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Chapter Fifty-Nine

Maggie

F inn is over the moon to see me, and I tell him how worried he made me. Then I tell him that I miss him. And that the reason I left wasn't because of him or Xavier, even though I've told him this at least a dozen times before.

The car ride back to the estate goes by quickly. Xave rocks at saying everything to Finn I suggested. He doesn't waver. Even when Finn howls and screams at the news there will be no Play-Doh or Air Hockey tonight; kicks his feet over and over into the back of Xavier's seat. And when that doesn't get the desired effect, throws off his seatbelt and climbs out of his booster to lean over the console and pound his fists against his brother's arm, and anywhere else he can reach.

And color me stunned when Xave pulls over, right off onto the shoulder of the road, and turns around to tell Finn they're not going anywhere until he gets back in his booster and puts his seatbelt on.

When Finn just starts punching him harder, he grips both of Finn's little hands in his large one to get his attention, and tells him that if he hits him again, there will be no playdate with Lumen tomorrow.

"I'm still gonna hang out with Maggie tonight," Finn shoots back, and I tense in anticipation of how Xavier will respond to that one.

But he nails it when he tells him, "You're not hanging out with anyone tonight, bud. You're going to bed. You can hang out with Maggie another day, but tonight we're both upset because what you did was dangerous. And you scared the heck out of me and Maggie."

Who knew? Xavier Rockwell, laying out firm consequences like a boss .

Finn stops punching him. Slumps back in his booster, does up his seatbelt and pouts all the way home.

I head out when we get back, while Xavier is busy herding Finn back inside, scraping his brother's limp body off the driveway when he melts into a fit on the cobblestones. Probably testing Xave to see if that'll have any better results than the car dramatics.

I flop down on my bed when I get home, no longer in the mood for a movie marathon. I'm not in the mood for anything. I'm sadder than I've been in a while. Even under those crappy circumstances tonight, it was good being close to Xavier again. I ache with how much I miss him.

My mood lifts when a text comes in and I see it's from him.

Xavier

thx for coming tonite. and for your advice

Maggs

np

u can pay me back by wearing those cookie monster socks to school on monday

I wait.

And wait.

But he doesn't text back.