Page 55 of Wylder & the Rising Rockstar
“You’re not funny. I had to get up early to eat in the dining hall because you took my breakfast donuts.”
“Donuts have no nutritional value, Wylder.”
“But they’re delicious with my morning iced coffee.”
“You should watch your caffeine intake. It’s not good for you.”
“And you should watch your mouth. It’s not good for you.”
“We need to work on our song. Come over after your last class, and I’ll make us some snacks.”
“It’s notoursong, and I don’t know yet if I’m going to sing it with you.” She lowered her voice. “Do you really think it will help Logan if we … rub his face in it like that?”
“It will make him crazy.” Luke grinned. “So crazy he just might fall for my evil plan.”
“Are you ever going to tell me what this evil plan of yours is?”
“No.” He draped his arm across her shoulders. “But it’s already working.”
“Fine.” She shrugged his arm away. “But I’m so not eating your snacks. You come to my room. That’ll give you a chance to eat your way through all that salad you put in my fridge.”
“You know salad can be quite delicious. You should try the chicken, goat cheese, and fresh strawberry salad I brought from the dining hall. It’s healthy and one of the best things I’ve ever tasted.”
“You really don’t know me at all.” Wylder stepped into their classroom and stopped in her tracks. “Mr. Cook, you’re back.” She eyed the bruises still showing faintly along Sebastian’s right eye, and the sling holding his arm immobile.
“Oh, didn’t I mention Bash was returning to work?” Luke murmured behind her. “He spent time being a baby on his couch, but he’s all better now. Except for that ghastly bruise on his face. Not sure he’ll ever be as pretty as he was.”
“Jealous as ever, little brother?” Sebastian replied without missing a beat. “And take that stupid hat off in my classroom, you look ridiculous.”
“How are you feeling?” Wylder ignored the brother bashing.
“Much better, thank you, Miss Anderson. You two take your seats. We have a lot of catching up to do before the holiday break.”
Hushed murmurs swept across the room as Luke and Wylder took their seats near the back of the room where Logan sat hunched over his desk, ignoring Wylder.
Luke took his hat off and set it on Logan’s head.
“I can’t believe you’re actually wearing that thing.” Logan knocked it off and hooked it on the back of Luke’s chair.
“You wish you could pull off the hat, bro.” He’d taken to wearing the ugly old cowboy hat recently. He wore it at every possible moment, claiming someone had to teach Becks how to wear a proper hat.
The whole class had eyes only for Luke. For most, it was their first real look at the famous Cook brother.
“I suppose I should introduce our newest student.” Sebastian paced to the front of the room. “My youngest brother, Luke Cook, is joining us for the second half of the year. Yes, he’s famous, and yes, he’s been in the tabloids a lot lately. No secret there. But none of that has a place in my classroom, so let’s get on with it, shall we?” Sebastian returned to his desk to hand out a new assignment.
“Youngest?” Wylder arched a brow at Luke, trying not to show how much it bothered her that Logan still wouldn’t even acknowledge her.
“Yep, I’m the baby of the family. Logan is a whole fourteen minutes older than me. That’s why he always acts like an old man.” Luke gave his brother a quick shove. Logan responded with a hint of a smile and a shove back. He’d forgiven his brother, but that forgiveness did not extend to Wylder.
“Cut it out, Luke.” Sebastian didn’t even look up from his notes.
“What? He started it.” Luke grinned as the girls around him giggled and smiled.
That one was definitely used to the spotlight. These Cook boys really were going to be the death of Wylder.
* * *
“Class, please welcome Mr. Luke Cook,” Mrs. Shepherd announced. She didn’t seem the least bit intimidated about having the famous country superstar in her class. “I have no doubt Luke will bring a great deal of experience to share with us, and we’re happy to have him.”
