Katie gives me a strange look, but then understanding washes over her face. “I guess they don’t celebrate it in London, huh? Did you not get to come home while you were at boarding school?”

“Not usually.”

“Then what are you doing this year?” she asks.

“I’m not sure yet,” I reply. “How about you?”

We walk into the student center. I pull my mailbox key out of my bag as we approach the post office.

“Well, since this is the first one since the divorce was finalized, my mom just told me she’s planned a trip to New York City as a surprise.”

“That sounds fun.”

“We’ll see,” Katie remarks. “She’s been pretty depressed every time I’ve talked to her lately.”

“Sounds like this trip is a good idea then.”

“Yeah, it probably is.” After a brief pause, she adds, “It will be strange not watching the Lincoln game with my dad, though.”

I unlock my mailbox. Katie moves farther down the row to unlock hers. There’s nothing inside my box except for a folded piece of notebook paper. I slide it out of the metal box and into the back pocket of my jeans as I hear Katie’s footsteps approaching.

“What Lincoln game?” I ask as she appears beside me, clutching two envelopes and a magazine.

“Lincoln plays our main rival on Thanksgiving each year.”

“Oh,” I reply. “Does that mean the football team will be staying on campus all break?”

“I think so, aside from traveling to Boston for the game,” Katie replies, then looks over at me. “Why? Because of Jace?”

“No, I was just wondering,” I reply quickly.

“I’d invite you to come with me and my mom, but I’m sure my mom will get all emotional at some point, and I don’t want to subject you to that. I figured you already had plans with Thomas, Philip, and your mom.”

I have to hide the smile that forms when I imagine what that would look like.

“It’s fine,” I assure her. “We’re not very big on holidays, but we’ll probably do something.”

“You’d better figure out your plans soon,” Katie advises. “You have to let Student Services know if you’re planning to remain on campus by the end of the week.”

“That soon?” I ask in surprise.

“Thanksgiving is next Thursday,” Katie informs me.

“Wow,” I reply. “I didn’t realize it was already that close.”

My phone buzzes in my jacket pocket, and I pull it out to see a message from Thomas asking if I can meet him in his office. I reply, telling him I’ll be there in a few minutes.

“I’m going to go see Thomas.”

She nods. “Ask him about Thanksgiving!”

As soon as I’m outside the student center, I pull the creased paper from my mailbox out of my pocket. I unfold it to see a series of numbers scrawled across the top. Underneath it is a message. So you don’t have to subject yourself to another football game. A reluctant grin tugs at my mouth before I shove the paper back in my pocket.