Read Online Alexis and the Missing Ingredient by Coco Simon - Free Book Online Page A

younger?” I asked.
    â€œYounger,” said Ava.
    Wow, we weren’t really getting anywhere with these one-word answers.
    â€œIs he gross?” I asked.
    â€œYes!” said Mia. “Sorry.”
    â€œI guess so,” said Ava. “Yes.”
    â€œWhat’s he up to tonight?” I asked.
    â€œProbably home watching sports with my dad,” said Ava.
    â€œOh my gosh, he is sooo obsessed with sports.” Mia laughed.
    â€œYeah,” admitted Ava.
    â€œI mean, he’s good at sports too. It’s not like all he does is watch them. Remember, we went to watch his basketball game that time . . . ,” Mia reminisced.
    Ava propped herself up on her elbow and finally laughed a little. “Yeah. And he made that three-pointer from across the court, and my momscreamed! That was so embarrassing!”
    â€œIt was hilarious! And he was, like, the champ of the game. His team picked him up and carried him around!”
    â€œOh boy, was he hard to live with after that!” said Ava.
    I felt a little better now that I’d softened up Ava.
    â€œThat’s like the time we went to Matt Taylor’s game . . . ,” began Katie.
    Aaargh!
    I wanted to crawl under my covers and stay there. She’d just undone all the work I’d done making Ava feel included. You just can’t win, I told myself. Shortly after that we all fell asleep, thank goodness. At that point, there was nothing left to do.

    The next day was beautiful, and we all woke up early, but Mia’s dad had been up even earlier and had gone out to get us delicious bagels from around the corner. They were still warm and very soft. Katie and I couldn’t stop oohing and aahing over them.
    â€œThese are good bagels,” said Ava. “But the best ones are right by my apartment. Ess-a-Bagel, it’s called. Those are really New York City bagels.”
    Katie and I glanced at each other, like, What does it matter? These bagels are delicious.
    Mia changed the subject quickly. “So let’s talk about what’s on for today. Let me get my list.”
    She returned and began reading off agenda items. “Breakfast, check. Clean up and get dressed, almost check. Shopping around the Flatiron. Maybe cupcakes at Billy’s in Chelsea. Stopping by that baking store you’re interested in, Katie. Lunch at Shake Shack. Then MOMA. Look for Wayne Thiebaud pictures. Next, Magnolia, of course. Walk through the park. Then maybe Dylan’s Candy Bar, for market research, of course. Plus, Katie there’s that place you asked about. You know . . .”
    Katie nodded. “Right! Got it.”
    I didn’t understand half of what that girl had just said! MOMA? Thiebaud? Flatiron? “Whaaaaat?” I cried in frustration, and put my head in my hands. I looked up just in time to catch Ava rolling her eyes.
    â€œHave you just never spent any time here before?” she asked icily.
    â€œWell, we’ve come in to see a lot of Broadway shows,” I said. I knew I was being defensive, but she was being . . . offensive, actually.
    â€œBut you live pretty close. You never come in for the day or anything? To shop?” Ava wondered.
    I shrugged. “My sister comes in. I’m just not all that into shopping.”
    â€œYeah,” agreed Ava, looking me up and down as if to say, I can tell.
    Well, look who woke up on the wrong side of the bed, I thought. Should have tried the air mattress, missy. But I thought of Madame Khalil again and bit my tongue.
    â€œWe should try to come in more,” agreed Katie, stepping into the fray. “We just get so busy with work and school and little events and stuff out there that it never occurs to us to come in. It is fun, though.”
    â€œI still come in all the time,” said Mia.
    â€œObviously,” said Ava. “Now, do we have to go to all these bakeries today?”
    Mia and Katie and I all