Page 33 of Wylder and the Almost Rockstar
“Because, Logan, that’s what we do. We bicker and argue, swimming in the sarcasm river.”
“Sarcasm river, huh?”
Leaning forward, she pinched his arm.
“Hey!”
“How did it make you feel when I hurt you, Logan?”
“I don’t know. Annoyed.”
“Good.” She smiled. “Now keep that feeling. Repeat to yourself, Wylder is obnoxious, she’s loud.”
“No.” He stood from the bed and paced across the room.
“Why not?”
“Because you came for me.” The words burst out of him like he hadn’t meant to say them. He stopped moving, facing the wall away from her.
Wylder sat in stunned silence for a moment before climbing from the bed and approaching his back. “And that means you have to be weirdly nice to me?”
His back tightened. “I…I know you talked to Luke about me.” He turned and looked down at her. “He didn’t tell me what you said, but after that, he told me I had to come back here. That this was where my life should be.” He lowered his voice. “I’ve never seen Luke so affected by anyone before. And you… even after you punched him… when I came back, I promised myself I’d do whatever I could to make up for how I treated you.”
“How you treated me?”
“When I left. Your calls, your texts, they helped more than you could ever know, yet I didn’t return a single one.”
“Why didn’t you?” She needed his answer more than she needed her next breath.
“I don’t know, Wylder. That’s the problem. I just… couldn’t.”
She stared at him for a moment longer before stepping closer. “Okay, Logan, here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to hug you, because I think you need me to. If you don’t want it, you’re going to have to stop me.”
His breath hitched as she neared, but she didn’t stop until she slipped her arms around his back, pulling him closer. His warmth seeped through his shirt and into her.
It took a moment for him to respond, but his arms lifted slowly, wrapping around her.
“See,” she whispered against his chest. “This is nice.” It was better than nice. Logan felt good in her arms, strong and sure.
“Wylder?” His breath warmed the top of her head.
“Hmm?”
“Thank you.”
Reluctantly, she pulled back and looked up at him. “Now, Logan Cook, will you stop being weird? I’ve already forgiven you for being a douche, for making me come all the way to Nashville to get your butt back here.”
“You failed though.” Mischief entered his eyes. “Got a big old F.”
“How do you suppose?” She planted her hands on her hips and grinned up at him.
“You didn’t get me back here. It was Luke.”
“It was kind of me.”
“Nope.” He lifted a brow, and it felt so good to argue with him she wanted to hug him again.
“You can’t deny the draw of the Wylder. Admit it, Cook, you enjoy being my friend.”
