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Chapter Twenty-Eight

Maggie

I have no idea if Xavier ended up going to the jam session. When Finn and I came back downstairs after he picked out tattoos and helped me organize the library books, both Seb and Xavier had vanished.

Finn just shrugged it off, patted his pocket with his tattoo stash and told me, "That's okay. I can give them their tattoos later… But you can be my customer now instead."

So after lunch, I got the full Finn Rockwell Tattoo Shop experience, which, in all my years of babysitting, is a first. But then, Finn is one in a million, so I shouldn't be surprised.

We had a lazy afternoon, reading library books, playing Lego, and doing crafts. Xavier was a no-show for dinner. Could be because he pushed through the fear and went to jam with the guys. Could be for any other thousand-and-one reasons, too.

After tucking Finn in—three stories and two rounds of "Sweet Caroline" later—I retreated to my nook in the upstairs sitting area to work on my diorama. I'm just gluing a torn awning onto a rusted hotdog stand when a text comes in from Laney. We're not in any classes together, so I really don't see her that often at school. I spend a lot of my lunch periods getting caught up on homework in the library, so it doesn't leave a lot of time for socializing.

Laney

how goes life at the McMansion?

Maggs

same ol'. how's life w u?

Laney

less exciting than living across the hall from X Rockwell

Maggs

trust me, not as glam as u think

Laney

don't believe u

Maggs

last night his stinky hockey gear destroyed my Fourth Wing collector's edition. sprayed edges = ruined

glam is dead

Laney

ur still living the dream. dude is hot AND rich AND plays hockey

triple threat

Maggs

more like triple headache

Laney

have u seen his nekkid bod yet? his room is right across from yours right???

Maggs

wtf???

Laney

I'll even settle for shirtless

Maggs

…

Laney

OMG U TOTALLY HAVE!!!

Maggs

this convo is weird. change of topic - r u going on the senior trip?

Laney

u r deflecting

Maggs

bc ur being weird

Laney

if he wasn't ur boss's son, would u go for it?

Maggs

NO. total player

moody

arrogant

not my type

Laney

bet u $5 ur lying

Maggs

u owe me $5

Laney

me thinks u protest too much

Maggs

trust me i am not falling for

"Is Finn in bed already?"

"Shit!" I jolt at the sound of Xavier's voice, dropping my phone on the floor and clattering a couple of miniature soda cans along with it. How did I not even hear him come upstairs?

He reaches to pick my phone up and I dive off my chair to retrieve it first.

But not in time.

Xave straightens, casting me a curious look. "You okay?" his gaze trails from my face to my throat as I swallow, then back to my face. The weight of his stare feels heavier than the embarrassing string of texts on my phone screen. "You seem really jumpy or something."

"No… I mean yes. Yes, I'm fine."

He extends his hand to return my phone. As he does, his eyes dip to the screen. He squints, pulling his hand back. Leans in as his eyes skim the words on the screen.

I reach for the phone, my palm sweaty. My breath stuttered. Because I will be mortified if Xavier sees that he was the subject of most of my text exchange with Laney.

"Can I have my phone back?" I sound frantic.

I sound guilty.

He glances at me, his face unreadable, then takes a step back, holding the phone out of my reach as he continues reading.

His eyes narrow even more.

"What the fuck?"