“You’re all in trouble,” Mom teased. “Do it again and I’ll burn the bread.”

A collective gasp damn near shook the room. Mom’s homemade garlic bread was just about as close to heaven as one could get.

“Never again,” I said.

“Promise,” Tessa added.

Sean laughed, and the rest of us followed. When Dad came in and instantly stuck his finger in the pot, it only made us laugh harder. The sounds filled the kitchen, and the ache in my chest that always missed my brother soothed a fraction. Normally I’d already be up in my room, headphones on, sneaking in two hours of coding before dinner, but not tonight. Family nights like this were rare, and after the day I’d had, it was beyond welcome.

The thought made me return to Sean’s first words to me, and I sat there wondering why I’d been a grinning fool when I’d walked in. It wasn’t Code Club, because kill me now. No, it had to be the rush of the challenge Amber had set up. This ultimate bet with someone who would put up a proper fight. The idea of crushing her in this competition had fueled that ridiculous smile on my face earlier, that’s all.

I set the table and then Mom dished the plates. Sean launched into stories from MIT and Inkheart, and I soaked it in. His tales were enough to make me drool—his future so solid and close to the dreams of my own. Sean was eons ahead of me, but I’d catch up to him one day. As long as I earned my acceptance letter from MIT, but that wouldn’t happen until March. Months away. Then the battlefield would be even and never ending.

“Anyone want to shed light on what went down today?” Mom asked, glancing at Dad.

He nodded. “We received an interesting email from Principal Tanner earlier.”

“What did it say?” Tessa blurted, her mouth half full.

I tilted my head, slowly finishing the last bites on my plate.

“Something about someone…” He cleared his throat. “Porn-bombing his presentation?”

Mom choked on her bite, she laughed so hard.

Sean snorted.

“It wasn’t porn.” I rolled my eyes. God, if Tanner thought a few CW make-outs were porn… “Someone just put a few kissing clips over his sex is the road to death video.”

Dad arched a brow at me.

“I’m not that stupid,” I said.

“Oh, honey, we know that,” Mom said, reaching over the table to touch my wrist. “And I said as much when Principal Tanner called to confirm you were home last night.”

Dad grumbled as he stabbed a meatball on his plate. “Sometimes I wonder if Wilmont’s stellar academics are worth the ancient approach they have to certain forms of education.”

“It’s fine,” I said.

“But Tessa mentioned he got on to you about the video?” Mom asked, eyeing us both.