Page 108 of Tracing Holland

“Oh, ok, just checking.So she still likes me more than you, then.”

“Apparently.”

“Even though you’re dating her sister.”

“Apparently.”

“Even though you’ve had dinner with her and gave her an exclusive, solo performance at her house.”

“I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“You should have invited her to come with us today,” Callie adds.“I bet she would have loved to spend the day with you, hon,” she says, slinging her arm around his waist.

“Trust me, Cal.I love my sister dearly, but you don’t want her anywhere near your boyfriend,” Holland laughs.“You should see her room.”

“Oh really?Does it have lots of pictures of me and not Luke?”Casey quips, and I shove him forward.

“Concentrate on walking, superstar,” I tease, returning his infectious grin in spite of myself.

“I’m just saying, I’m here for you, bro.If you want me to put in a good word for you, I’d be happy to.”

I sigh and shake my head, wondering what the fallout would be for tossing someone in the stingray pool.

It’s almoststrange being out in public without Wes, but he must have finally gotten the hint because when the call went out about the aquarium, we had fewer takers than usual.I’m not surprised Eli and Sweeny opted for a trendy bar two blocks from the ACC, or that Jesse is lying low, still smarting from his flower cave embarrassment.I certainly have no complaints about time alone with the three most important people in my life, even though I can’t say I’m overly interested in fish and giant algae.

Still, I’m having more fun than I anticipated when Callie and Holland first begged me to go, and have to admit Casey’s reaction to the shark tank is probably worth its own television show.He has the entire surrounding crowd of tourists laughing at his commentary and hypothetical conversations between the sharks and fish swimming over our heads as the giant conveyer escorts us through the tunnel.

“Hey, Cal.Why are seahorses such good gamblers?”

“I’m not answering that.”

“Aww, come on!You know you want to.”

“Nope.Not answering it.”

“Why?”Holland chimes in, and yes, part of me is dying to know too after hearing all about how the sea turtle’s date had a terrible time at prom because it would only participate in the slow dances.

“Because they know when to let it ride!“

“Casey, that’s terrible.That doesn’t even make sense,” Callie groans, even though she can’t hold back her smile for long.Even I’m snickering as he grins and shrugs.The awkward, almost joke barely has time to register, however, before he’s pointing out yet another stingray for the eighteenth time.I almost lose it when the eight-year-old in front of us informs him it’s the same one he was admiring thirty seconds ago.Also, he’s eight, goes to Bradford Elementary, and has a rabbit named Oliver.His sister couldn’t come because she has an ear infection.

“I think Casey found a new BFF,” Holland observes, taking my hand.I squeeze back and chuckle.

“There’s a lot he could learn from an eight-year-old.”

“A lot more you could,” she returns.

“Eight actually wasn’t a bad year for me.The first eight were good.”

I feel her glance but don’t return it.I’m not really looking for a conversation.I’m not even sure why I said that.

“So what happened at nine?Is that when your dad got sick?”

I nod.“Yeah.And when my mom started not taking it well.”

“That makes sense.”

I shake my head.“Anyway, how much do you want to bet Casey buys a ticket to suit up and hang with the stingrays?”