Page 39 of Wylder and the Secret Rockstar
Wylder shrugged. “The only trails I know are the ones that lead to the dining hall and the main exit.” She tugged the zipper of her hoody down and shrugged it over her shoulders, tossing it on the bench where she’d sat with Logan’s brother just days ago.
“Wylder, no.” He shook his head, laughing. “We are not going swimming.”
“Yes, we are.” She kicked off her shoes and pulled her t-shirt off over her head. She wore a racer-back sports bra and boy shorts under her jeans—which she tossed on the bench with the rest of her clothes. “Why are you still dressed? Let’s go, chop-chop.” She clapped her hands, tiptoeing down the bank to the water’s edge.
“There could be snakes in there.”
“There are no poisonous snakes in Ohio. I read that somewhere, so it must be true.” Wylder stepped into the cold water, sinking up to her knees, the silky sandy lake bottom squishing between her toes.
“I don’t think that’s true. You can’t just make up facts. Plus, well, you know, I just ate. You’re supposed to wait like an hour before going swimming.”
“Ugh, don’t ruin my spontaneity, Logan. Get your butt in here, and let’s have some freaking fun, for crying out loud.” She turned to face him, hands on her hips.
“Fine.” Logan tugged his shirt off over his head, muttering something about crazy girls while Wylder admired the view. Shirtless candid shots of superstar Luke Cook were plenty to be had on the internet. She’d looked countless times. His twin brother was no less impressive. They really were mostly identical. You had to look closely to see the subtle differences, but they were there.
Stripped down to his boxer briefs, Logan tiptoed into the shallow water. “It’s freezing.”
Wylder reached for his hand as he made his way toward her. It could have been a romantic night. Under the bright moon and clear sky. The cool breeze. The impulsive moment. With just about anyone else, it could have been an epic first date. But it was Logan, and she still kind of hated him. Sort of.
Wylder gave a quick tug on Logan’s arm and pulled him into the deeper water with a splash.
He came up sputtering. “I’m going to kill you, you crazy girl.” He splashed her, and she swam away toward the center of the lake with Logan in hot pursuit.
Diving under, Wylder kicked her feet, letting the cool water wash over her. It felt so good against her skin. She’d needed this. A harmless but reckless sort of moment to remind her who she was. She was the Wyld Child her brother sang about. But that didn’t mean she was Sebastian’s Wyld Child. Not anymore. And that was okay. She was still troublemaking Wylder Anderson who liked to take risks and live in the moment. A lot of people had tried to break her spirit or tell her she had to grow up and be responsible. They may have had a point about that last thing, but a person could be spirited and a responsible adult. She was learning that those things didn’t always have to happen at the same time.
“Are you always this much drama?” Logan swam around her.
“Drama? No. Fun? Yes.” Wylder splashed him again, rolling onto her back to float along and look up at the stars. “Isn’t it pretty? You can see every star in the sky.”
“It’s beautiful.” Logan floated on his back next to her. “But it’s also freezing.”
“So cold.” Wylder laughed, her teeth starting to chatter. “But so worth it.”
Logan laughed, reaching out to brush her hair out of her face. “Your purple is leaking.”
“Oh crap.” She ran a hand through her hair. “I guess I’ll have to try blue next.”
Logan drifted closer, a hesitant smile on his face. “You’re all kinds of trouble, aren’t you?” His voice took on a husky tone that sent a shot of anxiety right through her.
Light reflected in his eyes, and he winced, holding up his hand to shield his face.
“All right, you two, party time’s over.” A voice echoed through a bullhorn, and a glaring headlight flooded the night. “Your headmistress is on her way, and she’s not happy, I’d suggest you get your feet back on dry land before she gets here.” Three security guards stood on the bank, their faces obscured in the dark, but Wylder could imagine the special kinds of scowls they always reserved for her.
“Busted.” Wylder sighed. “Sorry about this.”
“My brother’s going to kill me.” Logan started to swim for the shore.
“Mine too,” Wylder muttered, following close behind.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.” Logan stood up as soon as his feet hit the shallows. Gone was the good-natured sort of friend he’d been just moments before.
“I’m fully prepared to take the blame for this. It was my idea, but you don’t need to be a jerk about it.” Wylder charged through the reeds, ignoring the security guards watching them.
“Everything’s a joke to you, isn’t it?” Logan shook the lake water out of his hair, climbing up the bank to reach for his clothes.
“No.” Wylder sighed, trying to scramble up the muddy bank behind him, but she slipped and fell back into the lake with a splash.
“Some of us don’t have options, or endless chances, Wylder.” Logan struggled into his jeans, waving away the security guard’s offer of a blanket. “I need this school to work for us.”
