Promises (New Beginnings Book 2) by Michelle Lynn Page B

laughed, catching her hands in his and pinning them to her sides.
    His face was so close to hers that Maggie was sure he was going to kiss her. She should have turned her head. She should have done something. But she couldn't tear her eyes from his. She couldn't feel anything, but his arms on hers.
    This was Elijah. The boy she’d loved all her life, but never let herself be in love with. The boy who’d always been there for her. The boy she’d always been afraid to lose.
    This last thought snapped her out of her trance.
    "We should -" she started, breathless.
    "Go." Elijah's smiling face from a moment ago closed off and he sighed. "Maggie, I know there's a lot going on with you right now, but will you meet me tonight? I have a surprise for you."
    "Yes." As she said it, she realized that suddenly she wanted nothing more. She’d shared her final secret with Elijah the night before, and the comfort he gave her was all she now craved. It took all her willpower to sit up and climb from the bed.
    "Are you off to pick Kimberly up?" Elijah asked once they had both showered and were fixing their coffee.
    "Yeah, we'll probably just hang with Jason while Michaela is off saving the world."
    "Alright, I'll see you later then." Elijah gave her one last look she couldn't quite read, before grabbing his coffee and his keys and heading out the door. Was that nervousness she just saw? No, Elijah doesn't get nervous, she thought.
     
    ###
     
    "Two root beers coming up!" Jason sang as he put down two glasses that were overflowing with foam.
    Her glass had barely touched the counter before Kimberly was gulping it down in impressive fashion. When she finally pulled back the glass, there was a line of foam on her upper lip. Maggie smiled as she took a sip of her own drink.
    They were sitting at the bar in Jason's, waiting for their lunch to be delivered.
    "Mags," Jason said as she looked towards the door again. "I told you I could just heat something up in the microwave in back. Then we'd already have our lunch."
    "I'm not going to have Kimberly eating Hot Pockets and you shouldn't either."
    "Yes, mother." He bowed his head in mock respect and grinned.
    She laughed, and he narrowed his eyes.
    "Someone's in a good mood today."
    "So?"
    "What happened?" he asked. "Did you get some? Please tell me it was Elijah."
    "Jason! Can't I just be happy?"
    "With everything that's been going on? No." Jason walked around the back and sat on the stool next to her.
    "I just slept well."
    "Sure ..." His eyes pierced hers, and she was forced to look away.
    "You're being ridiculous," she said. "It's not like I'm always some grump."
    "But that's what I love about you." He shook his head. "This smiley stuff is just weird."
    "I think she's pretty when she smiles," Kimberly put in, taking another short break from her root beer.
    Maggie stuck out her tongue in a very un-Maggie-like fashion at Jason.
    "Maggie is beautiful all the time, Kimmy. But I know there's a reason for this." He pointed to her smile and gestured all the way down to where her foot was bouncing to some unheard beat.
    "I just woke up in a good mood." Maggie didn't want to explain to her cousin who she woke up with or what any of it meant. She was a private person, but it was more than that. The thoughts swirling around in her head were so confusing, she couldn't make sense of them enough to put them to words.
    Maybe it was her impending evening with Elijah. Maybe it was the relief of finally having her secret out there.
    She didn't know why he’d specifically asked her to come. She was usually at the house most of the time anyways but the way he asked made it seem different.
    Had he really wanted to kiss her this morning? Had she wanted to kiss him? That was the most confusing part. Her feelings for Elijah had always been complicated by her fear of losing him. She didn't believe most romantic relationships lasted. She pushed those thoughts away. For just one day, she wanted to live in the moment. She