Page 105 of Tracing Holland

“Sylvie!Don’t you dare!”Holland cries, and now my interest is piqued.

“No, she didn’t.Just that it was a good career boost for her.”

“Yeah, it was.She also listened to all your albums like a million times for two weeks straight.Morning, noon, and night.Oh!And kept gushing about your genius…blah, blah, blah.Seriously, I’ve got all the texts to prove it.”

“Sylvie!”

I laugh.“Really?Wow.I’m flattered.”

“Yeah, she stole them too.Downloaded them from my account.Didn’t even pay for them.”

“Oh my god, Sylvie!”Holland grabs my arm and starts yanking me up the stairs.

“What?It’s the truth.She owes you like fifty bucks!”Sylvie calls after us.

When we reach the top, her parents are doing their best to hide their laughter, and draw to an abrupt stop when they see us.Holland’s glare turns on them.“Seriously?I’m home for thirty seconds and you have to embarrass me in front of my boyfriend?”

We all freeze.Their expressions change, and I swallow, the previous butterflies transforming into cyclones in my stomach.Holland realizes her slip as well and blushes.

“Boyfriend?”her father asks, gazing back and forth between us.

She takes my arm and glances up at me briefly before focusing back on her family.“Ok, so, remember how I told you I wanted to talk to you about something?”she begins hesitantly.

They clearly remember.They clearly didn’t think this was going to be the topic.

“Luke and I have gotten close.Like, really close.Like bring him home to meet my family close.”She gives them a sheepish look.“Surprise.”

There’s another brief moment of silence before five bodies jump at the sudden, ear-splitting screech erupting from behind us.Sylvie Drake launches herself into my arms, almost knocking me into the wall.

“No way!No freaking way!No way no way no way!”There’s no air left in my lungs when she’s done with me and turns her passionate approval on her sister.

“Ahh!I can’t believe this!This is amazing!”she cries, clinging to her sister.“Luke Craven is going to be my brother-in-law!”

Holland only laughs and returns her embrace.“Um…way ahead of yourself, hon.”

Suddenly, the younger woman pulls back and stares at us in horror.“Oh crap…I was kidding about the music!She didn’t steal it!I mean, she did, but I’m sure she paid for it later…like, with a donation or something…I…don’t be mad at her!”

I just laugh and shake my head.“It’s all good,” I assure her, before braving a glance back at Holland’s parents who are still studying us in silence.I can’t read their expressions but her mother doesn’t seem happy.

“Holland, I really wish you had told us.”

Holland looks away, and my heart sinks.“I know, mom.I knew it would be a shock.I just wanted to be able to talk about it in person.It’s good.It’s really good, and I wanted you to see for yourself.I knew if you met him…”

Her mother places her hands on her hips and shakes her head.“Well, that may be so, but I really would have wanted to use the good china had we known you were bringing your boyfriend home.”

In a career built on interviews,I’ve never been asked so many questions in such a short period of time.Most are easy, some are tough, a few are hilarious.My favorite is the barrage about Casey when it turns out Sylvie Drake may love the idea of having me as a brother-in-law, but is a fervent, card-carrying member of Team Casey.Holland snickers as I answer forty percent of the questions and casually deflect the rest.I’m pretty sure Case doesn’t want me sharing his underwear preferences with the world.Holland literally spit out her mouthful of water when that one got tacked on to an inquiry about his favorite television show.

“Alright, sweetheart, enough about Casey.Maybe Luke would ask him for an autograph for you?”James says.

“Sure.He’d love it.I’ll get a signed stick for you,” I assure her, mostly to see Holland’s radiant smile again.

“That would be amaaaazing!”Sylvie sighs, melting before our eyes.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“More lasagna, Luke?Salad?Bread?”Annie asks.“You sure I can’t get you a glass of wine?”

“Oh, no thank you.I’m stuffed.It was delicious.”