Page 13 of Shy Girls Can’t Date Celebrities (Shy Girls Sweet Romances #6)

The travel did it. There’s no way I would’ve conked out otherwise.

Wyatt Hayes and I are in the same room, reminiscing about the past. How have I not been electronically charged this whole time?

I rub my forehead, staring up at the ceiling as I lie back on the couch. I just wish this could be paradise without the heaviness weighing down the situation. He has a whole life he doesn’t remember. A whole life that doesn’t include me.

Did he shut me out on purpose?

I sit up and view him asleep in his bed. Did the boy he turned into not want anything to do with me? If he had all his memories back, would he absolutely hate that I’m in this room?

Would he want Portia here instead ?

My stomach churns with an ugly growl and I peel myself off the couch. I need out of this room before my thoughts truly spin out of control. On my way out, I can’t help watching Wyatt sleep. Dang, he’s so sweet looking. My stomach quivers with the conflicting emotions.

This boy acts like he wants me around every second.

But so did the boy that left town for Talent Quest.

I rub my hands over my face and amble out of the room. I double take at the broad man in all-black, still standing guard outside Wyatt’s door. Why is he still here? Does Wyatt have a stalker or something?

Eep .

Was a stalker involved in his accident and that’s why his team has been so secretive about it in the press?

As I move into the hall, I bump into a tall woman in a light blue uniform.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, straightening myself up.

“No, totally my fault,” she says, steadying her footing. “I was just on my way to see Wyatt. I’m Savanna, his physical therapist.”

“Oh, hi. Umm, he’s asleep.”

“Ah, no bother then.” She eyes me questioningly. “Are you Josie?”

“Umm, yes. How did you know?”

The question disappears, leaving a twinkle in her eye. “Just our boy in there has mentioned you one or two times.”

Is it possible to blush too many times in one day? “He did?”

She turns around, walking me down the hall. “He’s been waiting like a kid on Christmas.”

“Well, I have to admit, I’m pretty thrilled to be here with him.”

“You’re friends from school, right?”

“Yep, we were pretty close.”

She nudges me with a wink. “I’ve heard you’re more special than the other kids back home.”

I rub behind my neck, peeling off the slick curls sticking to my skin .

Savanna moves toward the elevator, hitting the down button. “I won’t need to see Wyatt tonight. I just wanted to check in with him before I clocked out. To be perfectly frank, he’s my favorite client.”

“He is? That’s not hard to believe.”

Savanna folds her arms, smiling as she falls into thought. “We get so many celebrity-types in the clinic. I never met any like Wyatt. He’s so reserved, polite, and super sweet. It’s refreshing not to have a diva attitude to contend with.”

“That’s totally how I’d describe Wyatt when he was back home.”

“He seems like fame couldn’t have changed him too much.”

I bite my lip, contemplating the statement. Unfortunately, with his memory wiped, I have no idea how much he really changed since becoming a household name.

“Everything okay?” Savanna asks, holding the elevator doors open before she steps inside.

I jump out of my thoughts. “Yeah, totally. Oh, wait, before you go. Umm, Wyatt was asking about some kind of elastic. For his hand exercise, or something.”

“Oh, I thought I left one in the room for him.”

I wince. “I couldn’t find it.”

“That’s okay. I have plenty.” She beckons me to follow as the elevator doors ping open. “I’ll give you one to take back with you.”

I step inside with her. “Thanks.”

“It’s really important he keeps up his exercises,” Savanna tells me, hitting the number three button. “I spoke with Dr. Fincher in the hall earlier. We want to release Wyatt soon, and it’s important he doesn’t get slack on his stretches and other therapy.”

“I know he wants to get better.”

“He does,” she agrees, as the elevator slows to the third floor. “But it can be really hard for people to keep up momentum. Sometimes, small progress can feel like nothing to someone in recovery. It’s common for people to give up and then backslide.”

We move out of the elevator. “I’ll help him however I can.”

Savanna smiles kindly, showing me to her office. “That’s amazing. I love that he has someone in his corner. Yes, I know he has a whole team around him. But he needs someone who sees him as a person. Not just a bunch of people who consider him a brand.”

A whole flood of ick surges through me, causing me to halt before we reach her door.

She pats my shoulder. “It’s up to him to stay on top of his exercises. But the support of a cheerleader never goes astray.”

I smile and nod.

Savanna steps inside her office and I wait in the doorway, clutching my elbows. My eyes wander across the filing cabinets and scattered exercise equipment, including exercise balls and resistance bands.

She plucks a red elastic from a drawer and sets it around her fingers. “This is all he needs.”

I step toward her. “How does he use it?”

“He just has to make sure the band sits under the first knuckle on the three middle fingers,” she says, demonstrating on her right hand. “It’s fine if it sits against the nail on the thumb and his pinky.”

“And does he do this everyday?”

She nods. “Multiple times, if possible.”

“What about when his head hurts? Can he skip them then?”

“Unfortunately, headaches and trauma go hand in hand. Besides, I think it’ll do his mental health a world of good to be able to play his guitar again.”

My heart bounces at the prospect. “Yes. Wyatt’s not Wyatt without his guitar.”

“He was like that back at school?”

“Totally,” I boast. “He’s always been talented.”

“The more I can work with him on hand-eye coordination,” she says, “the faster I can get him back to feeling like himself.”

I sigh, shaking off the mess of muddled feelings. “He just seems so confused. I mean, I’m confused too. This whole situation is so complicated. He remembers his life with me, but I know so much more about his current life than he does. I wish things could get more comfortable for him.”

“Neurological issues can be so tricky,” Savanna says with a tight mouth. “We can’t rush him.”

“I know. It’s just hard.”

She smiles sweetly and rubs my arm. “Just focus on having a nice visit. It’s all he needs right now.”

I nod, moving out of her office. “Thank you. I will.”

“Will you be okay?” she asks, tilting her head with concern as we move into the hallway. “Do you wanna get a coffee at the café downstairs? I have sometime to chat, if you would like.”

“That’s okay,” I say, grateful. “I might head back upstairs and call my friend. I haven’t returned any of her texts since getting here.”

“No problem. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow. Wyatt will be back in the gym with me in the morning.”

“Is that to help with his walking?”

“Yep. Have you noticed him struggling?”

“Mm-hmm. He called himself shaky. He seems both tired and in pain.”

“He’s doing super well,” she says optimistically. “Compared to where he was, he’s improved exponentially in a short amount of time.”

Tingles of hopes burst inside me. “I’m so freaking glad.”

“I hope you have a wonderful evening.”

I wave, backing toward the elevator. “I will. Hopefully, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She waves me off, disappearing down the other end of the hallway.

I get back into the elevator, squeezing the elastic band around my fingers. As I open and close my hand on my ascent, the resistance is tougher than I expected. Wow, this really is a workout.

As I step out of the elevator and pull out my phone, I can’t help remembering Savanna’s words. “A bunch of people who consider him a brand.”

I can’t imagine his team not being compassionate about his welfare.

Heck, there’s Wyatt’s assistant Devon. I’ve seen him tons of times on Wyatt’s social media.

The two seem like genuine friends. It’d hurt so much to find out Devon didn’t have Wyatt’s best interests at heart.

Their interactions online have always melted my heart.

I shake out of the thoughts and dial Kylie’s number.

“Hi,” she replies breathlessly. “How’s everything going?”

“Are you okay? You sound panicked.”

“No, no, it’s cool. I’m just catching my breath.”

I lean against the wall by the elevator, hugging my middle with my free arm. “Just what are you and Parker getting up to?”

She laughs into the phone. “We went for a run. I know, me, running. But Parker needed to let his emotions out, and playing the good girlfriend, I went along.”

“Is he okay? I know he’s dealing with a lot of family stuff right now.”

“He’s doing good, considering. Anyways, we want to know how you’re doing. Have you actually seen Wyatt?”

I sigh dreamily. “Yes, we’ve been talking for ages.”

“Wow, that’s incredible.”

“Kylie,” I whisper. “I think he tried to kiss me.”

“ What? ” she exclaims. “You almost kissed?”

“Like, I dunno, there were a lot of heightened feelings. It was like a rush, you know.”

“ Soooo ,” she drags out the word. “Why didn’t you go for it?”

“We haven’t seen each other in years.” My stomach cramps. “And, umm, I don’t know what the deal is with Portia.”

“Has he been talking about her?”

“No, he doesn’t know who she is.”

Kylie sniggers. “Then why are you worried about her?”

“Ugh. Because he’s had a whole life that hasn’t involved me.”

“Okay, okay,” Kylie replies defensively. “I get it. I’m just excited for you to be back with the guy, who you’re constantly drooling over.”

“To him, no time has passed. He thinks about us, alone in my treehouse.” I bite into my lip as my grin stretches. “And, you know my feelings have never wavered.”

“This is huge.”

“It’s complicated. Ugh, and so messy.”

“But it’s good, right?”

“Being with him is heaven. But, ugh, he’s in so much pain. And he’s scared about his neurological issues. He can’t even play the guitar.” I sigh into the phone, pouting. “It’s so tough.”

“ Oof . Sounds like it.”

“I’d better get back to him.”

“Tell him we say hi.”