Page 9 of Shy Girls Can’t Date Celebrities (Shy Girls Sweet Romances #6)

Wyatt mumbles a laugh. “Only if you want an easy win. ”

I giggle. “Well, that’s okay. We don’t have to play a game. We can just talk.”

“I can’t believe you haven’t been in my life,” Wyatt says. “It’s crazy because everything about you came back. Everything from back home is clear as day.”

“That’s fantastic. I’m so glad.”

He rubs under his chin. “I haven’t visited you at home?”

I frown. “Are you sure you want to hear this?”

He grounds his hands against the mattress. “Yes.”

“Wyatt,” I say gently, “you don’t visit Victoria Falls.”

His expression is muddled. “Ever?”

“Not in the three years since you left for the TV show.”

“My parents said they sold our home.”

I nod. “They left town to support your career.”

“But I have friends in Victoria Falls,” Wyatt says in a small voice. “I don’t bring them on tour?”

I smile, biting my lip. “You don’t realize how big a deal you are these days.”

He stares at me intently. “You’re a big deal.”

Tingles race up my limbs and I rub warmth into them. “It must’ve been so scary forgetting the past few years.”

He touches my hand and interlaces his fingers between mine. “It’s a trip. People keep te-telling me how much my life has changed.”

“Wyatt, you have an amazing career.” I curl my fingers over his. “I always knew you could do it. I’m so proud of you.”

He frowns. “But you haven’t been with me?”

“Well, I’ve had school, and you’ve been making albums and movies.”

Wyatt shakes his head, narrowing his gaze. “How am I in movies? I’ve never taken acting lessons.”

I giggle with a shrug. “You must have a natural talent. ”

He looks at me with intrigue. “Are the movies good?”

“I love them. They’re teen rom-coms I’ve rewatched a zillion times.”

“Oh. So I’m not a gun-wielding badass?”

I giggle again. “Nope, you’re an adorable love interest.”

He laughs. “Boo.”

“Well, isn’t this just the cutest,” a female voice says, followed by two sets of footsteps.

I look ahead, and almost jolt. “Mr. and Mrs. Hayes,” I beam. “Hi, how are you?”

Wyatt’s parents walk into the room, and I almost don’t recognize them. They’re dripping in designer threads and their hair is perfectly styled. Something about their strides and the way they carry themselves is unsettlingly unfamiliar.

“Fabulous, now that you’re here,” Mrs. Hayes says, opening her arms to me. “How are you, Josie, darling?”

“I’m good,” I reply, sliding off the bed and meeting her in a hug. “I still can’t believe I’m here.”

“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” Mr. Hayes says as I pull out of the hug. “Wow, Josie, you’ve become a pretty little thing.”

“She’s always been pretty,” Wyatt pipes up.

Mrs. Hayes moves toward the bed. “How are you doing, sweetheart?” She kisses Wyatt’s forehead. “How’s the headache?”

“Bad,” he says bluntly. “They already gave me painkillers.”

“We’ll buzz the nurse for more,” Mr. Hayes says, reaching for a button near the bed.

Wyatt lifts a hand. “Don’t. They’ll kick in soon.”

“Well, can we get you anything, sweetie?” Mrs. Hayes asks. She then turns to me. “Josie? Anything you need?”

“No, thank you,” I reply. “I’m good.”

She turns back to Wyatt. “Sweetie? ”

Wyatt shakes his head.

His dad nears the moveable table and gathers up the mess of cards. “How’s the numbness, son?”

Wyatt rubs his fingertips together. “Still here.”

Mr. Hayes shuffles the cards. “Maybe it’s time your doctor and physical therapist came up with a better plan than cards.”

Wyatt sighs. “It’s not the doctor’s fault I’m not better.”

I suck in a breath, heartbroken by Wyatt’s defeated tone.

“You’re getting better,” Mrs. Hayes says, caressing the side of Wyatt’s face. “That’s all that matters.”

Wyatt gives a small smile in reply.

His mom looks back at me with a happy smile. “We heard the laughter on our way in. It’s so beautiful to see you kids back together.”

I hug my middle, smiling. “I’ll be here anytime I get a call.”

Mr. Hayes’s eyes light with hope. “Did any of the fog lift? Have you remembered any more about your life?”

Wyatt groans. “ Dad .”

Mrs. Hayes moves over to her husband and clutches his arm. “Don’t be mad at your father, sweetheart. We’re just so excited for your recovery. Forgive us.”

Wyatt shrugs. “I d-don’t know what I’m su-su-supposed to do. I can’t f-force myself to remember. I’ve tried.”

“It’ll come back,” I whisper, eyes fixed on Wyatt. “There’s no rush.”

His smile grows in appreciation.

“We’re not trying to rush you,” his dad says. “You’ve just worked so hard for the life you have now. We’d hate for it to all disappear.”

“I don’t care about it,” Wyatt says with a shrug. “I don’t re-remember what all th-the fuss is about. I just care about Josie being here.”

“And that’s all you should focus on right now,” his mom says in a rush. “Dr. Fincher said that this meetup will be good for you. We don’t want to do anything to jeopardize that. We just wanted to say hi to Josie and check in on you.”

Wyatt grins, looking down at the floor as he kicks his feet out. “So, you’ll leave us alone?”

His dad laughs under his breath. “Sure, son. We’ll leave you two alone.”

Mrs. Hayes wraps me in another hug, and Mr. Hayes looks me up and down for a beat too long, and then they both leave.

I slink back to Wyatt’s side. “They were a little intense.”

“Tell me about it.” He sighs. “They’re get-getting impatient about mm-my memory coming back.”

“They just want the best for you.”

Wyatt shakes his head. “They’re getting antsy. Dr. Fincher said I, I shouldn’t be stressed. It, it doesn’t help with re-recovery. But, th-they make me feel stressed.”

I plant a hand on his knee. “It’s okay,” I coo. “They’re gone. And I promise to keep the stress to a minimum.”

Wyatt breathes out slowly and smiles. “I, I already feel the stutter going.”

I grin with giddiness. “I’m so glad.”

Wyatt groans, falling forward and cupping the sides of his face.

I gasp, clutch his shoulder. “Wyatt? What’s wrong?”

He grunts, lifting his head, but then folding forward again.

“Wyatt? Wyatt?”

Hurriedly, I reach across and hit the nurse buzzer.

He forces himself upright, muttering. “It hurts.”

My vision blurs with water and I blink hard before a tear falls.

Through gritted teeth, he murmurs, “It always hurts.”

“It’s okay,” I whisper with a tremble in my voice. “You’ll be okay.”

Wyatt lowers his hands, taking me in with red-rimmed eyes.

There’s surprise in his expression that takes me off-guard. “What is it?”

He smooths back one of my curls. “You’re upset.”

My eyes well again. “I hate seeing you in pain.”

He grunts again, holding the side of his head. “I’m okay, see,” he strains to say. “Nothing to it.”

“Stop it.” I nervously laugh as a tear teeters in the corner of my eye. “Don’t put on a front. I don’t want you hiding your pain for my benefit.”

The nurse from earlier bustles into the room. “Is everything okay in here?”

I break away from Wyatt. “He’s in pain. It’s his head.”

The nurse holds a small flashlight in front of Wyatt’s eyes, asking him to follow the light. She then checks her wristwatch, saying, “It’s only been forty minutes since your last dose of pain meds.”

“I’m okay,” Wyatt says, catching his breath. “It was just sudden and intense. It’s going away now.”

“But the dull ache is still there?” she asks.

He nods. “It’s always there.”

“I’ll page Dr. Fincher and discuss your next round of painkillers. Perhaps he lowered the dosage too soon”

I hug my waist, barely able to keep the flood of emotions inside me. “Is he... Is he going to be okay?”

Wyatt sighs, looking at me with a pout. “Joze.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, letting a tear fall and swallowing back a sob. “I just hate this. It’s not fair. You don’t deserve this.”

The nurse gives me a kind smile. “He’ll be okay. He’s handling this like a trooper. He’s lucky to have a friend as caring as you.” She turns to Wyatt. “I’ll chat with your doctor then come back with new pain meds.”

Wyatt nods. “Thank you.”

She turns and rubs my shoulder. “My name’s Liza and I’m on shift until eight p.m. if you need anything else.”

I nod. “Thank you. ”

Wyatt reaches his arms out and I shuffle toward him until he wraps me in his arms.

His chin rests on my shoulder and his breath tickles my earlobe. “Don’t be sad.”

I wrap my arms around his shoulders. “How can I not be?”

“How about because we’re together?”

I pull my arms around him tighter. “I never want to let you go.”

He buries his face in my curls. “Then don’t.”

My giggle lacks oomph as I trace a finger along the back of his neck. “Okay.”

“We used to be close like this, remember?”

“I’ve never forgotten.”

His head lifts and he plants a kiss on my cheek. “I woke up from a coma thinking about you.”

I lose control of my knees and fall against him.

He laughs, holding me up.

I gather myself, pulling my weight off him. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I liked the extra closeness.”

Butterflies disperse from my stomach and heat rises from my neck up. I still feel the imprint from his kiss and it keeps my knees weakened.

“Umm,” I stammer, backing out of his arms. “I should probably sit down.”

Wyatt points at the couch and armchairs facing the panoramic view. “I never sit over there but they do look ultra comfy.”

I bite my lip and nod, watching him slip off the bed.