opened up to him a little, too. Will we be strangers at school? I don’t want to be.

“You’re quiet,” he says, yanking me from my thoughts.

“What? Oh…um, just thinking.”

“Lots of things going on in that genius brain of yours?” he teases.

I scoff. “My mom is the genius. I’m just a fraction of her.”

“And she’s humble, too.”

“Not humble,” I correct. “Logical.”

“Uh huh.”

I shift in my seat. I’ve received praise before in my life, but it’s different coming from him. I don’t know why. Maybe because it means more? Why should it, though? We’rejustfriends.

“What music is this, anyway?” I fiddle with the radio for a better station.

“Hey! I was listening to that. Don’t you like pop music?”

---