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Ryde looked at me like I was the crazy one. “Maybe because she’s obsessed on wasting my time learning about college when everyone knows I’m going to get an acting deal. The only reason I don’t have one now is because Dad wants me to graduate from the Academy.” He rolled his eyes like his dad was the stupidest person alive, but I was beginning to think maybeIwas.
“That’s her literal job, Ryde,” I said. Birdie had done so much for him, including keeping his secret. He owed her at least a little respect. “What else is she supposed to talk to you about in those meetings?”
“Maybe she could help me make connections with alumni. Or just skip them like my mom wants her to.”
I narrowed my eyes at Ryde. “Aren’t you the one who’s frustrated your parents are controlling your life? Maybe Ms. M’s just trying to give you a way out.”
Ryde scowled, shaking his head. “She has no idea about my life.”
I shook my head, stepping underneath the pier and walking toward the beach. I couldn’t believe Ryde. I’d just found out my dad had been lying to me, and all we were talking about was Ms. Melrose and his acting career? Why wasn’t he asking how I was feeling? Because right now, my stomach was just as wavy as the ocean.
“What?” Ryde said, walking behind me.
I stopped at the water’s edge and turned back to him. “I’m fine, thanks for asking.”
The slats of wood above cast long shadows over his body, just as perfect as ever. But I couldn’t see that now. No, all I could see was the way one side of his mouth rested higher than the other. The way the tips of his ears protruded through his hair. He wasn’t as beautiful as he’d been moments ago.
“Lee,” he said, using his special name for me. “I’m sorry.” He glanced around, and when he was sure no one was watching, he took my hand. “It’s okay. If they didn’t want to get caught, they wouldn’t have been in public.”
I pulled away from him, shocked, disgusted. “That’s my dad, Ryde.”
He nodded. “And you hate him.”
My eyebrows drew together. “I was mad at him for being nosy. I was complaining about him. But he’s still my dad.”
Ryde stepped forward again, taking my shoulders in his hands. “Lee, I’m sorry. I know that must have been crazy to see your dad like that.” His hazel eyes studied mine before coming closer for a kiss.
My brain short-circuited. Ryde was kissing me.
In public.
My heart beat faster as his fingers worked through my curls, and I took his face in my hands, kissing him back.
Asking Ryde to keep my father’s secret could wait.
54
BIRDIE
Confession: I’m the ugliest crier.
We rode back to his house in silence, because what was there to say?
His son had seen us making out and been none too pleased about it. Ryde Alexander was there too, and if he had half the distaste for me that his mom did, Pam Alexander would have me and my bird on our asses in two seconds flat. I was so stupid. So stupid to have let my heart get in the way of my head. So stupid to ever have left that apartment with him in the first place. Stupid to think a rebound was what I needed to fix my broken heart.
It felt broken now, and I didn’t even know if I’d lost my job or not. Didn’t even know if Cohen wanted to deal with all this drama.
I fought tears the last half of our drive, and when Cohen reached over to hold my hand, I let my fingers rest in his. He wanted to fix this—I could tell—but what could possibly be fixed?
He pulled his car into the apartment building’s parking garage and turned it off with a sigh. “Let’s go upstairs and order some food. Think this through. The next school board meeting isn’t for another couple weeks, but maybe Headmaster Bradford will agree to a probation until then. If it’s even a big deal. Just because it’s a rule doesn’t mean they’ll enforce it.”
I lifted Cohen’s hand to my lips and kissed his knuckles to stop the nervous stream of words flowing from his mouth. “You don’t need to do a thing.”
His expression was guarded. “What do you mean?”
I shook my head, looking out the window at the dim lot and cars parked about. My car was only a few spots away. “I mean I think we’ve done enough damage for one day.”
“Damage? Birdie, we were just kissing on the pier like adults.”