‘I think I better ask you to come in,’ Olivia said, realising for the first time that she wasn’t even wearing a coat.
‘I’d love that.’ Jackson smiled and she realised why she didn’t need one.
‘Oh, there’s just one last thing,’ Jackson said. ‘The new character is a goth, so you might want to get some tips from that twin of yours.’ He winked.
Olivia grinned. ‘Took you long enough.’
Ivy was only a little embarrassed about being caught watching Olivia and Jackson. When they walked into the living room together, they looked so right together that she wished she’d never tried to keep them apart.
Olivia looked like she was going to burst with some news.
‘I got a part in the movie!’ she announced.
‘Yay!’ Ivy cheered. Mrs Abbott clapped and Mr Vega looked like he knew it was going to happen all along.
As Jackson introduced himself and explained to her parents about Olivia’s part and that she would only miss two days of school, Ivy went over to Olivia and whispered, ‘Did he ask you out again?’
‘No, it was all very professional.’
‘Not all of it,’ Ivy hissed back. ‘I saw the way he was looking at you!’
‘Can I get you a drink, Jackson?’ Mrs Abbott said.
‘No, thank you, but do any of those delicious-looking snacks have meat in them?’ he replied.
‘We’re vegetarians,’ Mrs Abbott explained.
‘Excellent!’ Jackson said. ‘Me too.’
Ivy smacked her hand to her forehead. Typical. Only she would mistake a vegetarian for a vampire.
‘But what about that burger that Curtis gave you?’ Olivia asked. ‘I believe the exact words were “hunk of cow”?’
Jackson had his hands full with crackers dipped in hummus. ‘Oh, he was just teasing. That burger is the best garden burger on the circuit – and Curtis keeps that oven just for us veggies to make sure there’s no contamination.’
Olivia let out a little sigh.
They really are perfect for each other, Ivy thought.
Jackson cleared his throat. ‘There is one other thing I would like to ask your permission for; something that isn’t on the forms.’
Ivy and Olivia watched as their parents looked at Jackson.
‘I would like to take Olivia to the movies tomorrow night.’
Olivia grabbed Ivy’s hand, and Ivy smiled. Jackson had already won over Mr Vega just by asking, and Mr Abbott stood up to shake Jackson’s hand. Mrs Abbott let out an Olivia-like squeal and went to get her camera.
‘That is, if you’ll go with me?’ Jackson said to Olivia. ‘It’s your decision, after all.’
‘Of course I will,’ she said.
Ivy plonked down on the carpet next to her dad’s chair, happy that everything had worked out. There was nothing better in the world than seeing her sister happy. Nothing could spoil things now. She nudged over a little, to avoid the airline sticker on his bag that was poking against her neck.
She pushed it away and read the letters LAX. That’s not Dallas, Ivy thought. That’s Los Angeles.
Ivy watched everyone follow each other into the kitchen for some lemonade, but stayed sitting on the couch alone. Is Dad telling us the whole truth . . .? Ivy wondered. Why would he lie?
Her phone beeped with a text message from Brendan: ‘Everything all right now?’
Ivy texted back, ‘I’m not sure . . .’
Could there be another secret to unravel?