'Tis the Season for Love: A Charity Box Set

by Maggie Dallen

  So, this had to be enough.

  At first, she’d wanted to get her feet wet in the whole relationship thing. She’d spent the last year playing matchmaker, but never finding a match for herself.

  She reached over and took Sebastian’s hand. Maybe she was trying to determine if he was real, if this was real.

  He sent her a smile before focusing back on the road.

  “What did you tell Becks about going out tonight?”

  Wylder shifted her gaze to the window and the stars above. “We sort of got in a fight. He’s trying to act like my dad, but my dad probably would have let me come as long as I didn’t stay out too late. Becks… he doesn’t trust me.” For good reason, she supposed. “I’m kind of a trouble maker.”

  Sebastian snorted. “Understatement.”

  A wry smile came to her lips. “I was sort of kicked out of my high school.”

  “Well, I did not see that coming. I was expecting you to say you enjoyed cow tipping a little too much or something.”

  Wylder laughed. “I don’t think people actually do that.”

  “Wyld Child, I haven’t known you for long, but you don’t strike me as someone who follows the herd.”

  “No.” She laughed. “I’m the kind of girl who chases the herd, causing chaos as they scramble out of my way.”

  “I like that about you. You’re different.”

  “Different isn’t always a good thing.”

  His brow furrowed. “I don’t think we’d agree on that.”

  She needed a subject change, something to get off the topic of her brother not trusting her. “So, where are we going? You’re not taking me away from the city to like… murder me, right? I thought we agreed on not doing that.”

  He laughed, a big full laugh, the kind that made Wylder forget about everything else. She reached up, letting her fingers dance across his lips, feeling his smile widen.

  “What are you doing?”

  Wylder pulled her hand away. She hadn’t thought of how weird the action would be. “I wanted to feel it.”

  “Feel what?”

  “Your laugh.”

  He didn’t respond as they pulled into a gravel parking lot, and Sebastian cut the engine. He turned to look at her. “I just want to hang out with you, is that okay?”

  She nodded because she knew how he felt. Every time they’d been together, other people were around. Crowded restaurants, label execs, Becks. “It’s more than okay.”

  He flashed her another smile before getting out and rounding the truck to release the tailgate.

  Wylder walked up to him, her eyes finding the blankets in the back along with a cooler. “You did all this?” She lifted her face to watch the nervousness cross his features.

  “Yeah.” He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers once, twice. On the third time, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself flush against him.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Without a warning, he lifted her up and deposited her in the truck bed before jumping up next to her.

  Sebastian got to work laying the blankets out while Wylder pulled a couple sodas from the cooler.

  She looked to the sky, realizing it was the first time the stars were completely visible since she’d come to Nashville. Out here, there were no lights flooding the sky, no sounds other than crickets in the night. “It’s beautiful.”

  He leaned forward, gripping her waist, and pulled her between his legs. Wylder was stiff for a moment before relaxing back against him. She’d never been a hugger or a touchy feely person, but with Sebastian, it was different. She wanted to feel his touch, to know he needed to be close to her.

  They didn’t talk for a few minutes as they soaked in the stillness of the night.

  Sebastian brushed his nose under her ear. “Tell me a secret, Wylder. Something no one else knows.”

  She sighed as his lips trailed tiny kisses along her neck. “I don’t like country music.” In Becks’ house, that was sacrilege.

  “That’s not a true secret.” His breath was warm in her ear. “Something that tells me exactly who Wylder Anderson is.”

  She closed her eyes, letting the feel of his lips, his breath calm her. Who was Wylder? She wasn’t sure she even knew the answer to that. “The day you found me playing drums in Luke’s studio… that was the first time I’d played in a while.”

  “Why? You’re so talented, Wylder.”

  She smiled at the compliment, but talent wasn’t what made truly great musicians. Sure, they needed to be good, but they also needed to have a passion for it, to love it.

  And her love had been shattered, broken.

  “I joined this all girls band after Becks left.” She’d never told anyone the real story, and now wasn’t the time. But she could give him the basics. “We got in some trouble together.”

  “Trouble?”

  “It’s not important.” It had been at the time. Her bandmates were big into parties and drugs, trying to pressure her to do whatever they did. She was the youngest, and they thought they could control her, and when she’d decided she couldn’t be friends with them, she turned into the enemy. “It didn’t end well.”

  “Is that your secret?”

  She thought about the question for a long moment. “No.” She hadn’t even told Becks any of this. “My secret is that I miss it. I miss holding drumsticks in my hands. I miss the music.”

  “Then why don’t you start playing again?”

  She looked to the stars overhead, the small lights that illuminated the darkness. “It isn’t that simple.” Playing drums hurt. It brought up the abandonment she’d felt when Becks, Nari, and Julian each went their own ways, breaking up their band, Anonymous.

  It brought back memories of wild parties and peer pressure.

  She sat up and turned to face him. “What about you? Tell me something epic.”

  “Epic, huh?” His eyes bore into her as his lips twitched into a smile. “I’ve fallen for you, Wylder. I don’t know how it happened so quickly the last few weeks, but when I’m not with you, I can’t stop thinking of you. I think I started falling the moment this stranger kissed me in the rain.”

  She didn’t know if he was done, but she needed to kiss him again, to feel the words he’d said. Her fingers moved up underneath his chin. She pulled his face toward her, her eyes never leaving his.

  This kiss was different from the others, more maybe. There was a note of sadness in it because they both knew no matter what they felt, they couldn’t work.

  Wylder was still in high school—a fact Sebastian still didn’t know. She had to return to Riverpass in two weeks. It wasn’t enough time.

  “I wish we had more time,” he whispered against her lips.

  “In another time and another place.” She sighed. “We could have been great.” She rested her forehead against his, her palm flattened against his chest.

  He pulled back. “Wylder, I need to tell you something.”

  She smirked. “You’re married with 2.5 kids.”

  He shook his head. “There’s no one else.”

  “You’re leaving to go into space.”

  “Wylder…”

  “You have a rare incurable cancer.”

  He pressed a thumb to her lips, and she stopped speaking. “I am leaving.” He sucked in a breath. “Tomorrow.”

  Wylder’s eyes widened. “No, that’s too soon. You have to stay for Becks’ Christmas in July party.” Yes, it was about the party. That was all.

  Not even she believed herself.

  Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. “Tomorrow is too soon.”

  He closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them and pulling her into his arms. She sank into him, not wanting to let go.

  “I promised Luke I’d be there for the first part of the new tour. Just a month. And then I start a new job.”

  She let out a watery laugh. “You mean you don’t want to be his gopher the rest of your life?�
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  “A life in music isn’t for me.” He rested his chin on her head.

  “This summer has been something else. My first kiss. My first heartbreak.” She cringed when she realized what she’d admitted.

  His breath ruffled her hair. “Don’t forget me, Wyld Child, because I’ll never forget you.”

  There was no talk of making distance work because both of them knew it wasn’t feasible. They’d always known this would end. Wylder should have been prepared.

  But even if she had been, she got the feeling she’d have hurt either way. “So, this is our last night together.”

  He squeezed her tighter and nodded. “We’ll always have karaoke and hot wings.”

  A laugh bubbled out of her. “And kisses in the rain.”

  She lifted her face, and he bent down, pressing soft kisses to her lips, her cheeks, her neck, as if trying to burn himself into her so she wouldn’t forget.

  What he didn’t know was he’d changed her this summer. She’d always remember him for that.

  They could have fallen in love.

  But maybe love was just a fantasy. It didn’t belong to two people in the back of a pickup truck who were forced to say goodbye.

  When Sebastian drove Wylder home, she didn’t want to get out of the car, but she forced her feet to move, forced her lips to say goodbye.

  He sat there in his truck, watching her walk to the door. He stayed when she knocked and Nicky answered.

  Nicky threw a look over her shoulder at the truck still idling at the curb. He glanced from the car to Wylder and wrapped an arm around her.

  Wylder was grateful for her best friend. He didn’t ask questions as he led her into the house.

  She’d expected to see Avery and Nari lounging in the living room. They spent more time here than their own place. But it was just Becks.

  He frowned when he saw her, and she knew it was because he’d spent the night worrying.

  Nicky gave Becks a shake of his head, and Becks’ expression softened.

  A tear rolled down Wylder’s cheek, and she didn’t bother to wipe it away. There was no energy left for the act. She slumped into Nicky’s embrace, and Becks wrapped his arms around them both.

  She’d thought she wanted to be alone, but now, with the two boys she cared for most in this world, all she wanted was for someone to tell her it would be okay.

  That what she’d had with Sebastian was a fleeting romance, a fling.

  And she wanted that to be the truth.

  Chapter 9

  “No, I don’t want the white ones, I want the blood red ones,” Wylder spoke into the phone.

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Anderson, it’s difficult to find fresh poinsettias this time of year on such short notice,” the florist said.

  “I realize that.” Wylder paced across the living room, trying to ignore Becks singing on the patio with the doors wide open. She took a deep breath. “I shouldn’t have snapped. I know you’re doing the best you can. I would prefer the deep red poinsettias, but I understand if you have to do a mixture of reds. I would really rather not do white if we can avoid it.”

  “I think we can accommodate that by this weekend.”

  “Just remember, it’s a surprise for my brother. I’ll have him out of the house by some miracle on Saturday so you can do your thing.”

  “Do what thing?” Nicky asked, coming up behind her as she finished her phone call.

  “Eavesdropping is not an attractive quality.” Wylder scanned through her emails with the party planner from the Christmas Village.

  “You’re grumpy.” Nicky nudged her. “What’s up, and why do you need Becks out of the house on Saturday?”

  “None of your business.” Wylder ignored him, replying with a curt message to the caterers approving the buffet menu. She’d wanted a home-cooked Christmas sit-down dinner, but the caterer’s laughed at her when she gave them the dates for the party of more than a hundred guests. Skye handled the invites. The whole label was coming, and everyone was making a game of keeping it from Becks so he was under the impression he wasn’t invited to the event of the summer everyone else was talking about. Wylder smiled, thinking how surprised he’d be when everyone showed up wearing ugly Christmas sweaters with presents for the gift exchange.

  “It is my business if you want me to help you surprise him with your party plans.” Nicky pulled her down to sit on the couch beside him.

  “Hush.” She glanced over her shoulder at Becks on the patio. “How did you know?”

  “Oh please, I know what Wylder party planning looks like. So if you want my help, all you have to do is tell me what’s bothering you.”

  “Nothing.” Wylder stood up, going back to her phone for more messages. “Just the stress of throwing this stupid Christmas in July bash for my idiot brother.”

  “Retract the claws, Wylds. And spill it.” He took the phone from her hand and pulled her back down to the couch. “I’ve been your best friend long enough to know when you’re burying your feelings. Is it that guy, Luke’s brother?”

  Wylder shrugged. “He left.” She tried to ignore the stabbing pain at the reminder she’d never see him again.

  “He was too old for you anyway, but I’m sorry you’re hurting.” He took her hand in his.

  “Don’t look at me like that.” She pulled her hand away.

  “Like what?”

  “With those sweet Nicky eyes that are going to tell me everything will be fine, and then I’ll start crying.” She wiped her nose.

  “Start crying? Wylds, your eyes are leaking.”

  “Whatever.” She sniffed. “It was nothing but a fling. We both knew it.”

  “But you fell hard, anyway.” He tugged her to his side, and Wylder leaned her head on his shoulder.

  “Yeah.” She sighed. “Stupid, right?”

  “It’s never stupid to open your heart to someone. It’s about time you had a little fun for yourself. I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted.”

  “I did. But I don’t think it was worth feeling like this.”

  “You have a habit of picking unavailable guys. How about next time you choose someone who doesn’t come with an expiration date.”

  “What do you mean I pick unavailable guys? Bash was my first real boyfriend.”

  “Because you’ve surrounded yourself with guys who are into guys. It’s like we’re part of the wall you put around your heart. You get to love us unconditionally, but you know nothing will come of it. So you spend your time matchmaking for your friends, but then you never get to experience that kind of happiness for yourself.”

  “Oh, blah.” Wylder gave him a playful shove. “Now what are you going to do about getting Becks out of this house early Saturday morning? Preferably Friday night, if possible?”

  “You let me handle Becks, and I’ll have him here whenever you’re ready for us.”

  “Thanks Nicky.”

  “… the happiness of home makes me happy too…” Becks crooned at the top of his lungs, strumming his guitar.

  “What was that?” Wylder wrinkled her nose. “He’s supposed to be a brilliant songwriter. That was… lame.”

  “Why don’t you go help him?” Nicky took her phone. “I’ll field calls for you so you can take a break.”

  “I am not a songwriter.” Wylder reached for her phone, but Nicky sat on it.

  “Go. Take a break. Talk to your brother, he’s worried about you.”

  “Sometimes I wonder where I’d be if it weren’t for the meddling men in my life. Probably somewhere quiet and relaxing.” She shuffled outside to put an end to the racket that was Becks struggling to create a decent song.

  “Whatever you’re doing, stop it. It’s not working.” Wylder stepped through the double doors onto the patio and into the hot July afternoon.

  “I’m stuck.” Becks set his guitar on the table in front of him and patted the seat beside him. “I was supposed to finish this last song for the new album weeks ago, and I can’t seem to pull it togeth
er.”

  Wylder took the seat he offered, but she knew what he was up to. He’d been trying to drag her into his music all summer.

  “Take a break from it for a while, and it’ll come to you.” She refused to meet his gaze or fall for his incessant meddling. “And if that doesn’t work, you have a songwriting partner for a reason. Let Nari take a crack at it.”

  “This one is… personal.” He swept his notebook aside, shielding his scribbled lyrics from her. “It’s kind of a mess right now.”

  “If anyone can fix it, it’s you,” Wylder said confidently. Becks might be a goof, but he really was a brilliant songwriter. “I have faith in you, big brother.”

  “Are you okay, Wylds?” Becks turned to her suddenly. “Do I have to kill this Sebastian guy for breaking your heart? Because I will find the jerk myself and drag him back here to apologize for whatever he’s done.”

  “He didn’t do anything, Becks.” She tried to force a smile for her brother’s benefit. “He had to leave for Luke’s tour earlier than expected. We knew from the beginning it was just a summer fling.”

  “You’re too young to be… flinging.” He scowled at her.

  “I’m almost nineteen.” Wylder sighed. “You were already living in Nashville on your own when you were my exact age. You have to stop treating me like I’m made of glass.”

  “You’re my baby sister. I don’t care how old you get, I’ll always look out for you.”

  “You can look out for me without doing things like paging me at a concert when I go missing for five minutes. You can look out for me and trust me to look out for myself at the same time.”

  “Couldn’t you just stay a kid forever and not get all grown up and go out kissing boys?”

  “No.” She stood to go. “But I can promise you I won’t be out kissing boys again any time soon. That one was special. He called me Wyld Child.” She blushed at the memory. It still stung, but one day it wouldn’t, and she’d look back on her first summer romance with great memories.

  Becks grabbed her hand. “I am glad you had that, Wylds. I want you to be happy.”

  She squeezed his hand. “I just need you to let me be a little sad right now.” She turned and left him to his solo songwriting.