Page 30 of Maggie

“In my defense, I didn’t know they’re your favorite band.”

Kelsey made a sour face and a frustrated growl.

Quickly, Maggie offered, “I can autograph something for you later.”

Kelsey’s face immediately morphed to happiness. “That would rock!”

A voice called out from down the hallway, “Kelsey, where did you run off to? Kelsey!”

A sheepish look crossed Wylder’s face. “I’m sorry. I should’ve warned you,” he said.

Maggie started,“What do you —”

Someone rushed around the corner with curly red hair poking in every direction, glasses on the end of her nose, and a determined look on her face. “Kelsey!” She spotted Wylder holding Kelsey and hurried over. “You’re the flower girl. You can’t run off like that. You’re like your mother was at your age. No wonder I have to babysit. The ceremony starts any minute now and you have to be up front.” She noticed Maggie. “Oh! Hello.”

“Hi,” Maggie said.

Wylder interrupted. “Maggie, this is my mom — Claudia.”

Claudia focused on Maggie. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

“Thanks, you too.”

Claudia looked at Wylder. “Huge improvement over Zeke.”

Wylder grinned. “Agreed.”

“What?” Maggie asked with a confused laugh.

“Nothing to worry about.” Wylder smiled at her and waved the comment off.

“Do you know who this is, grandma?” Kelsey interrupted. “She’s part of my favorite band of all time. It’s so cool she’s here!”

“What?” Claudia asked. “What are you talking about?”

Wylder cleared his throat and said, “Mom, my girlfriend Maggie... She’s... uhh... part of the band Lovely Oblivion. They’re pretty popular.”

Kelsey’s eyes widened and she stared at Maggie. “Whoa, Maggie’s your girlfriend? How cool!”

Claudia’s eyes widened with surprise then unexpected tears filled them. She covered her mouth with her hand. “Bless you. I never thought Wylder would settle down. If he’s dating again, though, there’s hope. I don’t want my boy to be alone forever. He’s already been through so much.”

Maggie’s heart broke. Maybe this fake relationship act wasn’t a good idea, after all.

“Mom!” Wylder interrupted. “None of that. I’m fine. Even if I wasn’t with Maggie, I promise I’d be okay. There’s no need to worry about me.” He set Kelsey on her feet. “Don’t you two have somewhere you need to be?”

“Oh, yes.” His mother sniffled and wiped her eyes. “Come on, Kelsey. We need to go.” She held her hand out to her granddaughter, who took it. “Nice to meet you, Maggie.”

“You, too.”

Claudia and Kelsey walked up the hallway together and disappeared around the corner.

“I’m sorry,” Wylder said. “I should have warned you earlier. My parents are here. So is my sister, brother-in-law, and niece. We’re a close family.”

Thoughts flooded Maggie’s head, but she tried to focus on their success at this charade. They only had to act like good friends, right? People always say, “Marry your best friend.” Maggie and Wylder could manage to act like good friends — hell, they were good friends. She wouldn’t even be there otherwise. Wylder was nervous enough for both of them. She couldn’t lose her cool, too.

Maggie stood on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to Wylder’s cheek. She murmured beside his ear, “We’ve got this. We can tell them later that my tour schedule became an issue so we decided to go back to friends or something amicable like that. It’ll work out. It’ll be all right.”

He blew out a deep breath. “We’ve got this.”

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