Page 25 of Shy Girls Can’t Date Celebrities (Shy Girls Sweet Romances #6)

Hubert leaves the room and I sit on the edge of the bed.

My foot bounces and my fingers tap against my knees.

I keep my gaze fixed on the closet entrance and listen hard for noises from the bathroom.

I’m well aware Wyatt was taking himself to the bathroom when in the clinic, but I still have this sinking feeling something could go wrong.

My stomach churns at the thought of him tripping or collapsing.

Before I go into full meltdown, he makes his way back into the bedroom, walking cane in hand.

He notices my overzealous grin, and looks down at the cane. “Yes, I’m being a good boy.”

I giggle, standing to give him space to make it to the bed. “Savanna would be proud.”

“I didn’t want you to fr-freak out about me.”

“Me? Freak out?”

He side-eyes me. “With Mr. Skeptical as a dad, and Mrs. Nervous as a mom, umm, yeah, you’re known to freak out.”

“I just like to make sure everyone’s safe.”

He smiles and slides under the covers. “That’s what makes you amazing, Josie.”

I hand him the glass of water and two pills. He takes them with an unsteady hand, and I’m quick to take them back when he’s finished.

“Good?”

He nods after swallowing.

“Excellent.” I round the bed, slipping under the covers beside him.

He snuggles close to me, draping an arm around my waist. “I want to say something.”

“You can say anything.”

“Well, no I can’t.” His brow furrows. “I should say it, but I don’t know what it means.”

“Wyatt, you’re not making sense.”

“This morning.” He pauses. “You said...”

I sigh. “Oh. That.”

“Well, I... You know, well...” He huffs, looking up at the ceiling. “If my life was what I remembered, I wouldn’t hesitate. But... it’s not. And, you said...”

“That I love...”

“No,” he blurts, looking back at me. “No, that, that, I might have... That there might be, be, someone else?”

My shoulders lock and my insides turn to sludge.

“I mean, I haven’t heard from this person, so we ca-can’t b-be in love.” He gulps. “But it just hits home that there’s so many fr-freaking un, un, unknowns in my life. Even my parents. Th-they... I don’t know if I’m okay being around them.”

“Wyatt, you’re stressing out. You don’t need to think about this stuff.”

“But...But, it’s stopping me from telling you...”

“I told you, you didn’t need to say it.”

“But I feel it.”

Instantly, the ick inside me dissolves into butterflies.

“Joze, it’s only you. You’re the only person I wanted to see when I was crowded by people. Of course, I do. But when I don’t know who I am, I just feel...”

I nod as he grapples with his words.

“There’s just a big X over me.” He sighs roughly. “When things become more clear, I won’t be so guarded.”

I grin as my heart bounces in bliss. “Oh my gosh, Wyatt. You practically said it. That’s totally enough for me.” I giggle in overwhelm. “More than enough for me.”

He smiles, tracing my chin. “You deserve more, though. ”

“You said you feel it.”

He nods.

I grin. “That’s mind-blowing.”

He puffs a laugh. “Why?”

“Because you’re a superstar and I’m just a normy.”

He grins, clutching my wrist. “We used to spend so much time together.” He tugs my hand up to his chest. I press my digits against him, feeling the thumping of his heart. “I’m not different.”

“You’re exactly how I remember.” I then giggle before I add, “Just bigger and with a better hair cut.”

He winks. “You’re still the better looking one.”

“I think you have a giant fanbase who would disagree.”

“They don’t exist right now.”

I nod. “Right. It’s just you and me.”

He lifts my hand to kiss it. “Right.”

“You gonna get some sleep?”

As if on cue, he yawns, making me chuckle.

His smile has sleepy written all over it. “Maybe just a few minutes.”

“And you’re sure you want me to stay?”

His eyes close and his smile stays dreamy. “Yes, please.”

I giggle, flopping beside him. “Okay. No problem.”

I don’t care how creepy it might seem. I just can’t pass up the chance to watch this beautiful boy sleep.

His hand grows limp against mine as he drifts into dreamland. I yawn from close proximity, but I don’t feel like sleeping. I’m careful not to shift on the bed as his breathing grows heavier.

My gaze traces the lines of his face, until I’m interrupted by my phone buzzing in my pocket. The harsh noise causes creases to form across Wyatt’s forehead as he moans and stirs in his sleep.

I lean forward and kiss the top of his head. “I’ll be right back.”

I slide out of the bed, hit answer on my phone, and leave the bedroom. “Hello?”

“You want to stay longer?” Mom’s frantic voice yelps through the phone.

“Wyatt needs me,” I whisper as I edge my way into the living area.

“No, you need to come home,” Mom says adamantly. “I can’t deal with the stress of worrying about where you are all the time.”

“I’m with Wyatt,” I say, plonking down on the couch. “He’s in the hotel now, so I don’t even have to go anywhere. Besides, there’s tons of security around. You should feel good that I’m so safe here.”

“I should feel good?” Mom says sharply. “No, Josie. I don’t feel good about you being hours away from us. You’re only sixteen. I don’t like this.”

“Mom, please, don’t...”

“I never should’ve let you go,” she says the words I was hoping she wouldn’t.

“I don’t need the guilt trip.”

“That’s not what this is. I’m being a parent. Your parent.”

“Mom, he’s scared. If I leave, I think he’ll fall apart. Do you really want him to get worse?”

“He has the best medical team in his corner. He’ll be fine.”

“You’re being so flippant. He doesn’t remember any of the people surrounding him. He needs me.” I huff my frustration. “Can’t you all come here instead?”

Mom laughs in shock. “Did you really just say that?”

“Look, I’m not coming home. I can’t.”

“Josie, don’t you dare speak to me like this. Your father and I need you home.”

“I know. I wish I could be in two places at once.”

“You can’t.”

“I’m not getting on a plane.”

Mom’s sigh rattles through the phone. “Why are you making this so difficult? You know you need to come back.”

“You didn’t see him wig out when Randall spoke about arranging my flight home. He’s not ready for me to go.”

Mom doesn’t respond for awhile, making me wonder if she fainted or something.

“Mom?”

She sighs. “All I want is to cuddle you in my arms. I’ve been forcing myself not to think about Wyatt, because I just want you home. I can’t even imagine what his parents must be going through.”

“Neither can I. They haven’t visited him since he left the clinic this morning.”

“Why? Where are they?”

“No idea. Wyatt keeps asking for them, and they haven’t turned up.”

Outrage fires in Mom’s voice. “What?”

“Besides me, they’re the only people around him who he remembers. If I go, he’ll basically be abandoned.”

“Abandoned? I can’t believe his parents would abandon him.”

“They’re not here. Whenever I do see them, they’re using words like entitled, and wishing he’d get back to work.”

“What? Already?”

“There’s something really off about them. Wyatt can’t rely on them. And it only makes things worse when his team is pushing for him to get better in an instant.”

“Oh my...” her voice trails off, until another sigh puffs out of her. “Hmm, it’s already Thursday. I guess the weekend is coming up soon. So, it’s not like you’ll miss out on much more school.”

“Do you mean...”

“I’ll call your father. We won’t stop being nervous wrecks, but we’ll handle you staying there a few more days.”

I sit back on the couch, relieved. “Thanks, Mom. ”

“Are you with Wyatt?”

“He’s asleep. His headaches take it out of him.”

“Poor guy.”

“I hate seeing him in so much pain.”

“He’s lucky to have you. The twins are completely jealous.”

“Ah, I miss them. Maybe I’ll read them a story over video chat tonight.”

“They’d love that.”

“Talk later?”

“Of course. Love you, honey.”

I smile against the phone. “Love you too.”

I move back into the bedroom, finding Wyatt lying on his back, rubbing the side of his head.

“You’re still in pain?” I ask, sitting on the edge of the bed.

He lowers his head, turning to view me like he didn’t hear me come in. “You’re back?”

“My mom called,” I reply. “I had to talk her off a ledge. But she agreed to let me stay here with you.”

Wyatt smiles weakly. “Awesome.”

My heart hurts and I scoot across the bed to sit beside him. “Are the painkillers not working?”

He grunts, eyeing the ceiling with glassy eyes. “I dunno. Just feels like something’s pulsating in my head.”

I wince in second-hand pain. “Do you want me to call someone? Maybe Erika could get your doctor on the line?”

He shakes his head and grabs my hand. “No, it’ll be fine. It’ll eventually stop. Just cuddle me.”

“That I can do.” I lie down beside him and wrap my arm around his middle. “I’m sorry if my phone ringing woke you up.”

“No, it was the headache.”

I lift my hand and massage his temple. His eyelids fall shut and he exhales softly.

I smile. “Better?”

His lips curl and he gives a slight nod, keeping his eyes closed. I keep gentle pressure on the side of his head, rubbing concentric circles with my thumb.

Before long, quiet sleeping sounds purr out of him. I keep massaging his head, ensuring he falls deeper into sleep.

Gosh, he looks so freaking beautiful.

Not able to help myself, I press my lips against his, relishing in every bit of his sweetness.