I still couldn’t help wondering what I was missing. Wyatt told me he could sing. And so did his mother. She’d even gone as far as to say music ran in his blood. She seemed to think he could help me and trusting her impeccable insight and stake in the competition, I doubted she’d waste my time, even to placate her son.
From our prior discussions and Wyatt’s most recent rant about songwriting, it was obvious he knew more than the average student when it came to the music industry. But he couldn’t read a lick of music.
I frowned, feeling like I was a few puzzle pieces shy of the whole picture. I stared at my phone; Lola’s number queued up. I was suddenly having second thoughts.
I wished I had more time to break the news that Wyatt Nash was my new partner to Lola. And definitely more privacy. She wasn’t going to be happy about this, and I couldn’t blame her.
Guilt consumed me as I stared at my phone. I couldn’t help but feel like a terrible best friend. After all, I was breaking one of our rules: Never date your best friend’s ex.
“Alright,” Wyatt said, interrupting my concentration. “You ready to do this?”
“Yeah, but can you pretend you’re not here?”
He looked at me like I was being a toddler. “If you think that’s best.”
“It’s just, I haven’t exactly broken the news to Lola yet that you’re her replacement.”
“And you don’t think she’ll be happy about that?”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“Are you two the co-founders of the secret I Hate Wyatt Nash Club, or something?”
“Or something,” I admitted.
His face fell. “You’re serious? Bloody hell, I was joking. What did I do to deserve this?”
“You really don’t know?”
“I truly don’t.”
I sighed. “Then it’s not worth bringing up.” I knew it would only make things more awkward. And honestly, I liked seeing him squirm. I’m sure Lola wasn’t the only girl whose heart had been crushed by Nashanova. “Just let me do the talking.”
“Whatever you say, Penny Layne.”
I took a deep breath and clicked the video icon next to Lola’s name. She answered after the first ring. “Hey,” she croaked.
“Lola?” Her normally bright blue eyes were red and puffy, her blonde hair in a messy bun atop her head. I had no idea what she was wearing. A blanket? A robe? A Muppet? Whatever it was, the pink fuzzy material made her skin look blotchy and swollen.
“I know, I look like death,” Lola rasped. “Mono is no joke. I feel awful.”
“I’m sorry, Lo. I shouldn’t have bothered you. I’ll let you get some rest.”
“No, please. I’m so bored. All I do is sleep and play on my phone. I need social interaction. What have I been missing at school?”
“You’ve only been gone one day.”
“Yes, but a lot can happen in a day.”
Tell me about it.
“I see you’re in our practice room,” Lola said. “Does that mean you’ve had some luck finding someone to replace me?”
“No one can replace you, Lo.”
She laughed, which turned into a painful coughing fit. “I know,” she said when she caught her breath. “But it’s nice to hear you say it anyway. So, who’s my understudy?”
I bit my lip, wishing I’d be struck with the perfect way to break the news to her gently. But I should’ve known better. Wishes never came true the way I want them to.
“Surprise!” Wyatt yelled, his face popping into the screen as he stepped behind me.
Lola screamed and the screen went black when she disconnected.
I spun around, glaring at Wyatt. “What happened to pretending not to be here?”
“Are you serious? You obviously didn’t know how to tell her I’ve replaced her. I was helping.”
“That wasn’t helping!”
“Whatever,” he muttered. “Are we going to rehearse or not? I don’t have all day.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, do you have somewhere more pressing to be? A popular kid party or maybe some freshman athletes to haze?”
That insufferable smirk danced across Wyatt’s face as he crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall. “Believe it or not I do have a life outside this school, Penny Layne.”
“Stop calling me that!” I yelled, stomping out of the practice room to call Lola back.
In the hall, I took a deep breath and dialed Lola’s number again, this time not on a video call.
She answered right away, her voice hesitant. “Hello?”
“Lola?”
“Is he still there?” Lola whispered.
“No, he’s in the practice room. I walked out to the hall to call you back. Listen, I’m so sorry. I didn’t plan for this, but Mrs. Nash volunteered him when I told her you had to drop out and I couldn’t find anyone else. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
Lola was uncharacteristically silent.
“Lo, please don’t be mad at me.”
“I’m not mad,” she said quickly. “More like shocked. And embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed?”
“I look like death, Layne. I don’t want Wyatt to see me like that.”
“What do you care? You hate him.”
“Exactly! I don’t want him to see me looking like a hot mess. I want him to rue the day he missed his chance with me.”
“Seriously? Rue the day?”
“Too dramatic?”
“A little.”
Lola giggled. “Well, I am a diva. But you know what I mean.”
“I guess.”
“Layne, Wyatt Nash may be a jerk, but he’s still a hottie. I have a reputation to uphold.”
I shook my head in amusement. Even after contracting the kissing virus, Lola was still thinking about her dating rep. “So, you’re really not mad at me?” I finally asked.
“Layne, of course not. If Nashanova can help you get your scholarship, I’m all for it.”
“Thanks. I still can’t help feeling like I’m being a bad friend though.”
“Why?” Lola asked.
“Rule number two: never date your best friend’s ex.”
“You’re not dating, right?”
I made a gagging sound. “Of course not!”
“Then you’re not violating any rules,” Lola replied. “Besides, we didn’t really date. And you’re forgetting the most important rule.”
“What’s that?”
“Rule number 3: always be happy for your best friend, no matter what.”
I smiled, wishing I could see Lola’s face right now. I was sure she was smiling confidently at my insecurity. Unlike her popularity, Lola’s confidence always rubbed off on me and I could really use some right about now.
“So,” I said, hopefully, “Does that mean I can ask you for a favor?”
“Always.”
“I called because there’s one dilemma with Wyatt.”
“Only one?”
I laughed. “Well, more like a million, but the one we need to solve at the moment is that he can’t read music.”