Because I have a completely different life path. Because I have to find my mom. Because dreams like that are for other people. But I don’t want to burden her, so I smile. “You handle the Earth, I’ll handle the sky.”

“Deal.” We shake on it, and then for a couple of seconds neither of us lets go. For those seconds my entire world feels right.

Back at the Morgans, I take the porch steps two at a time, then make my way into the dining room, heading for the computer. Before I get to it, a voice comes from the dark living room. “How was it?”

I startle, spinning to find the voice’s source. Emma is cocooned on the couch in an enormous fuzzy blanket with only her feet poking out, a closed book resting on the ground next to her.

“Good. Really, really good.” I realize I’m smiling again, and I do my best to smooth out my face, but I can tell by her expression that I’m only partially successful.

She sits up. “Did you like the pizza place?”

I stop my Huh? in the nick of time. Willow and I were supposedly going out to a Star Wars–themed pizza restaurant. “Delicious. Thanks for the suggestion. Willow ended up paying, so…” I reach for the money in my back pocket, but she stops me.

“Keep it. You can use it on your next date.”

I know that isn’t what my night with Willow was, but the thought sends a ripple through my body anyway. If hanging out on rooftops with Willow was a religion, I’d convert immediately.

Emma stands up now, uncoiling the blanket from around her, and yawns sleepily, and I realize she’s been waiting up for me. The thought of it gives me a strange feeling. Parents waiting up for you to get home is the kind of thing you see in families in sitcoms. I’d never pictured it happening to me.

She picks up her book, and I realize it’s a new copy of the one I’ve been carrying around. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry. “Wait. You’re reading that?” I ask.

She shrugs. “When I saw you carrying it around, I figured it must be good.” Confusion settles over me. I’m not sure how to feel about that information. Are we going to talk about the book now like a tiny two-person book club? Is she trying to suck up to me? But the book actually is good, so maybe she was actually interested? She continues. “After the tour, I texted my contact at BU’s astronomy department. I told her you’re not sure about the high school program, and she suggested you come in for a tour. She said she’d love to show you around the observatory.”