never save up enough to buy one and even if I did, where would we put it?
My house had just enough room for me and my mom.
Although I had to admit, when I was younger and less cynical, I used to dream about buying a baby grand. Now, I laughed at the foolish memory. Dreams didn’t come true for girls like me.
I was in the midst of giving myself a harsh lecture about reality when I opened the door to my favorite practice room and stopped short.
Wyatt sat there, hat in hand, on the piano bench.
Fury swept through me, engulfing me in a flash of heat that made my palms sweat. I balled my fists, my lips pressed together tightly to keep my anger from pouring out. I wanted to let him have it, but I knew better. It wouldn’t matter to him. Nothing did. He’d basically admitted that himself.
If I called him out, I’d only make a fool of myself and give him and his friends more to laugh about. So, despite my throat aching to scream at him, I turned on my heels and retreated from the practice room like the coward I was.
Chapter Ten
Wyatt
The door slammed shut behind her before I could get a word out. I cursed under my breath and shot to my feet, hobbling after her as fast as my Franken-boot would allow. This really needed to stop. I was an invalid for Pete’s sake! And even if I wasn’t, I didn’t chase after girls. It was usually the other way around. And that’s how I preferred it.
I didn’t even know why I was bothering.
Actually, that wasn’t true. I knew exactly why I was bothering.
I hadn’t been able to get Layne’s hurt look out of my head since lunch. It haunted me.
It had been a long time, if ever, that I’d seen that look from someone other than myself. I never let anyone close enough to feel genuinely hurt by my actions. If I never took anything seriously, I could fail without letting anyone down. But Layne didn’t seem to understand the rules.
I’d known her all of a day and already I’d hurt her. I winced. Was it really my fault if she wore her heart on her sleeve?
Apparently, I thought so since I kept chasing after her. I knew it might be best to just cut ties now and walk away; except there was one flaw in that plan. Layne needed a hero, and Northwood seemed to be in short supply.
“Layne! Wait.”
She whirled on me. “Why? Would you like to embarrass me some more today?”
“Embarrass you?”
“Oh, that’s right, you were the one embarrassed to be seen with me. My bad.”
“You’ve got it wrong.”
She stopped, turning to face me. “Do I?”
“Actually, yes, you do.” I limped closer. “Look, I was embarrassed. But not to be seen with you.”
“Then why?”
“Because.”
She crossed her arms and I knew nothing but the truth would save me now. I closed the distance between us so my admission could at least be made quietly. “Because I can’t read music, okay?”
“What?” Layne’s pouty lips snapped to a scowl. “Then how on earth were you planning to learn my songs?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m impulsive, remember?”
She scowled seemingly immune to the charming smile I was laying on her.
I scrubbed a frustrated hand over my face. “Fine, I should’ve told you. But can’t you just sing them for me or something?”
“I told you, I don’t sing! That’s what you’re here for.” Layne threw her hands up and began pacing. “This is unbelievable.”
“Is it really? You’re the one who thinks I’m a disappointment.”
“And you said you were going to prove me wrong.”
“I said maybe.”
Layne sighed, her defeat somehow worse than her fury. “I can’t believe this is how it ends.”
“Stop being so dramatic,” I grumbled. “This is a minor setback.”
“A minor setback? You can’t read music, Wyatt. I can’t teach you how to do that in two weeks.”
“How did you teach Lola your songs?”
“She reads music!”
“Okay, but you said you’ve been working together since fifth grade. I bet she didn’t read music back then.”
“No, but we just clicked. We’ve been doing it so long she knows how I want my songs to sound and I write them for her to sing. It was the perfect setup.”
“Well, good on you for finding perfection. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you such partnerships are few and far between. If you want to be a serious songwriter, you can’t be writing music for one specific