I feel terrible for her.
A frightening thought occurs to me. She may be having fantasies about and a connection with our 24-year-old coach. But everyone at Greenbridge would flip their collective lids over Rushmore and me. I know I can trust Addie to keep it a secret, but I honestly don’t know how I’m going to keep it all under wraps.
I have to. My Dad might never be around, but I’m pretty sure he’ll try to kick Rushmore’s ass when he finds out.
21
Hunter
It’s chilly in Central Park but my excitement about being here more than warms me up. And the fact that we are about to go on my dream date helps too. That is, if I can get Rushmore on board with this idea.
The Greenbridge Academy all-school winter musical production of The Sound of Music went off without a hitch—well, nearly without a hitch, until the original Captain Von Trapp had to drop out and be replaced at the last minute with none other than Ms. Fairhope’s gruff, tattooed boyfriend. I don’t pretend to understand her ways or why she thought that would work, but he somehow, reluctantly, pulled it off.
I was still elated and exhausted over the show when Rushmore swept me away after the closing curtain and onto his private jet for the promised trip to Manhattan.
His opulently appointed penthouse at the Rushmore Hotel on Fifth Avenue is beyond my wildest dreams. Certainly more ornate than any place I’ve ever stayed in.
As I was so tired from all the work on the show, Rushmore simply let me rest that first night, cradled sweetly in his big, protective arms.
I don’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me before why Rushmore wanted to whisk me away to New York, but now I understand. We’ve spent the entire day after our arrival walking hand in hand in broad daylight, kissing and canoodling on park benches, and eating delicious food off each other’s plates. He’s told me about his latest business dealings, and he seems interested when I tell him all about Ms. Fairhope and what she told me about Vince and his foster son, Max. And not once was either of us concerned about where my parents were, or if anyone was around who might know us. So far, it’s been the most freeing day of my whole life.
And now, I want to go on a carriage ride with my reluctant boyfriend.
The last time I was in New York City, I’d been on a chaperoned t
heater class trip. On that theater trip, we’d seen the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, the Twin Towers Memorial, and a number of other must-see destinations.
Rushmore is a very different kind of chaperone. So when he asks me what I’d like to see and do in the city, I suggest doing something he’s never done before.
“How could you not fall in love with those big brown eyes?” I plead.
“I’m more concerned with what comes out the back end,” Rushmore says, eyeing the majestic creature I’m petting.
I pout. “Come on.”
“A carriage ride?” he says, trying his best not to audibly scoff.
As if he could talk me out of it now that I have my hands on an actual horse.
“I’ve always wanted to do it; you said you’ve never done it. Please?” I plead.
Rushmore kisses me gently on the tip of my nose and slips a hand around my waist. “How can I say no? It’s your big brown puppy eyes I can’t resist.”
I squeal as we mount the carriage.
He agrees, with the understanding that my meeting he’s arranged for me with the talent agency is in an hour.
“I’m really proud of you, you know,” I say to him once we’re making our way around the park.
He quirks an eyebrow at me. “Why?”
“Well,” I say, “I overheard Ridley a while back saying that you had had a talk with her about work ethic. She was complaining that you were taking off to New York for Christmas and she was actually doubting whether she was going to get any guilt presents this year.”
Rushmore’s posture goes rigid and his face is blank. “I don’t want to talk about Ridley or family stuff. It’s Christmas. Let’s just enjoy the moment.”
I shrug and try again. “We can get to know each other and talk about personal stuff while still having a good time and not forgetting about Christmas.”
“It’s just…it’s going to take me a while to get used to talking about personal things.”