Page 78 of Don't Leave
Unable to contain my smile because, he’s right, everything is going to be just fine with my family, I nod. “Thanks for everything.”
He climbs into his truck, starts the engine and waves to my family before backing out of the driveway. For a moment, I watch the truck until it turns the corner and disappears.
Now that Luke is gone, my sisters race toward me as they sing-song, “Cassy has a boyfriend. Cassy has a boyfriend!”
My face heats as I protest, “He’s not my boyfriend. Luke is just a friend.”
That declaration does nothing help the situation. They belt out the refrain with more exuberance in front of the house where all the neighbors can hear them. Lexie and Miranda might be phenomenal dancers, but they can’t hold a tune to save their lives. They are, unfortunately, loud. I look to my parents for help but they’re much too busy chuckling to discipline their unruly children.
As I stomp into the house, I mutter, “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Whatever you say, Cassy,” my dad says with a smile and a wink.
Ugh.
If this is what I have to look forward to, it’s going to be a long four days.
CHAPTER 23
CASSIDY
Thanksgiving Day passes by in a blur of food and extended family that camps out at our house for the day. We wake up early, prep the turkey before shoving it into the oven, and then settle back to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on the big screen. As I sit on the couch with my sisters, my dad relaxes in his recliner and my mom puttering around in the kitchen, it feels just like it used to before I flunked out of school last December.
And I’m seriously loving every single moment of it.
A little more than a month ago, I was barely in contact with my family and now I’m home, celebrating the holidays with them. Stranger than that, it actually feels normal. Even though I was unsure what to expect, I feel stupid for getting so jacked up in Luke’s truck.
Lexie, who is fourteen, makes a comment about one of the choreographed routines and suddenly both her and Miranda are jumping off the couch and copying the dancers on TV. As my gaze darts between the parade and my sisters, I realize they’re both able to imitate the performers perfectly.
My jaw drops as pride fills me. “Wow! When did you two become so good?”
“We’re both in competition dance troupes,” Lexie says as she follows the steps.
“I didn’t know that.”
It’s surprising how much they’ve grown up over the past year. Both are more mature than when I left for college fifteen months ago. As I watch them, I silently vow never to lose contact with either one of them again. It’s like I blinked, and they grew up.
And I missed it.
Even though I’m thrilled to be home again, I wish I hadn’t missed so much of their lives.
“Dance with us, Cassy!”
“Yeah, come on. It’s easy,” Lexie chimes in.
I snort. “Easy for you maybe, but not me,” I reply from the comfort of the couch. I’m still lounging in my pajamas, which also happens to be another tradition. We don’t get dressed until after the parade is over.
“Cassy, please?” Miranda sends a pleading gaze my way.
“I can’t dance like you guys.” I burrow further into my blanket, thoroughly enjoying the show these two are putting on.
Dad glances up from the newspaper he’s reading on his tablet. “She’s a hockey player, girls, not a dancer. Totally different skill set.”
My sisters laugh before continuing to beg me to join them. Even though I’m nowhere near the dancers they are, I decide to give it my best shot.
And just like I expected, I’m terrible.
Horrible, even.
