Later that night Alex came into Ava’s room. Ava was sprawled on her bed, working on an essay for English. Alex carefully moved some of the papers out of the way and then plopped onto the bed. “Thanks again for rescuing my story,” she said to Ava. “I didn’t think you’d show up.”
Ava shrugged. “I almost didn’t. But when I got home, I found Coach working in the backyard, and I asked him to bring me. I knew he was dying to hear the performance, so I told him about how he could listen from offstage without being seen and causing a fuss.”
“I think Tommy was happy, don’t you?”
Tommy suddenly loomed in the doorway. He seemed to be growing at the rate of an inch a week, Alex thought as she regarded him.
“Luke posted our new song just before the story aired, and it’s already going viral!” he said. “And he says he’s getting flooded with booking requests as far out as next spring!”
The girls looked at each other and in unison gave a big squeal of excitement.
Tommy moved into the room and gathered both girls into a bear hug, scattering Ava’s papers all over the floor.
“By the way, Al,” said Tommy, as he released them and began gathering the papers, “sorry about the whole Luke thing. I had no clue you liked him, you big goof. If I’d known, I would have told you he liked Harley. And that she’s a senior.”
“So Luke’s into older women, not younger ones,” said Ava.
“Whatever. I’m totally over him,” said Alex, and she meant it. “I talked with Emily a little while ago, and she says Greg Fowler still hasn’t worked up the nerve to ask her to Homecoming, even though everyone can see from a million miles away that he likes her.”
Ava and Tommy exchanged amused looks.
“So a bunch of us are all going together,” said Alex. “Which reminds me.” She stood up. “I have to go finish my to-do chart for Homecoming planning. I’m way behind because of the news story.”
She left. Tommy and Ava looked at each other.
“A ‘to-do chart’?” he repeated. “For a dance? Are you sure she’s our sister?”
Ava smiled. “I’m sure.”