Page 5 of Holiday Plus-One
“I don’t know, maybe we did and neither of us remember, we both have lived here.”
Riley shakes his head like the thought of my statement is horrifying.
“I would’ve remembered you.” He says with a sort of grunt like nobody else can hear him but it’s as clear as day because I can feel my father’s glare.
“Oh.” I say and try not to giggle as if I’m back in high school with a random crush. “You would have?”
“Most definitely.” Riley says with such conviction, I believe him.
I know he would, and I even wish that it could happen.
“Anyways,” Vic says so damn loud, it gets everyone’s attention at the table. “The wedding that’s happening soon, did everyone get what me and Trac asked everyone to bring?”
“What?” I ask because this doesn’t ring a bell.
Vic looks at me like he knew I would ask that. His brown eyes that mirror mine, give me aI can’t believe you didn’t bring itlook.
“We sent out an email to everyone about bringing something blue that matters to you, Tee-Tee.” He shakes his head as if I was supposed to know this.
“I didn’t get an email at all, Victor. It’s literally part of my job to check my emails, I would have sent an email back saying I’ll do just that.”
“Was she part of the emails you sent out, baby?” Vic asks Tracie.
She looks at him with loving eyes, but she avoids looking my way.
“I did. Oh, could it have been the email that bounced back, it seemed old, maybe Hotmail or something?”
“Hotmail?” I repeat. “I registered with my email when I RSVP’d. Like you asked.” I answer but I’m getting annoyed.
“Oh no,” Tracie says, and I know she’s being fake because that’s the same tone she used in High school. “I'm sure it was an honest mistake, I apologize. If I would’ve known which one was your email, I would have made sure you replied. Please forgive me…sis?” She says and the look in her eyes is filled with desperation, but I don’t get why.
“Sis?” I arched my brow.
“Too much?” She asks with that fakeness dripping from her lips. She chuckles when I don’t say anything.
“Maybe her name, Trace.” Riley speaks up and Tracie looks his way with an innocent smile.
“Okay, okay, I was practicing so that I can get a chance with my sister-in-law. We didn’t really get to hang out much in high school. Right, Valentina?” She says.
It becomes clear now.
She doesn’t want me to say what she was. How she treated me in high school. I bet she excluded my email from the list so that I wouldn’t show up or I’d show up empty handed.
Tracie Lattimore was a fake and is still a fake. She doesn’t deserve my brother.
Riley
Tracie hadthis look on her face that screamed she was hiding something. I don’t know what but I’m going to ask her later.
My mind goes back to Valentina as my eyes follow her to the kitchen. It’s way after dinner and dessert so really, we’re just sitting here talking. Or rather Tracie is talking to her future in-laws and the rest of us are in our own world.
“You’re asking for dad to just drop you in his living room.” Vic whispers over to me and my eyes finally leave the spot that Valentina disappeared from.
“Guess that’s the price I have to pay for another glimpse of her.”
“Bro, that’s my sister.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
