Page 52 of Your Fan Forever

Seventeen

Callie

“Mom."I whispered. She spoke a mile a minute since she picked up and she wouldn't hear me if I spoke at full volumeanyway.

"I had a paparazzi call me in my hotel room." Mom continued. "It was kind of exciting, but then I couldn't tell them anything even if I wanted to. I didn't know anything. You didn't even tell me you wereengaged."

"Mom." I yelled this time. She had broken through my med buzz and I wasn't in the mood. "We just got engaged a few days ago and I wanted to get used to it before we toldeveryone."

"And now the worldknows."

"I know." I held my hand in my head. I sat up when Noah walked into theroom.

“You okay.” Hemouthed.

I pointed at the phone and rolled myeyes.

"Mom."

My mother continued talking. I put the phone on speaker and threw it in the middle of thebed.

"What's the hurry anyway?" My mother asked. "Oh god. You don't have to get married doyou?"

Noah covered his mouth to keep fromlaughing.

"Mother." I crawled over the bed on my knees towards Noah. "I'm not pregnant. It's just a perfect place." I hugged Noah to me. He buried his head in my neck. "The weather'sperfect."

Noah hugged me tight. When he held me all the happy endorphins masked thepain.

"Okay." She sighed. "We'll be there on Thursday to helpout."

"Okay."

"We have to go." Noah lifted me off thebed.

"Mom, no talking to thepaparazzi."

"If they ask me a question, I don't want to berude."

"Politely say no comment with all the southern charm you can muster." I picked up the phone. "I have to get dressed. The doctor wants to check me out again. Just aprecaution."

"Make sure you invite him to the wedding." Mom said. "After all, he did save yourlife."

"I hit my head on a rock." I shook my head. "I wasn't going to die. Byemom."

I hung up the phone before she could sayanymore.

"This is why we're getting married so quick. I'm not putting up with that for any longer than I have ..." I stopped and stared at Noah in the reflection in the mirror. He had his arms crossed leaning against the doorframe. His face sullen and sad. He lookeddown.

"Noah."

He didn't lookup.

"I thought you were gone." Noahsaid.

"Baby." I placed my hands on hisarms.

He blinked awaytears.