Page 107 of Tracing Holland

“How’d I do?”I ask as we make our way back toward the hotel.

“You were amazing,” Holland says, taking my hand.“They freaking love you.”

“Well, Sylvie anyway.”

She laughs.“Not as much as Casey, though.”

“Did you know about that?”

“That she’s obsessed with Casey Barrett?To be honest, Casey probably knows that.Ask him about Sylvie Drake.I’ll show you her room on Thursday.”

My grin fades.“About that.Thanksgiving Dinner?I’m honored to be invited, but…” I’m hoping I don’t have to finish that sentence.Holland’s eyes narrow, informing me that I will.

“But what?”

“I don’t know, that’s an intimate thing, isn’t it?Thanksgiving Dinner?Wouldn’t you rather spend that time alone with your family?”

She scoffs, and I know I’ve lost.“No, I’d rather spend that time watching the most important people in my life get to know each other.”

“I know, but I’m sure your parents want to see you.”

“Luke, do you have any idea how happy my mom is right now?That she gets to break out her good china?I swear, she will have it out and set by the time we get to our rooms.You also watched six innings of Jays with my dad.He’ll date you at this point if I don’t.I haven’t seen them so happy since Wes and I broke up.”

I nearly cough.“Wait, what?I thought you said they wanted you to get married.”

“Oh, hell, no,” she laughs.“They were always polite to him, but he did not click with my family at all.They thrive on the ribbing and he doesn’t have much of a sense of humor anymore if you haven’t noticed.”

“Yeah, I noticed.”

“He used to when we were younger.”She sighs and shakes her head.“Anyway, his family was a lot more upset about the breakup than mine, which makes no sense since they also blame me for his ‘betrayal.’I think it was more because they were embarrassed than any concern for him…You know they basically disowned him when he chose music and Tracing Holland over the family business?”

“Really?Wow.”

“Yeah, he comes from money.Like,seriousmoney, and he just walked away from all of it for me, to pursue our dream of music.He’s so talented but grew up being shamed for it.They were never fair to him.They didn’t get it, or him, for that matter.Gosh, some of the shit they used to say to him?”She sucks in her breath.“I remember this one time back in high school they told him if he played a show with me instead of attending some stupid dinner for his dad’s company, not to bother coming home.They actually locked him out.I’m not kidding.He had to sleep at our place for four days before they’d let him back in.”

I’m not sure how to respond.I’m sorry for that guy, that version of Wes.But there’s another version that’s punched me in the face.Twice.

“It means so much to me that you’ve been so patient with him.I know it’s taken a lot for you to show mercy and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

I clench my jaw, still struggling with this whole conversation.I know I’m supposed to be basking in her praise, maybe finding a small ember of forgiveness, but all I’m getting out of it is more evidence of how much I must really love her.

“So Thursday,” I continue, preferring that uncomfortable topic over the current one.

“Yes, Thursday.You’ll come?”

“Do I have a choice?I mean I don’t want to insult my future in-laws,” I joke, and she winces.

“Yeah, uh, sorry about that.They were just trying to humiliate me, don’t worry.”

I laugh.“Your parents yes, not so sure about your sister.”

Casey doesn’t recallthe name Sylvie Drake, but loves the fact that my girlfriend’s sister is using me to get to him.

“So tell me this story again?”

I roll my eyes and take a sip of my coffee as we walk through downtown Toronto toward today’s adventure, some aquarium by the CN Tower.Callie and Holland are grinning, loving this almost as much as Casey.

“None of the details have changed in the last twenty minutes, Case,” I mutter.

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