Page 6 of Wylder and the Secret Rockstar
“No.” She didn’t have it in her to lie. “No, Diego. I’m really not.”
“Everyone, quiet down!” Wylder focused on Sebastian’s voice, so familiar, yet strangely distant. This was the voice of the authority figure, the teacher, not the boy with the smiling eyes, the one who could barely eat hot wings and helped her plan a ridiculous Christmas in July celebration for her brother.
Wylder chewed on her lip, drinking in the sight she’d longed for since the moment they parted ways about a month ago.
“Don’t forget me, Wyld Child. Because I’ll never forget you.”
He’d said those words to her, and nothing had ever felt more real. But now… now his glare burned into her, and she knew.
He wished for nothing more than to forget what they’d had.
Sebastian cleared his throat. “My name is Sebastian Cook. You may call me Mr. Cook.” His eyes settled on Wylder. “I am not your friend. I know I am young, but I have every confidence you will treat me with the respect I deserve as your teacher. That means not speaking while I am speaking.” His eyes cut to two girls who’d been giggling. They shut up.
“We are going to have a great year in this class, and I’m looking forward to introducing you to many classic stories.”
Had theirs been a classic story? Two people from different worlds falling in love over a summer vacation, only to return home and find their worlds on a collision course.
See? She’d been right. It was very Grease of them. Though, even Sandy hadn’t had to deal with the only boy she’d ever felt anything for being her teacher.
One hundred percent off-limits.
Even Wylder’s memories now felt taboo, tainted by this knowledge their romance had been wrong.
He moved around the classroom like he belonged there, like he was home, with an ease and a comfort she’d never felt anywhere, and she couldn’t take her eyes from him. His hands moved as he talked, good hands, strong hands.
This version of Sebastian was much more put together than the one she’d fallen for. Pressed clothing—black slacks and a red shirt and charcoal sports coat. His chocolate brown hair was styled, every piece in its place.
She preferred him with rain dripping down unkempt locks, a stranger standing in front of a stage, dancing to music they both loved—Luke’s music. She’d found her way to his concert while Becks performed at the same music festival. But instead of falling deeper in love with her idol, she’d kissed a stranger, a man she’d never expected to see again.
Weeks later, they ended up at the same recording studio as if fate brought them back together.
Was this fate at work again? Or something crueler?
“Wylder.” Diego nudged her. “Did you hear Mr. Cook?”
“What?” She snapped out of the memories that would only bring more confusion.
“He wants us discussing our first book on the summer reading list in groups of three before starting the writing prompt on the screen. I invited Logan to join our group.”
“Why?”
He gave her a disappointed look. “He doesn’t know anyone else.”
Where was the shy Diego from the year before? The one who’d never reach out to someone, even if that someone was Killian’s roommate. There was a new confidence in him brought out by his boyfriend, and she envied that. Her eyes flicked to Sebastian. No one would ever claim Wylder lacked confidence, but those people didn’t know her, they didn’t know everything she’d been through.
That the confidence was the walls protecting her from the rest of the world.
Turning in her seat, she found Logan watching her. “I didn’t realize you were in this class.”
His smirk didn’t have an ounce of kindness. “That’s because you were drooling over my brother like every other girl in this class.” He looked up. “Oops.”
Wylder closed her eyes, realizing exactly who had to be standing near them.
“Hey, Bro.” Logan shot him a smirk. “Good to have a distraction other than me.”
Wylder hadn’t realized it when she’d only been watching Sebastian, but Logan was right. Their classmates stared at the two Cook brothers like they were exhibits at the zoo.
Sebastian frowned. “Logan, get to work.”
