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Ava beams. “My home is her home.”
Mom hugs her again. “We’d better get going. None of us got much sleep last night, and Mia’s going to bounce off the walls because she had too much sugar.”
Ava hugs me, then waves as Mom, Dad, and I leave the house. Dani and Easton wish me goodbye with hugs, then they hug my parents for probably the millionth time before we all get in the car.
Mia, sitting beside me, beams at me. “This was my best audition ever! I think I totally nailed it.”
“Yeah? Tell me what happened.”
As we drive home, she relays each and every detail about her weekend. Mom and Dad add in a few things here and there. I’m so excited for my sister. I want her dreams to come true.
I stretch my arm over her shoulder. “I’m so proud of you.”
Her smile widens. “When I win my first Oscar, you’ll be the first person I thank.”
“Me? Why?”
“Because you’re always so determined to do what you want, and you never give up. I learn so much from you.” She frowns. “Fine, I’ll say it. You’re my role model and you inspire me.”
Laughing, I hug her closer. “You inspire me, too.”
“Cool!”
Her words remind me of what Colt said to me the other day, that I’m determined to go after what I want. It’s weird, but I kind of miss hanging out with him. At least we’ll see each other tomorrow.
Later that night, when I’m sitting in bed smiling at all the new downloads and activity on my app, I get a text.
Colt: Hey, Willow. I hope you’re still up. I just wanted to tell you I had a great time with you today and can’t wait to see you tomorrow. Good night, Tech Queen.
I read the text a few more times. He can’t wait to see me?
Right. Of course. We’ll have to put on a show tomorrow for the entire school.
I stupidly forgot for a second about the fake dating thing…
Willow: Me, too. Good night.
I snuggle under the covers and try to sleep. But I can’t. I keep replaying what happened at bowling over and over in my head.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Willow
Peter drops me off at my house after book club the next day, and after waving at Ava and Aidan, I stab my key in the lock and push the door open. Happy chatter attacks my ears. It sounds like Mia and…is that Colt?
I hang up my jacket and peek into the dining room. Sure enough, Mia and Colt sit at the table with a laptop between them and Mia’s homework in front of her.
I watch Colt for a few minutes, taking in the way his face lights up as he laughs with Mia. It reminds me of the fun we had yesterday at bowling, and my stomach flutters in such a foreign way. I’ve gotten flutters before, but they were never because of a guy. I’ve gotten them when I won my first coding award and when I won the robotics competition. Those were flutters of excitement. This one, though? I have no idea what it means.
After realizing that I’m staring at Colt like a creep, I push away that flutter and march into the room. A female-sounding AI voice says, “Yes, Mia, I can help you find the circumference of a circle. But only if you apply yourself.”
“How does she know I don’t apply myself?” Mia says with a giggle. “Tutor, what gives you the impression that I don’t apply myself?”
“That is my preliminary assessment of you,” the AI voice says from the program on the computer. “You are constantly sidetracking or changing the subject.”
Mia’s face and jaw pop wide open.
“She’s on to you,” Colt says with a chuckle. His eyes land on mine and he straightens up in surprise. “Willow, hey.”
