Page 126 of Shy Girls Can't Date Celebrities
I bite into my lip, a smile pushing at my cheeks. “Yes, you do,” I say, rubbing his upper arm. “You were singing it in your bedroom.”
Wyatt splutters a laugh. “No way. I won with that song?”
My grin expands as I nod emphatically.
“I love this idea,” Erika says. “We’ll be highlighting his roots. Back to basics as he gets back into action.”
Lexy looks around our immediate area. “We just need to stage somewhere in the apartment.”
“I-I-I’ve just been singing to myself,” Wyatt stammers. “I don’t kn-know if I-I’m performance ready.”
“We’re not talking about anything professional, Wyatt,” Lexy says, tapping on her phone. “It would just be you practicing and showing your fans how well you’re doing.”
Erika picks up Wyatt’s phone and opens an app. “Your fans are eager to get more from you.” She scrolls through posts and reposts about yesterday’s Wyatt-sighting. “Those who weren’t on Royale Boulevard yesterday are extremely jealous of those who were. If you post a public video of you singing and strumming on the guitar, it’ll show the fans you love them all equally.”
Overwhelm scrambles Wyatt’s expression as he watches the posts scroll by. “Ah, umm, yeah, okay.”
“There’s a ring light in the fourth bedroom, along with his guitar,” Randall pipes up. “Should I get it?”
Erika grins at Wyatt. “You up for it?”
Wyatt stretches his hand open and closed. “I was practicing my hand exercises last night because I feel ready. Yeah, let’s do this.”
Erika claps loudly, only stopping when she stares down Randall. “What are you waiting for? Get moving.”
At that, Randall jumps and then dashes up the hall in search of the light and guitar.
Lexy pauses her thumbs over her phone, blissfully sighing. “The timing of this could not be greater.”
Erika nods, stifling a happy laugh. “I know. Is that Thea with an ETA?”
“Yeah. They’re just checking her in,” Lexy replies.
“Oh good,” Erika chirps. “Traffic must’ve been light this morning.”
Footsteps hurry down the hallway, and Randall emerges with a guitar in one hand, and a standing ring light in the other.
“Where do you want these?” he asks, lifting them in the air.
Lexy looks around the space, framing areas with her phone. “We should utilize the natural light coming from the terrace. If everyone can clear away from the dining table, we’ll use the space between the dining area and the couch.”
Erika snaps her fingers at me to move. When Wyatt stands from the table, he ditches his walking aide. Getting myself out of the way, I watch as Lexy stages the area, and Randall hands the guitar to Wyatt.
“Wyatt, why don’t you just strum and get a feel for the guitar,” Lexy says, angling the phone at Wyatt. “Take it nice and easy. We just need some candid clips and the fans will eat it up.”
Wyatt strums the guitar and glances around at us watching him. “You sure anyone will care enough to watch me practicing some chords?”
Erika gestures at me. “What do you say, Josie? You’re a super fan, aren’t you? Would you be into seeing this on your feed?”
I hug my waist and giggle, my eyes wandering up and down Wyatt. “Oh, yeah. I’d totally be into this.”
Wyatt laughs nervously and then attempts a wink. “Okay, Joze.This one’s for you.”
Lexy taps the side of the phone as she records Wyatt. “Just imagine all the fans as Josie. You’re doing it for every one of them. Every version of Josie out there. Got it?”
Wyatt nods, changing chords as he strums. “I got it.”
Wyatt continues to strum, and soon, he’s singing like he used to. Tingles run up my spine and I’m grinning ear to ear. Wyatt performs like he has in all the videos I’ve rewatched, over and over again.
