Page 122 of Even Beneath the Stars

"What, pal?"

"I don't want Maggie to leave." His voice sounds small and quiet.

My chest tightens. I let out a heavy sigh, resting my chin on top of his head. "Me neither, buddy."

Chapter Forty-Eight

Maggie

"My mom is going to love you." I squeeze Xavier's hand across the center console of his car. "Honestly, I think she already does, and she hasn't even met you."

Xavier's jaw tightens as he parks behind my vintage Subaru Brat. His knuckles whiten around the steering wheel.

"Hey." I poke his ribs. "You faced down a screaming crowd at the Foundry. My mom's going to be a piece of cake. Trust me, you're going to be stunned at how chill she is."

"Yeah, I know. I get that. It's not…" he trails off, running a hand through his hair.

"It's not what?" I really want him to finish that sentence.

He hasn't given me anything to help me understand why he's been so doggedly putting this meeting off. The guy is one of the most confident people I know when it comes to social situations. Whether it's adults or people our age or little kids. And I get why he'd be nervous in this instance—but not to the extent that he'd be this set on avoiding it.

"Nothing."

"It's not nothing, Xave." I work to conceal the frustration in my voice. I want him to know he can tell me whatever is stressing him out about this. But yeesh, the boy doesn't make it easy. "I'm not annoyed at all that you're nervous or… uncomfortable or whatever. I just want you to let me in a little, so I know what's going through your head. Maybe I can make this less stressful."

"It's fine. I'm not stressed."

I let out a long sigh. "Okay, then—annoyed."

"I'm not annoyed."

He sounds annoyed. Clearly, we're not getting anywhere with this conversation, so we might as well get this show on the road.

"Right." I open my door, letting in a blast of cold air. Spring is finally crawling onto the scene, but evenings are still cold. "Come on, rock star. Silas is making his amazing quesadillas, and if you bail now, I'm eating your portion."

He laughs, at least. Half-heartedly, but I'll take it. I want to get inside. I know as soon as he's spent a few minutes with my mother, he'll be way more relaxed and realize he had nothing to freak out about.

Xave kills the engine and steps out onto the driveway. I thread my fingers with his, swinging our joined hands as we walk to the front door.

Mom's in the kitchen with Silas when we walk in, and her face lights right up. "Yaay! You guys are here!" She wipes her hands on a dish towel and makes her way over to greet us. "Xavier, hello! I'm so happy to finally meet you!"

Xave gifts her one of his swoon-worthy smiles. "Yeah, I'm sorry it took so long for—"

She waves a hand as she crosses the living room. "Don't apologize. You've had big things going on, I hear. And you're here now."Mom pulls him in for a hug, completely ignoring his offered hand.

His shoulders tense for a split second before relaxing into her embrace.

"It'ssonice to meet you!" Mom squeezes him tight.

"Yeah, you too." Xavier's voice comes out softer than usual.

I catch Silas smirking at me from the kitchen doorway, clearly enjoying watching Xavier navigate Mom's enthusiastic welcome. I stick my tongue out at him when Mom isn't looking.

Mom pulls back from her hug. "Oh, you're so tall!" She turns to me. "He's so tall, honey."

I laugh. "Yeah, I'm aware, mom."

"Well, you never told me he's tall."

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