Page 46 of No Rhyme or Roughing
Sullivan sighed and pushed to his feet. “Be kind to her, then.” He shook his head. “What am I saying? Of course you will. Sam still says you’re the kinder twin when we’re fighting.”
“You two fight?” I wasn’t proud of it, but I liked hearing that. Sam and I had an easy relationship. We rarely argued.
He laughed. “Oh, all the time. She likes to rile me up. It’s like a fire burning inside of her, and it can’t be put out.” He paused for a moment. “But I wouldn’t want to.”
As he left me to my thoughts, I couldn’t help thinking they’d been right all along. Love was supposed to bring out the best and the worst in someone. Had Sam and I not fought because we hadn’t cared enough? Or maybeneither of us had felt safe enough in the relationship to know we wouldn’t break because of it.
Shit, I didn’t want to stop resenting them. My phone dinged with a text, saving me from spiraling.
Sydney: Meet me at Golden Gate Park in an hour.
It never occurred to me to say no.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
SYDNEY
I paced in front of the bench, back and forth. Back and forth.
Ryder had agreed with a simple, “Okay.” Now, I waited.
He was going to kill me for this plan.
The park was crowded today with tourists getting a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was one of our typical hazy days, so the view across the bay wasn’t the best, but the bridge itself was still a magnificent sight. It wasn’t just a bridge. I mean, it was, but it felt important. I’d always driven across it in awe every time I went to Sausalito.
The crowd wasgood. We needed people.
Dancing wasn’t just about the steps, despite my entire career as a choreographer suggesting otherwise. It was also about feeling comfortable, brave, and taking risks. I used to come here as a teenager to practice before dance recitals. If I could dance here, I could get up on any stage.
A throat cleared behind me, and I turned to find Ryder standing there, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans. He wore a long-sleeved black shirt stretched across his chest, the team’s name emblazoned in giant gold letters. His hair was damp, but the wind would dry it soon enough.
“Hi.” He didn’t move.
I blinked. “Hi.”
Just last night, we’d shared secrets, danced in the living room. And now, it was like we didn’t know each other at all. I refused to be embarrassed about what I’d shared, refused to dwell on it.
Right now being the exception, of course.
“Hi,” I repeated.
His lips hooked to the side. “We did that already.”
“So, we did.”
He breathed out a laugh. “You look beautiful.”
I wished he wouldn’t do that. Looking down, I took in my gray leggings and oversized green shirt. “Sure.” I turned, heading for the open space between a series of benches I’d already chosen.
“What are we doing here?” He ran to catch up.
“Dancing.”
“Here? In the park?”
I looked back over my shoulder when I reached the speaker I’d set out. “As if the ice is a less weird place.Come on, take those shoes off. We’re doing this barefoot.”
He did as I asked while I found the Benson Boone song I’d been looking for. I hit play, and his smooth voice vibrated from the speaker.
