glowing tingle his words ignited within me. It was perhaps the best compliment I’d ever received about my music. And it made me want to kiss him.
The thought stirred something deep inside me. I could do it. His lips were right there. I just needed to lean in and press my lips to his. My heart sped up, a flickering spark taking root inside me like a match striking flint.
Could I do it? Should I?
Wyatt’s eyes slowly opened, like he knew what I’d been contemplating. His decadent lips carved into that crooked half smirk that warned me I was playing with fire. But it was his eyes that did me in. They were green flames, burning with an inferno of desire that promised me I wouldn’t survive this dangerous game I was playing.
“Penny for your thoughts, Penny Layne.” Wyatt said, his voice low.
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,