Page 3 of Wylder and the Secret Rockstar
Diego played with the end of one of her dreadlocks—a habit of his. “It was only a few months, Wylder. After this year, we could go years without seeing each other.”
Killian groaned. “You might want to stop with the doses of reality, babe.” He tugged Wylder away from Diego and enveloped her in his firmer hug. “We missed you too, Wyld Child.”
She buried her face in his shirt. “Don’t call me that.” The entire world now would, but in her mind, that name belonged to a summer romance she’d never forget. It was for her and Sebastian alone. Sliding her hands up his arms, she pulled back. “Someone has been working out.”
He shrugged. “This someone is going to have scouts at every single hockey game this year. I need to be prepared if I want to go high in the draft.”
He was currently ranked as the highest draft-eligible goaltender in North America. Yes, she’d checked. Multiple times. After watching on TV when Kenny went in the first round last June, she hadn’t been able to contain her excitement for next year.
Wylder surrounded herself with people who’d do great things. A famous brother, two future NHLers, a techie who’d already sold his first app, and the son of the president of the United States—who was also an amazing artist.
And then there was her. Average. Troublemaker. No one expected much from her after graduation, and that was how she preferred it. With fewer expectations, there’d be less disappointment.
Killian flopped down on her couch and pulled Diego down beside him. “So, Wyld Ch—Wylder.” He smiled, realizing he’d almost done it again. “We barely heard from you all summer. How was Nashville with your brother?”
How was Nashville? That was the million dollar question, wasn’t it? It sucked at first. She hadn’t wanted to be there, to have Becks shoving music down her throat and trying to force her to play.
Then… it got better.
Killian lifted a brow. “Wylder Anderson, is that a smile?”
She forced her lips into a fake grimace. “No.”
“It was.” He reached for her hand, pulling her onto the couch and wedging her between them, using his leg to trap her there. “You need to spill.”
“Since when are you so talkative and smiley, Killer?” She looked to Diego, hoping he had an answer. “Where is the grumpy loner we both love?”
“He was never grumpy.” Diego shrugged. “He just didn’t think he fit into this school.” He smiled at his boyfriend. “Now, he does.”
Wylder mimed puking. “Kidding. You guys are sickening but in a good way.” Would she have developed that with Sebastian? The lovey-dovey looks and silent conversations? If given a chance, could they have been as epic as her two favorite boys?
Sighing, she leaned her head on Diego’s shoulder. “There may have been a boy.”
Killian’s smile widened. “Look at you being all normal, Wylder, getting flustered over a boy. What was his name?”
“I feel like I need to start singing about summer loving.”
Killian wouldn’t admit how much he’d loved Grease, but he’d watched with Wylder and Lillian more than once, and his eyes lit up. “Had you a blast?”
A laugh broke free of her. “It just happened so fast.” Her laugh turned to a very uncharacteristic sob, something she’d held in since the day Sebastian left for Luke’s tour.
But seeing Logan… here… it brought everything back to her. “He called me Wyld Child.”
Understanding dawned in Killian’s eyes. “And then Beckett put out a song using the nickname.”
She nodded. Her brother’s heart was in a good place, and he’d wanted to cheer her up, but it had done the opposite.
“His name was Bash.” She didn’t know why she didn’t share his real name or the fact that his brother somehow ended up at her school as her best friend’s roommate.
“Was he good to you?” Diego met her gaze, his eyes telling her just what he’d want to do to the guy if her answer was no.
She slid her hand into his. “Yeah, D, he was good to me.”
“And?” Killian nudged her. “Good kisser?”
She pictured Sebastian sitting in the back of his truck, Sebastian singing karaoke—poorly.
Sebastian kissing her in the rain. The answer was yes. No one had ever kissed her like he had.
