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“Only for fun.”
“Well, I’m not sure if this would be too much with everything else you have going on. But I have a friend in New York who’s casting for a Broadway musical next spring. They’ll have a full orchestral accompaniment, and I happen to know she’s looking for a pianist. If you’re interested, I can pass along your name and number. See if it might be a good fit?”
I glance at Kit again. I’m not sure he’s standing close enough to overhear our conversation, but I know what he’d say if I asked him.
“That sounds great,” I tell Professor Aldridge. “Please do.”
She beams. “Wonderful. I will. It was lovely to see you, Collins.”
“You too, Professor Aldridge.”
“Leslie, please.” One final smile, and she continues along the pathway.
I head for Kit.
“You booked a gig?” he asks, a wide, proud smile on his face.
“I maybe got an audition,” I correct.
His smile doesn’t falter. “That’s amazing, Monty. I’m proud of you.”
I rise up on my tiptoes, giving him a kiss—arealkiss, with tongue and everything—despite the fact that my parents are twenty feet away, waiting for us so we can all head to our seats.
Kit grins against my mouth as Dylan gurgles between us.
It’s a perfect moment. Not one of the hard ones my dad alluded to. But I know Kit’s who I want to stick those out with too.
49
I’m pouring coffee into my mug when Collins stumbles into the kitchen.
I smile. “How’s my baby?”
She yawns. “He’s fast asleep. Must be nice.”
“I meantyou, Monty.”
Lili pretends to gag, stabbing a piece of waffle. “I’m eating here. Can you not with the pet names?”
I hand Collins the mug, then fill a second one for myself, ignoring my sister. “You hungry?”
“Yeah.” She yawns again, so I steer her over to the table by her shoulders and into a chair.
“Did you decide what you’re wearing tomorrow?” I hear Lili ask Collins as I start to fix her a plate.
“No. But Dylan has these really cute striped overalls.”
“Okay, then we’re going shopping after breakfast,” Lili says. “Blue will look best with your hair.”
We’re in the Hamptons for the Fourth of July. Tomorrow is my grandmother’s annual Red, White, and Blue party.
“Can we go this afternoon?” Collins suggests as I set a plate down in front of her. “I was going to see if Kit wanted to go sailing this morning.”
“Really?” I glance at her, startled.
Last I knew, her feelings about the ocean hadn’t changed.
“Yeah.” She bites her bottom lip, holding my gaze. “Your mom said she’d watch Dylan. But we don’t have to if you don’t?—”