Page 165 of Shy Girls Can't Date Rockstars
“Your influence. It’s good.”
“I’m not trying to handle him.”
“No, you’ve connected to him.” Miranda turns to face me, and there’s red lines around her eyes. “Just like your mother could connect with people. You’re annoyingly good at it.”
“Look, whatever you think is going on between me and Ryder…”
“You don’t manipulate him,” Miranda says quietly. “You don’t manage him. You just stayed, and somehow that was the thing he needed.”
I shrug it off, not wanting to think about Ryder right now. “I just showed up.”
“Exactly.” Miranda leans against the counter, for the first time abandoning her perfect posture. “I found Ryder at a small town open mic night. He was just a kid, playing to a minuscule crowd of locals, and he was incredible. It had been years since I’d heard such distinctive vocals and guitar riffs. I couldn’t believe it when I saw him leave the stage, trembling and pale. I knew, if I could mold him, I could turn him into a true star.”
I think about him on stage at The Factory and say, “And you did.”
“I found him with his mother, who was coaching him out of his nerves. They were both in such a state, they barely took in what I said. I needed to buy them a meal at a local diner to make them focus and accept my proposal.”
“It was their decision to say yes.”
“I was careful about every single move I made. I had to. My last business crumbled, but I wasn’t willing to leave my industry behind. Alice, I strategize all my moves, but since seeing you and him interact, it’s made me remember…” Miranda pushes off the counter and smooths back her hair. “I remember how my sister used to listen to me and let me dream. Sarah’s maternal side came on early, and she was more of a mother to me than our actual mother. I had forgotten…”
I watch Miranda drift away with her memories.
“I had forgotten what the presence of family can do to a person.” She lets out a faint laugh, admitting, “This week, in meetings, I’m fighting for Ryder in a way I haven’t done before. Almost like something maternal is coming out in me.”
I clear my throat, throwing a thumb behind me. “You didn’t exactly seem thrilled when his parents turned up.”
Miranda sighs, averting her gaze. “It’s a work-in-progress, dear. And now he’s gone, squandering tonight’s tutoring session.”
“A session I never agreed to, remember?”
“Alice, are we really…”
“It’s moot anyway,” I cut her off. “He’s left with his parents. If we’re going to study, we should just leave it until tomorrow.”
“You can’t do it tomorrow. Your social worker is coming for her follow-up visit.”
“Ryder should be able to spend time with his family. He’s already sacrificed so much time with them.”
“That’s what it takes in this industry. Sacrifice.” Miranda crosses her arms. “I can’t have him fail. You know, it’s not just English. He needs help with physics, economics… Ugh, he really let his grades slide. I can’t listen to one more word from Kensington about graduation.”
“If you could spend one more evening with your parents, wouldn’t you sacrifice time off work to take it?” I ask, hoping her humanity shines through. “Or what about your sister?”
“Alice, I…” She groans and waves me off. “I already made my choices.”
“I’m not talking about the past. I’m talking about right now. What if there was a chance for you to see my mom again? Wouldn’t you take it?”
Her hands rest on her hips, and she lets out a tired sigh. “Why are you asking me this?”
“I want to know if you care.”
Miranda gestures to the kitchen door and starts moving. “Come with me. I need to show you something.”
The familiar, unsettled feeling sloshes in my stomach. “Umm, okay.”
“Follow me upstairs.”
Upstairs? I hope she only means one flight of stairs.
