Page 84 of Eye of the Beholder
My eyes widen, and for a second I forget all about my troubles. They seem petty in the face of father–son reconciliations. “Really? What changed your mind?”
Cohen shrugs and sighs. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you some other time.”
“All right,” I say, even though I want to bug him for the story now. But he’s right; it’s Christmas Eve. We should be with our families. And maybe he’s not ready to talk about it; I don’t want to push him. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you should,” I say instead.
He tilts his head to one side. “Yeah?” he says.
“Yeah,” I say. “I mean, it’s not my place. Only you can decide that. But…you’re strong. And you love him, and he loves you.”
He considers me for a second. Then he nods and gives me a small smile, and I watch as he turns back around, trudges through the snow, and goes home.
26
Cohen
Lydia was right. I have a chance. I definitely have a chance.
I barge into Lydia’s room after talking to Mina in the backyard. Lydia looks up.
“Knock, please,” she says, frowning at me from where she’s lying on her bed, her computer in her lap.
“Mina doesn’t like Jack,” I say, sitting on the edge of her bed. I’m done pretending that I don’t have these feelings. Because I’m starting to believe that something could actually happen here, and if that’s the case, I might need Lydia’s help. Or, at very least, her input. I want this badly enough to swallow my pride. “She says she doesn’t know how she feels. But he kissed her”—I ignore the sinking feeling in my gut—“and she cried. That means something.”
Lydia narrows her eyes. “So you admit that you like her?”
I sigh. “Yes. All right? Yes.” I hesitate. “A lot.”
Her eyes narrow further. “How much?”
I throw my hands up in exasperation. “I don’t know, Lydia.” I swallow. “I’ve never felt like this.”
I can’t believe I’m having this conversation. I feel like an idiot. But…this is Mina. I’ll have this conversation if I need to.
Lydia smiles and sits up, closing her computer and setting it aside. “Excellent.”
“I have a chance. Right?” More than anything, I just want to hear Lydia confirm that.
“Absolutely. I’m not going to betray Mina’s trust. But yes.”
“So I should go for it.”
Lydia rolls her eyes. “Yes. You are way better for her than Jack. I mean, he’s nice. He’s cute. But she can do better.”
“But I don’t want to make a move if she’s with Jack.”
“No,” Lydia agrees. “But I think technicalities are acceptable here. She and Jack aren’t exclusive. They haven’t had that conversation. So I wouldn’t say she’s ‘with’ Jack.”
“How do you know?” I say.
Lydia shrugs. “I asked.”
Interesting. “Fine,” I say. “But I would still feel scummy. I mean, they’re going to the dance together.”
I am not happy about that little detail.
Lydia shrugs. “All’s fair in love and war. But if that’s not your thing, just wait it out. Keep spending time with her.”
“I was never going to stop spending time with her,” I say. I don’t know that I could stay away from her. But I don’t say that.
