Page 27 of Kissing the Debutant
Mia took a fry and pointed it at Jack. “He can’t get it into his thick skull that there’s someone who doesn’t like him.”
She looked sideways at her son. “Jack, I’m sure there are plenty of people who don’t like you.”
Waves of laughter escaped Mia, and she almost spit out her food.
Jack gave his mom a wry smile. “Thanks a lot.”
“I’m just saying, you can’t let it stop you. Feelings change. Show her there’s nothing not to like about my boy.”
“Oh, there’s plenty.” Mia continued laughing.
Jack threw a fry at her, and the cheese stuck to her cheek as the fry fell to the table. Her entire body froze as her jaw fell open. “You did not just do that.”
Jack’s mom stood. “If you two start a food fight in my place of work, I’m making you clean it up. Now, my almost-adult son, the boy I know doesn’t give up, what are you going to do to make this girl see she’s wrong about you?” She didn’t wait for an answer as she turned on her heel and marched back to the kitchen.
Jack pursed his lips as he stared at Mia. “How do you feel about breaking into Defiance Academy?”
* * *
Okay, they wouldn’t be breaking in exactly.
There was one person at Defiance Academy who wasn’t like the others. Wylder Anderson grew up in Twin Rivers and even attended the public school until she’d gotten herself kicked out the year before.
Yes, she wasthatWylder. The sister of a country music star and a once—sort-of friend—of Jack’s. They’d known each other well enough to have exchanged phone numbers at least.
Jack sat in Mia’s car outside the Defiance Academy’s gates as the phone rang. He wasn’t sure if she’d answer. Wylder had always been a wild card—no pun intended.
“Jack Butler,” she answered. “Now, this is a surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
He had her on speakerphone, so Mia leaned in. “Hey, Wylds.”
“Mia?” Wylder laughed.
“It’s been a while.” Jack didn’t know why it felt so strange talking to her.
“You two dating yet?”
Jack laughed. “You know the answer to that.” He’d taken Wylder on a date once, but she didn’t believe he and Mia were only friends, so nothing went beyond that. Even when they ran into Mia and her boyfriend at the time.
Wylder chuckled. “Guess I do. So, let’s cut to the chase. If you’re calling, you probably need something. I’ll issue my disclaimer first. No, I don’t give out dirt on my brother, no I won’t get you concert tickets or backstage passes.”
“I don’t care about Becks. This call isn’t about him.”
“Hmm… the plot thickens. Go on.”
Mia took the phone. “It’s about a girl at your school. Jack has this weird need to talk to Lillian Preston. He needs to get on campus.”
“Lil? Why do you want to talk to her? Jack Butler, that girl is not like everyone else, and I’m feeling this strange need to protect her from you.”
Jack stole the phone back. “Look, it’s not like it sounds. I need her to dance with me. That’s it. I think… I think we both need each other.”
Wylder was quiet for a long moment. “Fine. The gate guards will go on their rounds in ten minutes. I have the code to get through the walk-in gate near the visitor lot. I’ll come get you. If I get in trouble for this, I’m going to haunt you from my grave.” She hung up.
Mia’s wide eyes met Jack’s in the dark. “Did she just say Defiance Academy murders kids who break the rules?”
“Yep.” He shook his head with a laugh. The academy was a mystery to locals since they weren’t allowed on campus, but Wylder dramatized everything. She always had. “Should it surprise us she knows how to sneak people onto campus?”
“That’s why you called her, right?”
