I cleared my throat. “Yeah, um I think we could make this sound work.”
“That’s all you’re thinking?”
“What else would I be thinking about?”
Wyatt’s grin grew. “I dunno, you just look a little breathless.”
I swallowed hard. “Good music should leave you a little breathless.”
He winked. “I couldn’t agree more.”
I collapsed back onto his bed, listening to Mogli’s haunting voice while I tried to get my breathing under control.
Vacation over, Layne!
It was time to return to reality before I got myself in trouble. I knew better. I was in way over my head with Wyatt as it was, and I think he knew it, too.
I decided to keep things strictly business for the rest of the night, moving to the cushy armchair where I could keep my distance while we discussed music theory and possible arrangements for our next song.
The night flew by in a beautiful blur. Even with Wyatt at arm’s length, my world felt infinitely more exciting. How was it one boy could change my life so much?
Never in a million years would I have picked Wyatt Nash for my partner, but as I watched him lazily playing my song on his guitar, I couldn’t imagine a more perfect fit.
I hadn’t realized how much I’d been craving this sort of connection in my life. And it wasn’t just because I was missing my best friend. I’m sure that was part of it, but what I had with Lola was different. Just as important, but different.
I couldn’t really explain it, but with Wyatt, when we made music together, I felt complete camaraderie.
Once we’d both let our walls down it was like I’d finally met someone who spoke the same creative language as me and that feeling of understanding, of not being alone . . . it was restoring my faith in everything—my reason for being here and my hope for a better future.
Maybe I had a shot at this competition after all.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Wyatt
Despite the night starting off rocky, it went better than expected. Much better, actually. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed so much.
Having Layne around was a welcomed distraction. She made me feel weightless in a strangely addicting way. I didn't know how she'd done it, but she'd bewitched me. The first time I'd heard her sing I'd been ensnared.
And now that I'd seen her, truly seen the wonderful creature she hid behind glasses and baggy clothes, I couldn't look away. She was funny and smart and wickedly talented. And when she laughed, her smile could light up a room.
If I wasn’t careful, this girl could easily turn my world upside down.
As I watched her scribbling notes in her songbook, I wondered if that would be such a bad thing. There wasn’t much about her that I didn’t like. Well, apart from the fact that it was getting late and I had to take her home.
I reluctantly agreed and helped her pack up her things. We were still eagerly discussing the sound we’d come up with for her next song when we walked into the kitchen, startling my mother.
“Oh!” she gasped, setting down her tablet and tipping her readers into her hair. She was in her white silk robe, a large glass of Chardonnay in front of her and her face was covered in one of those creepy green beauty masks she loved. Even behind the mask I could see she was mortified. Her hand flew to her chest, clutching at her robe. “I didn’t realize we had company, darling.”
“Hi, Mrs. Nash,” Layne said, giving an awkward bow-like nod.
Amusing as it was to watch Layne turn pink as she took in my mother in her bathrobe, slippers, and crazy beauty mask, I didn’t let her squirm too long, afraid my mother’s shock would wear off and she would embarrass me.
“We were just leaving, Mum.”
“Oh, don’t let me chase you out.”
“N-no, that’s okay,” Layne stammered. “It’s getting late. I have to get home.”
“Well, do come back again,” my mother implored, smiling at me like I’d just announced our engagement.
“Oh, I hope to.” Layne’s face turned pink again. “To rehearse, I mean. That’s what we were doing, just now. We were just rehearsing for the competition.”
I snorted and Layne looked to me for help, but I only grinned, stuffing my hands in my pockets as I watched her change colors like a stoplight. I knew what she wanted, but she was much too adorable to rescue at the moment.
“Oh. Well, very good,” my mother said. “I trust rehearsing is going well, then?”
“Very well,” I said, winking at Layne who looked like she must be overheating in her jacket and scarf. “Night, Mum.”
“It’s not funny, Wyatt,” Layne scolded as we drove away from my house.
But I couldn’t help myself. I howled with laughter every time I envisioned my mother’s face.
“That was humiliating,” Layne muttered.
“I don’t know who looked more embarrassed. You or my mother.”
“Me!” Layne groaned. “And you were no help! Your mom probably thinks we were in your room hooking up.”
That only made me laugh harder.
Layne put her head in her hands, and I did my best to stave off my hysterics. “I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you, I promise.”
She glared at me. “It kinda feels like you are.”
“No, it’s just my mother is always telling me to have people over and the one time I finally do . . . she looks like that!” I fell to pieces again, trying to catch my breath as a fresh wave of laughter overtook me. “It just proves she never thought I’d do it.”
Now even Layne was laughing. “You really don’t have friends over, do you?”
“Never,” I said, through more hysterical laughter. “But maybe I should if this is the result!”
“Well, next time, you should probably let your parents know you’re having me over.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” I teased.
“My mom would kill me if I just invited random people over whenever I wanted.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“So, you tell her every time you invite someone over?”
“Yeah. Lola’s pretty much the only one who ever comes over. And it’s not like I could hide someone in my house anyway. It’s not quite the sprawling mansion you live in.”
“Huh,” I said, considering this. “Is that why you were so miffed when I showed up at your house the other morning?”
“One of many reasons,” she teased.
“Well, you’d better get used to it, partner. For the next two weeks I’m your chauffer.”
She laughed. “Well, then you’d better follow proper protocol.”
“Which is?”
“Call before you show up and if you invite me over, let your parents know.”
I gave her a salute. “Next time I promise to announce all arrivals with the proper fanfare.”
She rolled her eyes. “A text message works fine.”
We rode in comfortable silence for a bit when Layne surprised me with a question. “So, you really don’t ever invite friends to your house?”