Page 27 of How We Fooled

I flip the covers off of me and give her my own tickle attack, making her break out in a fit of giggles. “It’s okay, Mom. I was awake, and she’s getting what she deserves for coming in here.”

“Stop tickling me!” Ava says, laughing hysterically.

I stop and pick the phone back up, saying to Liza, “Sorry. I had to show my sister what was up.”

Ava jumps on me, barely moving me an inch. “Who are you talking to?”

“Liza.”

“Can I say hi?”

“Sure.” I put Liza on speakerphone and hand Ava the phone.

“Hi, Liza. I’m Ava.”

“Hi, Ava. It’s nice to meet you,” Liza replies.

Ava clicks the button to FaceTime Liza. “Let’s FaceTime. I want to see what you look like. I heard Eli telling Mom you were really pretty.”

“Ava,” Mom reprimands.

“It’s okay. Liza can know I think she’s pretty,” I say just as Liza switches the call to FaceTime.

Ava shows our mom the phone. “She is pretty. Look!”

My mom waves at Liza, and then Ava turns the phone back to herself.

“When are you going to come over?”

“Maybe sometime soon, but that’s why I was calling Eli—to see if he wanted to come to a barbecue with my family today,” Liza says.

I take the phone from Ava, smiling when I see her beautiful face looking back at me. “Yeah, I can do that. What time?”

“We’re going to Tucker and Justine’s around noon.”

“Can I come too?” Ava calls out, jumping into the screen again.

“Come on, Ava. We don’t invite ourselves to people’s parties,” Mom says. “Let’s leave Eli alone.”

“Okay,” Ava says, scooting off my bed. “It was good to meet you, Liza.”

“You too, Ava,” Liza says.

Once my bedroom door is closed, I set my pillow up on my headboard up and prop the phone on my leg so I can see her better. “Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. She’s adorable.”

“She’s lucky she’s cute, but don’t let her fool you; she can be annoying as hell sometimes.”

She laughs out loud at my thoughts about my sister. “You only feel that way because she’s your sister.”

“Yeah, probably. So, tell me about this barbecue. You know I’m down for anything with you and food.”

“I hoped that would be the case. It will just be us and Justine’s family. You can come to my place first, and then we’ll head there.”

“Sounds good. See you soon.”

We hang up, and I send Dalton and Ben a text. We were supposed to work out today, but plans change.

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