Page 10 of Shy Girls Can't Date Celebrities
Parker grins. “Maybe seeing you is just what the doctor ordered.”
There’s a knock on my opened bedroom door. I view Dad as he looks at Parker. “We have a no boys in the bedroom rule.”
Parker lifts his hands in surrender.
“Dad, he’s Kylie’s boyfriend, not mine.”
“We should get going anyway,” Kylie says and pulls me into another hug. “Best of luck with everything tomorrow.”
I squeeze her, needing all the good luck I can get. “Thank you.”
“And, remember, photos, please?” Parker says, backing out of my bedroom.
I giggle, blushing, as Kylie follows Parker out. “I’ll try.”
Kylie sighs, looking me up and down in my Wyatt-clad bedroom. “I really hope it goes well. Give him our best. I can’t imagine how he’s feeling; forgetting a huge chunk of his life.”
“Thanks,” I reply. “I really have no idea what I’ll be walking into.”
“Wyatt remembers you,” Dad says gently. “You just keep yourguard up around this management team.”
I click my tongue and clutch my elbows. “Yes, Mr. Skeptical.”
Two
Did anyone expect me to sleep a wink? It was hard enough getting a few hours of sleep a night when there were only scraps of information about Wyatt’s accident online. But now, knowing I’ll see him today, my nerves kept me staring at the ceiling.
After we got the twins ready for their carpool, and Dad gave me a mixture of best wishes and lectures before leaving for his hour-long commute to work, I’m finally able to focus on myself. With a good dose of product in my curls, a natural face of makeup, and wearing my best outfit, I take my carry-on bag downstairs.
Mom and I forced breakfast on everyone else, but we’re both too nauseous to keep anything down. Knowing we should eat something, we both scarf a protein bar on the drive to the municipal airport.
Mom grunts as she takes a bite. “I hate these bars. I wish you’d letme buy the ones we used to get.”
“Mom,” I complain. “You know I’m trying to go vegan. You said you’d support me with this.”
“I am, darling. It’s just, I preferred the taste of the other brand.”
“I guess you can get the other brand for yourself?”
“I’m not buying two different boxes. And are you really going vegan for yourself? Or is it just because you saw an interview where Wyatt said he was vegan?”
“I believe in it too, Mom. I’m just having trouble adjusting.”
Mom mutters under her breath, “Maybe because you need all the food groups to survive.”
“Mom,” I whine. “That’s not fair. You know I’m trying to get used to other alternatives.”
Mom lifts her fingers off the steering wheel in a mark of surrender. “I’m sorry, Josie. I don’t mean to argue with you. I’m just anxious. I wonder how much it costs to park at the airport,” Mom mutters to herself as she looks out at the road. “And have they already organized your flight home? We agreed to three days at the maximum, but if we can have you back sooner, it’d be ideal. But can they just fly back whenever they want? How much notice do you have to give a local airport that you’ll be...”
“Mom,” I cut her off. “You’re doing it again.”
Her hands tighten around the steering wheel. “Sorry, darling. You know I can’t help rambling when I’m nervous.”
“Well, it’s not exactly helping. I feel like every vein inside me is jittering.”
“I’ll stop. I promise.”
I side-eye her. “Do you think you can keep it together while I’m gone? You know the twins feed off your nervous energy.”
