Page 41 of Wild Stars

Howler shrugs.“You weren’t the only one who called in late this morning,” she says.“Hailee said she’d be getting in around noon, probably.”

Palo messes with his controls as Helena raises an eyebrow.

“Have fun last night?”she asks, flashing me with a smirk.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”I brush past her toward the door to the rehearsal studio.

She doesn’t relent, and I sigh in exasperation.

“Oh, come on!Throw me a fucking bone, Mateo!”she whines.

“No,” I deadpan, and I throw my guitar strap over my shoulder.

Helena only rolls her eyes.“You’re no fun,” she chides.

Her words shouldn’t bother me, but they do.

Is that really how everyone sees me?

Like some anti-social, mean dick?

I mean, they wouldn’t be wrong, but..

I wish not everyone saw me like that.

Just as I’ve finished tuning my guitar, Hailee walks in.

She’s still wearing the clothes she wore last night, her makeup is smudged to hell and back, and overall, she looks like I feel.

Like shit.

I know Ishouldsay something.Tell her to make better choices.But I know it won’t get me anywhere.

It’ll only end in an argument, and I’m too fucking tired to fight today.

“Start withSatellites?”I ask.

Hailee nods as she turns on her keyboard.

CHAPTER12

Dare

I makesure the door is shut this time, but I can’t deny that there is a part of me thatwantsto defy Matty’s orders, just so maybe...

Maybe he’ll come tramping down the hallway again and burst through this door, and...

And what, Dare?

This isn’t some Disney Channel Original Movie.

This islife,and it just isn’t fucking fair.

It’s like every time I get in the asshole’s proximity, I lose my fucking marbles, like the goblins in my brain go out to lunch or some shit.

“Rough night?”Spike drawls, crossing his arms.Like Richie, he’s tall, blond, and perfect, down to the chiseled abs and tattoos.

Ines chuckles.“He ain’t the only one.”

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