Page 19 of Wylder and the Secret Rockstar
“He’s meddling in my life, Mom.”
She laughed. “I don’t think he knows any other way. It’s not just you. Your dad has been a bit listless without you kids around. This Columbus thing… it’s not only for work. Becks drove here this morning and told your dad he had no choice but to go with him. They’re going to a drop zone outside the city.”
“A drop zone?” Wylder’s eyes widened. “As in sky diving?”
“Yes, your dad stopped working for his goals once you were out of the house. He focuses on the store, watches hockey in the evenings, and does it all again the next day. But he has always dreamed of going skydiving. I think he just needed a push to do something new and exciting. There is no better pusher than your brother.”
“You make him sound like a drug dealer.” Wylder laughed at the thought. “He’s an adrenaline pusher.”
“No, dear. He’s a dream pusher. And he doesn’t want you to give up on yours.”
“Music isn’t my dream, Mom.” It used to be, but now she didn’t know what to wish for in the future. It was a blank slate—or a black hole depending on how she looked at it.
Her mom reached across the table and took her hand. “Maybe it’s time to figure out what is.”
6
Two hours, the school gave her.
Be back under the watchful eye of Defiance Academy in a timely manner.
As if.
Did they know her at all?
Wylder sat in the basement of her parents’ house staring at the drum set she'd once spent hours upon hours playing. The sticks rested on the snare as if just waiting for her to pick them up, to remember why she'd loved this so much.
Because she had. Her relationship with music was one born of love, so much so that after Beckett left for Nashville, she'd tried joining another band. This time, it was an all-girls group who'd fallen over themselves to recruit her. ThePowerplay Girls.They were older—students at Defiance University—and quite a bit more experienced with the world.
They took pleasure in trying to corrupt a high schooler. Wylder proved incorruptible, partly because she was already her own brand of wild and partly because she just wanted to focus on finding her mother. When Wylder started bailing on practices and the girls couldn’t entice her to party with them, they did everything they could to push her from the band.
The last time she'd performed drums—with only a single exception—was with them, but their attitude toward her didn't hurt nearly as much as missingAnonymous.
It was late by the time she answered a FaceTime request to see a grinning Beckett. "You should have seen Dad, Wylds." He sat in the back of a car alone.
"Was it epic?" She leaned her head on the arm of the couch, her eyes still on the drums.
"The most. He should be almost back to Twin Rivers by now. Wait..." He leaned in. "I recognize that couch. Are you at home?"
She shrugged. "Trying to get Mom to let me drop some classes."
"Why would you..." His eyes narrowed. "I pulled out some major charm to get you into that music class, Wylder Anderson. You promised to give it a week."
She didn't want to have this conversation again. "It's not music. I need to drop honors English." She winced the moment the words left her mouth as she realized now she'd have to tell Beckett why. They kept few things from each other, and what she didn't tell him, she told Nicky, her good friend and his boyfriend. So, Becks usually found out one way or another.
His voice dropped to dangerous levels. "And why would you do something as stupid as that?"
He wouldn't let her get away with dumb excuses like her mom had. "I just... Does it matter? Mom said no."
"Of course it matters. Tell me a reason right now, Wylder Anderson or I'm going to drive back from Columbus and march past your school's ridiculous gates to find out what's going on. Did someone say you don't belong in the smart class? I swear... I'll hit them."
Beckett wouldn't hurt anyone, but she smiled at the thought. "It's Sebastian."
"He told you to drop it? I don't understand. I thought you two ended things when he left Nashville last month. Do I need to hunt him down? I could send Nari after him. Or Skye."
Both women would be more intimidating than Beckett, but she couldn't stand the thought of anyone else getting involved. A sigh rattled from her lungs. "No... I... Becks, promise not to come here."
"Not until I know what's wrong."
