Page 25 of Even Beneath the Stars

"Well, I’m not Xavier." The words come out sharper than intended. I soften my tone. "How about we make it fun? We can pretend the broccoli are tiny trees, and you're a giant dinosaur eating them."

In the kitchen, I realize Candice, one of the Rockwell cooks, already took care of dinner—three homemade chicken pot pies warming in the oversized drawer, turtle cheesecake in the fridge. Still, I promised Finn pizza, so I stash his portion for my lunch tomorrow while Finn demolishes his "forest."

Xavier’s portion stays in the drawer. No idea if he plans to eat here. No idea if he’s even still home.

Turns out heis.I know this because after getting Finn into his pajamas, he darts down the hall and pounds on his brother's door before I can intervene.

"Xaaaaaaave!"

"What’s up?" Xavier’s voice is warm—reserved for Finn and, apparently, everyone but the nannies, as far as I can tell. I've been bumped from "annoying but intriguing quirky girl" to "she-who-must-not-be-allowed-to-stay".

Xavier's door swings open and Finn disappears inside. I hover awkwardly in the hallway, caught between wanting to respect their time together and needing to keep an eye on my charge. Through the partially open door, their laughter drifts out—genuine and unguarded. No signs of his lady friend any more.

"Look what I made today!" Finn chirps. "It’s a giant, fatT!And I filled it withTwords!"

My heart swells. He fought me on practicing letters but caved once I started drawing tadpoles in top hats and tiaras, twirling tambourines, and any otherTwords we could think of, inside a giantTI cut out.

"Whoa, that is a totally tubularT," Xavier's deep voice praises.

"Is tubular good or bad?"

"Definitely good. You’re an expertTdrawer, dude."

"I know. I’m really good atTs."

"So good we should throw aTparty."

Finn giggles. "Like a tea party you drink? Or like the letterT"?

"I say we just do an all-encompassingTparty."

"Okay. Let's do a compassT-party! It means we have to shout outTwords, 'kay?"

"Terrific."

"No, I go first, Xave! I get to start."

"Totally."

"T-t-t-table!" Finn belts out, and I beam silently. He's nailing the "T" sound we worked on today. "T-t-t-tiger! T-t-t-tree!"

Then Xavier fires back with, "T-t-t-Tempestuous Turtle!"

Okay, ten points to Rockwell.Begrudgingly, but still—it's a good one. Way better than my lame "tadpole".

Finn giggles. "What does 'tempestamus' even mean?"

"It's like… a turtle with alotgoing on inside his shell."

"Huh?"

Xavier chuckles. "Imagine a little turtle with big feelings," he explains. "So, instead of being chill, he's going around flapping his little flipper arms yelling, 'I demand a bigger shell, STAT!"

"I demand a bigger shell, STAT!"Finn repeats at the top of his lungs.

"Tremble, tiny tadpoles! This turtle is tired of tolerating your terrible tomfoolery!" Xavier roars. More squeals. A few soft thumps—probablypillows flying.

"Take that, treacherous terrapins! I’ll trounce you tenfold before tea time!" Xavier continues, and color me impressed—did the boy seriously just use the words"terrapin"and"trounce"?

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