The Jack*ss In Class (The Cocky Kingmans, #5)

by Amy Award

Jules smacked me on the back of the head and gave me her patented you’re-a-dumbass glare. The one where she expected us to realize what dumbassery we’d done and to fix it immediately. “Hey. What the hell was that for, brat?” “I thought I raised you better than that, big brother. Have you legit fallen prey to the idea that being fat and being beautiful are mutually exclusive?” She glared at me. “Because I have very specific ways to reeducate you that involve death and dismemberment.”

I had convinced myself that first kisses, and sex, and falling in love weren’t actually important to me. I had to because I was sure I’d never get to experience any of them. If they didn’t matter, then it wouldn’t hurt so much that I missed out when everyone else around me got their cake and had fun eating it too.

“I want to protect her,” I admitted. “From all of it. The press, her family’s so far shitty reaction, everything.” “You can’t.” Dad’s hand squeezed my shoulder. “But you can stand with her while she faces it. You don’t need to fight someone’s battles for them. Just make sure they don’t fight alone. That’s what Kingmans do.”

“For the same reason you didn’t tell me,” she said simply. “You needed that part of yourself to be yours alone, until you were ready to share it.” I stared at her, processing this. “I thought everyone would be ashamed. Mamá is going to be so disappointed. Romance novels are⁠—” “Joy,” Abuela interrupted firmly. “They are joy and hope and the promise that everyone deserves love. Even girls who look like us, who take up space, who have curves and opinions and don’t fit into little boxes.”