Page 98

Birdie stepped forward, her hands outstretched like she was trying to soothe him without touching him. “I didn’t say who it was,” she said gently. “But I did need to tell him what I saw. He’s been so worried about you.”
Ryde paled, but Ollie’s cheeks reddened as he looked between Ryde and Birdie and me.
“Ollie,” I said, putting an arm protectively around Birdie’s shoulders. “I said I wasn’t seeing anyone seriously because it’s against the rules for me to be dating your guidance counselor. No one needs to know about Birdie and me, just like no one needs to know about you and Ryde.”
Ryde straightened, a cool expression crossing his features. “What is there to know about us? We’re just friends.”
Ollie stiffened at the words, nodding jerkily. “Exactly. I wanted to show him Carl’s corn dog stand.”
The hurt in my son’s voice shot straight to my heart. Ollie wasn’t as good of an actor as Ryde, and his pain was as clear as the expanse of ocean before us.
“Your father was showing me the same thing,” Birdie said, breaking the silence.
Ryde snorted. “Thought he was showing you how far his tongue could reach down your throat.”
“Watch it,” I snapped. What was this little prick’s problem? Birdie had clearly kept his secret for him, and now he was treating her like this? Treating my son like he was a dirty secret?
This was ridiculous. I was a damn adult, and Birdie wanted to be with me. That should have been the end of it.
“Listen, boys,” I said, my voice low, commanding. “I’m an adult, and I’m allowed to see whoever I please, whenever I please, as long as she’s agreeable. What your parents or the rest of the school thinks doesn’t have a place in my bedroom.”
“Your bedroom?” Ollie asked, aghast. Then a look of realization changed his features. “Was Ms. Melrose at our place last Friday? Is that why you had extra dishes out?”
I didn’t respond. Not fast enough.
Ollie shook his head, turning to leave. “Come on, Ryde.”
“Hey,” I said, grabbing his arm. “You don’t just get to walk away from this.”
Ollie glared from my hand to my eyes. “You don’t get to act like you haven’t been lying to my face.”
Ollie and Ryde walked away down the pier, and I ran my hands over my face, dragging them through my hair.
Birdie stepped beside me, giving me plenty of space.
“That was awful,” I said.
Birdie blinked quickly, tears pooling in her eyes. “Can you take me home?”
I only nodded. I couldn’t speak. Not with the overwhelming feeling of dread chilling my gut.
This was it. The other shoe that had been waiting to drop.
53
OLLIE
Ryde trailed beside me as I stormed away from my dad and our guidance counselor. “Holy shit,” he said. “You didn’t know your dad was boning Ms. M.”
I shot him a look. I was so not in the mood for theatrics today.
That was until we reached the boardwalk and Ryde said, “My mom is going to have a field day with this.”
As shocked as I’d been to see my dad with Ms. Melrose, I was more surprised to hear those words coming out of his mouth. “What did you say?” I turned to face him, nearly running into a little kid.
Ryde stepped off the boardwalk into the sand, shucking his leather sandals and holding them in his fingers. “Mom’s been looking for a way to get rid of that hag all year.”
I jerked my head back. “What? Why?”