Page 2 of Wylder and the Secret Rockstar
Hang with the man wearing Luke Cook’s face? Even after she realized what a jerk the singer was, the thought seemed preposterous somehow.
“Uh, sure.” She moved to sit on the sofa, wondering how her luck always landed her in these situations. How was she going to get through the year with Logan Cook as her best friend’s roommate?
“There she is. Wyld Child!” Killian crashed through the door with Diego at his side.
Wylder blushed. “Don’t start that.” Becks’ single had hit iTunes last week, andWyld Childhad soared up the charts. It was a nickname Sebastian had given her, and her annoying brother ran with it.
“What? It’s adorable,” Killian insisted. “My little sisters have played your song on an endless loop. They think I’m a big shot because I know you. I’m supposed to ask for your autograph.”
“It’s a great song,” Diego said. “I didn’t get it at first. Killian had to explain it to me.”
Poor, sweet, logical Diego didn’t get most pop culture references. It was her favorite thing about him.
“I missed you guys.” She wrapped her arms around them. “So much!” She gave Diego an extra squeeze. “This year is going to be amazing.”
“I’ll settle for normal. Last year was a bit tumultuous.” Diego took Killian’s hand.
“I have plans, guys. Big plans. So, I just wanted to say hi. I better go unpack before Devyn has a conniption. I’ll see you at dinner.” She waved over her shoulder. “See you around, Logan. Good luck wearing your brother’s face.” He’d need it. Most people at the academy had experience with famous people. Either their parents were known or they associated with people who were. This place was sort of a dumping ground for important people’s children.
Wylder was only here because of her brother.
When she got back to her room, Devyn was gone. As the school’s star equestrian, she spent most of her time at the stables. It worked for Wylder because she got the space she so desperately needed.
Staring at her bags, she knew she should start unpacking and settle in for the year. Classes started tomorrow. After getting home from Nashville last week, her parents had wanted to spend every last minute of her summer with her, so they brought her back to school at the last possible minute.
She supposed there could be worse things. Most of the people here didn’t even see their parents during the year, and Wylder’s lived fifteen minutes away.
Lifting one of her bags off the couch, she walked into her room and dropped it to the floor with a sigh, her eyes going to the one possession she wished she could have left behind in Nashville. That would have crushed Becks, knowing his Christmas in July present only brought her pain.
Crossing the room to where her dad had set up the electric drum set before he left, she lowered herself to the leather stool as she’d done so many times in the last month. Becks tried to get her to play for him, to jamwithhim, but the music wouldn’t come.
In the last three years, she played drums a total of once. When she’d gone to the recording studio with Becks and found the most beautiful drum set she’d ever seen while she was playing a prank on Luke Cook, his punishment for being a jerk.
Sebastian had found her. A smile curved her lips at the memory of that meeting, how he’d stared at her after she’d finished playing. She should have known then they were meant for explosiveness, not longevity. Their brief romance was fun and left her heart spinning in a way she’d never experienced, but they’d never promised each other more than just a fun summer together before going their separate ways.
Reaching for the drumsticks, she closed her eyes as her fingers slid over them, twisting them over the back of her hand. Her muscles hadn’t forgotten. She wondered if they ever would.
A knock sounded on her door, and she knew who it was. The only people who’d come see her saw her practically bolt only minutes ago. “Are you waiting for a gilded invitation?” she yelled.
The door opened, revealing her favorite couple in the entire world—don’t tell her brother and his boyfriend Nicky.
“No.” Killian stepped into the room. “I think I’m more of the message by dove kind of guy.”
“Doves.” She nodded. “I’ll remember that next time.”
Diego’s brow creased, his confusion plain on his face. “If you guys need to talk, why don’t you just use email? It’s much easier.”
“Babe.” Killian pressed a kiss to the side of his head. “It’s a good thing you’re adorable.”
Diego’s entire face reddened.
Wylder set the drumsticks down. “What he’s trying to tell you, D man, is no one uses email anymore. Texts, sure, but if I were to email Killian, he’d probably think I was being held captive somewhere and that was my only mode of communication.”
“I email.” Diego looked down at his feet.
Standing, she approached Diego and slid her arms around his waist, pulling him into a hug. What few people got to know about this lovable geek, who was both the smartest and most oblivious boy she knew, was that his hugs could cure cancer.
“I missed you.” She held him tighter.
