Page 95 of Even Beneath the Stars

I chuckle, then let the smile fade as I meet her eyes. "Thanks… for the date. I had fun."

"Me too." Maggie fidgets with her phone. "Even though I might need to book a couple therapy sessions to deal with the trauma of that Insta post."

"A couple hot yoga classes and some green tea and you'll be fine."

"Hey, I actuallylikegreen tea!"

"No one likes green tea." I roll my eyes. "And anyone who says they do is lying."

Maggie's laugh fills the car. "You're such a snooty sausage."

"You do an awful lot of name-calling. Maybe pick one and stick with it."

Her eyes sparkle with mischief. "What would be the fun in that?"

"True. Name-call away."

"Thanks, Stud Nugget. I will." She shifts in her seat, shoving lightly with her hand against my knee. "So… third date? You game?"

"Damn straight." I lean back against the headrest. "I'm holding out for that third-date kiss."

"That's a lot of pressure on a girl."

Something about her words doesn't sit right. I reach over and nudge her knee the same way she just did with me. "You know I'm joking, right? I don't want you to feel any kind of pressure." I tilt my chin down slightly, my gaze serious. "There doesn't even have to be a kiss or… anything. If you're not feeling it."I flick my eyes over her face, slow and deliberate. "Seriously. I mean that."

Her smile softens and she studies me for a second with this look that makes me feel like she gets the sincerity in my words, and it feels like a connection.

I can't help wondering if maybe this is how it feels to start something that changes everything.

Finally, she shrugs, her smile ticking up in a way that's familiar. "It's fine." She licks her lips and I'm not even sure she realizes what a turn-on it is. Then she says. "I made the rule; I'm not worried… It'll be worth the wait."

Man, I love her confidence. Makes me like the anticipation even more.

"So." I glance over her shoulder out the window, then back at her. "I guess the next date is my turn to plan."

"You don't have to."

"I want to… I kind of like the whole 'date' thing."

We go over timing, and plan for Saturday evening, when she has the night off. Once I've dropped her off and I'm driving to meet the guys to jam, I'm already thinking ahead, planning the next date. I'm determined for it to be perfect. Because this isn’t just another girl, another distraction. This is something I can’t mess up. I don't want to disappoint this girl who has high standards and high values and high hopes for everything she does.

And I hate that my father's words from the other day pulse like a threat in the back of my head with that realization; in response to my determination not to let her down.

"I'm starting to think that being a disappointment is simply your natural state, boy."

I remind myself that those words are just his opinion. But man, do opinions have a way of making themselves feel like the truth. And if that's the case, then I’m in trouble with this girl. And I’m not even trying to stop it.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Xavier

"Alright, final vote," Cam says, sitting back in his chair, arms crossed. "We’re all good withSalt Vein?"

Liam and Tyler nod in agreement. I grin. "Hell yeah."

The name fits. We were all born here, raised by the tides. The ocean is in our blood, in our lungs, in the pulse of our music. It was Liam’s idea, and from the second he said it, we all justknew. It was right. Just like everything else with this band has been since day one. No forced chemistry. No clashing egos. Just music.

Cam drums out a quick rhythm on the back of his chair, grinning. "So does this mean we’re officially a band?"

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