Chapter One: On Pins and Needles

1 ON PINS AND NEEDLES
“She’s here!” I yelled, and pushed past my brother Remy, knocking him to the ground. “Gammy is here!”

Before Remy could complain of a concussion, I swung open the front door and raced toward her. I glanced back, catching a glimpse of Remy rubbing his head. When I turned around, I almost crashed into Dad, who was carrying most of Gammy’s bags.

“Easy now, track star.” Dad lifted the duffel bags over my head.

I didn’t stop sprinting until I reached the edge of the walkway.

“Finally!” I cheered.

I smiled wide, threw my arms around Gammy’s waist, and pulled her in for a big hug. One of those I-haven’t-seen-you-in-person-for-a-year hugs. Gammy smelled so good. Not like she’d been sitting on the plane for three hours but like she’d been baking peanut butter chocolate chip cookies instead.

“Took you long enough!” I joked.

“Guess I should stay away more often.” Gammy gave me a squeeze, a kiss on the cheek, and then a pat on the bottom.

“Gammy, I have so much to tell you. So many things to show you.” My words flew out a mile a minute.

I sure hoped Gammy had slept on the plane. We had things to do and people to meet—in person and not over a video chat. In real life no one gets frozen.

Mom helped Gammy up the last two steps into the house.

“First things first,” I said. “We have to go to the cupcake shop and meet up with the other Invincible Girls—”

“Sweetie, calm yourself.” Mom shot me the Myka, bring it down look. The one she gives me when I need to turn my energy down a notch—her words, not mine.

But I couldn’t help it—Gammy was here. That meant exciting outings, lots of laughs, amazing stories, and good food. Gammy was staying with us for five weeks. If I was lucky, I might convince her to stay longer.

“Gammy, did you bring anything cool? What are you cooking?” Questions fired out of me like I was in the three-point hoop contest and there were ten seconds left on the clock.