Page 18 of Wylder and the Almost Rockstar
She turned back to him. “Yeah… This isn’t his life, Bash. He told me so much about your lives before the academy. He didn’t want to go back to that.”
“I thought you two didn’t get along.”
“We didn’t… at first. But… I don’t know, we became friends. And as his friend, it’s my job to protect him, to tell him when he’s being an idiot, and to beat him over the head sometimes—even when he won’t answer my calls.”
Sebastian sighed. “Logan is having a hard time.”
“I know. It’s why I came, Bash.” She lifted her eyes to his. “I think Logan needs me.”
“Unlike Luke, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Logan need anyone.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. He’s just never had anyone besides his brothers who’d be there. I saw it when we first became friends. He’s afraid to need anyone because he doesn’t think they’ll stick around or he thinks they’re only friends with him because of Luke.”
“How do you know so much more about Logan than me?” Sebastian gave her a dumbfounded look.
“Because he’s me, Bash. Because we’re the same. I push everyone away. Before the academy, my only friend was Nicky. I didn’t trust anyone or anything. And it sucked. No one wants to live like that. I hated Defiance Academy when Becks first enrolled me, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. Logan deserves that chance too. He deserves me … and all our friends,” she quickly added.
Sebastian ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “Logan has always been terrified of anyone learning the truth about his voice, that he writes and sings Luke’s music. It has kept him apart from everything, his own little island. Even me and Luke… he doesn’t let us in. But you… he let you in, didn’t he?”
She nodded. “I think he did.”
“You and me, we’re really over, aren’t we? There’s no going back.”
A part of her wanted to say they could eventually find their way to each other—once she was out of school—but the larger part knew it was best kept in the past, a good memory. “Not if I want to be friends with Logan.” And she did. She really did. She couldn’t explain the compulsion, but something drew her to Logan, and she wasn’t prepared to give that up.
To her surprise, Sebastian smiled and pulled her into a hug. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For choosing Logan.” He pulled back. “Wyld Child, I thought I loved you. Sometimes I think I still do, but I love it even more that you came for Logan. My brother is broken right now, and I’ve been trying my hardest to put him back together, but I need help. I need you.”
“You have me. We won’t let this destroy him. I should go before Nicky gets tired of waiting.”
“Yeah, I need to make sure Luke doesn’t think he’s dying from one punch.”
“Tell him…” What? She was sorry? No way. Stupid thought. “Tell him if he ever makes fun of my brother to my face again, it’ll be much worse for him.” Yeah, that sounded more like her.
Sebastian’s smile widened. “It would be my pleasure.”
With a final laugh, Wylder ran down the rest of the drive, rounded the car, and threw herself into the driver’s seat.
Nicky stared at her, a smile slowly curving his lips. “Wylder…” She waited for his admonishment for giving Sebastian the time of day. Instead, he laughed. “I’m going to play the image of you hitting Luke on repeat in my mind for the rest of my life.”
She leaned her head back against the headrest and looked down at her stinging knuckles. She hadn’t noticed the pain before with adrenaline surging through her veins. “Becks is going to be so mad at me.”
“For punching Luke?”
“No, because I didn’t record it for proof.”
6
“Next time, hit this button.” Becks held his phone in front of Wylder, pointing to the red dot that would start it recording. “Seriously, Wylder, if you’re going to do extraordinary things, make sure we have it on video. We can put it with all the home videos Dad has.”
“Yes,” she deadpanned. “I’m sure he wants to see his little girl in a fight.”
“Can you and Nicky at least re-enact it for me?” It wasn’t the first time he’d asked.
“I’m not letting her hit me.” Nicky flopped onto the opposite couch.
