Page 71 of Even Beneath the Stars

Maggie

Ihave 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 fromyours right???

Maggs

wtf???

Laney

I'll even settle for shirtless

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