Page 7 of Wylder & the Rising Rockstar
But not a lot of them. From what Wylder knew, the review was a time for school clubs to come up with lame skits that only they thought were funny. That and weird dances. She’d never taken it seriously. “What does this have to do with your mom?”
“She sent me the flyer. Apparently, the school sent it to all parents to let them know it was coming. My mum wanted to know if I was performing. She can’t seem to remember that I quit singing the day she walked out on me and Dad.”
“Dad? He doesn’t make you call him something else to feel relevant?”
“No.” She smiled. “My dad is pretty great. He raised me ever since Mum left us. We’re bonded by our dislike of her.”
“How old were you?”
“Ten.”
“Ouch.” Wylder was glad her birth mom left when she was little. She’d always wondered about her, but she hadn’t really missed her when she was young. Wylder reconnected with her right before she died last year and she still had some mixed-up feelings about that, but the only true mother she’d ever known was the woman her dad married when she was a kid. Wylder’s eyes drifted to the curtains, realizing as much as her stepmom could smother her with motherly affection, she was also pretty wonderful.
Devyn lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I’m over it, but she keeps trying to make me into someone like… well, like you. Her email only had one line with the picture.Are you performing?As if she didn’t know me at all, as if she can make me into one of the Barbie doll singers she produces in L.A.”
“Hold up.” Wylder turned her entire body to face her friend. “Just whoisyour mom?”
Devyn rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “You’re all into the Nashville labels and the country world. I doubt you know her. Angela Harrison. She’s—“
“The top producer for Thirteen Records.” Her eyes widened. Thirteen was a legendary pop label. They took their name from Corinthians thirteen. Their origins were in Christian rock, but they’d really made a name for themselves in pop. “Yeah, I know. She’s like my idol.” What most people didn’t know about Wylder was if music was her future, she didn’t want Nashville or country, not like her brother, not like Logan. There was something different out there for her, something in L.A. or New York. Even if being an artist wasn’t the way, she just wanted to immerse herself in music, becoming a producer or manager. And all this time, she’d had Angela Harrison’s daughter living with her. “How did I not know she was your mom?”
Devyn sighed. “I don’t exactly advertise it, and it’s not like I have her last name. I don’t want anyone trying to be friends with me to get to my mum, because it won’t work. Even getting an email from her makes me break out in hives. I rarely respond, I just…”
“Can’t.” Wylder stopped fangirling and reached for Devyn’s hand. They weren’t exactly the heart to heart kind of friends, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be. “I’m sorry.”
Devyn sat perfectly still for a moment before pulling her hand away and straightening her shoulders. “You should do it.”
“What?”
“The review. It says here they’re still letting people sign up until the end of the week. This is perfect for you and Logan, especially after the two of you sang together on the L.A. Daily Show.”
“Oh no, performing with Logan was a one-time thing. Well, a two-time thing I guess, but the Daily Show wasn’t planned.”
“That’s stupid.” Devyn stood, taking her computer with her.
“No, we can’t… just no.”
“I might not have the musical talent of my mum, Wylds, but I know you and Logan were good together.”
“He doesn’t do stages.”
“Hm.” She set her computer on the kitchen counter and tapped her chin. “Seems he did a stage with you. Twice.” She was right, he had. All he’d had to do was focus on her. Was Devyn right? Would he do this?
Devyn wasn’t done. “Wylder, I work hard at what I do, but I’ve never been as naturally gifted as you are with your music. Logan too. You need to get back up there. If you don’t do it now, maybe you never will.”
Hope rose in her. Logan didn’t want to put his emotions into a pointless song, but what if it wasn’t pointless? The Winter Review… yeah, they could do that.
She just needed advice on convincing him, and there was one person who might be able to help, she just had to find him.
Ever since their trip to Nashville weeks ago, Becks and Luke’s Twitter war had changed, become less vicious. And that made Wylder suspicious.
So had the fact that no one in her family had answered her calls in two days. Her parents got busy, but Becks always dropped what he was doing to talk to her.
First, she called Nicky. It rang and rang, but he didn’t answer.
Next, she dialed Becks. When his voicemail picked up, she vented everything. “Becks, this is your sister. Remember me? You might know me from the five calls you haven’t returned. Well, here’s another one. I need to talk to Luke. I know you’ll tell me he’s nothing more than your enemy, but I also think you might know where he went or how I can reach him. So, stop being a jerk face, and call me back.”
With a groan, she charged into her room and threw her phone on her bed. Devyn’s words ran through her mind. “If you don’t do it now, maybe you never will.”Wylder couldn’t let that happen. She couldn’t let the YouTube debacle or the TV interview where he bared his soul be all the music world ever knew of Logan Cook … or of her.
