Her mom smiled weakly. “I wanted you to be like me—able to just keep your head down and put up with all the crap coming your way. But I knew you weren’t me.”

“She’ll never be me.”

“And that terrified me. Because I also knew what was waiting for you. But I was wrong, Lucy. I was giving you a shield when what you really needed was a sword.”

“Ah, well, neither would have gotten me into Stanford.”

“Screw Stanford.”

Lucy rocked back, raising her eyebrows.

“Sorry,” her mom said. “Yes, I did want you to go, but not for you—for me.” She sucked in her bottom lip. “I’m so sorry you inherited this from me. The truth is, I loved it here. You could be really happy at Mountain View, Lucy. After such a large high school, you might find the closer-knit community inviting. And if not, well, there’s UC Berkeley and Rice and NYU and Wellesley College—anywhere you want to go across the country. Though part of me hopes you won’t do that.”

“What?”

“Go across the country.” She skimmed her finger along Lucy’s necklace. “Not now that we’re finally figuring out how to do this.”

“And by this you mean . . .”

“Be a family.”

Of all the reasons to pivot, Lucy thought that sounded like a pretty good one. Besides, NYU, Boston? She shivered just thinking of the snow. She didn’t look good in parkas.

(Oh, who am I kidding? If anyone can rock a parka, it’s me.)

THIRTY–SIX

FRIENDS AND FAMILY ROUND • A startup’s first round of capital, usually from “investors” who are family and friends

“GUMBEROO’S LOOKING GOOD ON you, kid,” Maddie said.

Danny was wearing every piece of gear Esmé had sent.

“And smelling even better. Why, if I didn’t recognize these freckles . . .” Maddie leaned down and pinched his cheeks. “I’d swear a pterodactyl had flown off with my little brother. Though of course she’d drop him the second she got a whiff of those stinky socks.”

“Hardy har har,” Danny snickered. “What makes you think the pterodactyl would be a she, anyways?”

“What makes you think it wouldn’t be?”

“Okay,” Danny said.

“Okay,” Maddie said, hoping such an acceptance never became more difficult for him.

They were almost to the end of their campus tour, and she still couldn’t believe he was actually here—and that it was all because of Lucy and Delia, though Delia had given Lucy all the credit.

Maddie shouldn’t have been surprised. With everything that had gone on the past few days, nothing should surprise her anymore.

One thing definitely didn’t: Sadie’s initial cold shoulder upon meeting Danny, which was entirely in character. As was Danny’s reaction: that crooked grin that no one could resist.