Page 160 of Shy Girls Can't Date Celebrities
He chokes. “Ex-excuse me?”
She giggles. “This is what we do. We have our photo taken together, and there’s clips filmed. It’s how we stay relevant.”
Wyatt checks the exit. “There’s a crowd here for us?”
Portia nods. “Why don’t we head out? They’ll be preoccupied with us, and then Josie can sneak out after. I mean, look at her, she’s obviously freaked.”
Wyatt looks at me with heightened concern. “No, I can’t leave Josie behind. Joze, are you okay?”
I shiver and force myself to nod. “Go with Portia,” I stammer, chilled with fear. “I’ll be okay.”
Wyatt’s worry increases. “But I...”
Portia gestures at a security guard. “He’ll escort Josie out. She’ll be safe.”
The roars and screams from the crowd intensify, and when Ishudder something comes over me and I shove Wyatt away.
He stumbles, shocked. “Joze?”
“Go,” it comes out of me hoarse as my vision blurs and my insides quiver.
Portia helps Wyatt stand upright and I internally yell at myself to apologize, but I’m frozen.
Wyatt leaves the plane with Portia and the cheers raise an octave.
Jenna follows after them. Inside the plane gets so quiet, I realize I’m left all alone. That is, until the security guard steps forward.
“I’ll walk you to your car, miss.”
I clutch my elbows, fixated on the noises outside.
“Miss?” the guard works to gain my attention.
My stomach wobbles like a plate of jelly, and I swallow the urge to hurl the contents.
The only reason I want to go outside is Wyatt. But in order to do that, I have to walk out in front of all those people. The cameras. The judgmental eyes.
The general public already hates me for walking on Royale Boulevard with him.
What will they think when I’m walking out of the Circle 8 Learjet? Will all the online commentators call me a man-stealer? That I’m trying to take Wyatt away from Portia? That I’m justsome girlwho’s constantly following them?
Like some kind of stalker?
Twenty-Four
I retch hard, my eyes blurring.
“Oof. You don’t look so good,” the security guard says bluntly.
Claire joins me in the aisle. “Josie? Do you want to take a seat? I could get you a glass of water.”
Goosebumps prick my skin as a layer of sweat coats my entire body.
“Josie?” Claire asks in alarm.
I clear my throat roughly and blink the tears away. “I’m okay.” I cough, wiping my brow. “Crap... All those people. Ugh. I just need to get out of here.”
Claire motions for me to follow security. “He’ll get you out of here. They’re trained to be as discreet as possible.”
