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?"

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 maybe I was.

"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.