Page 176 of Shy Girls Can't Date Celebrities
Wyatt laughs, planting his hand over his mouth.
I eye him, holding back a laugh. “Don’t encourage him.”
Wyatt lowers his hand, laughter still simmering. “Sorry. It’s just funny because he can say that word and I still can’t.”
I look back at the house. “Seriously, where is Casey?”
Mom pulls the guitar case and Wyatt’s duffle out of the trunk of the car. “Probably still punishing you, Josie. She wasn’t too pleased whenyou extended your trip.”
I hold my hips. “But I came home.”
Wyatt moves over to Mom, taking the items. “Let me take those inside.”
“Nuh-uh.” Mom motions for Dad to take them instead. “I’m not having any issues before you even step inside the house.” Mom hands Wyatt the walking cane. “You can take this instead.”
“Mrs. Bartlett, I’m really okay. I don’t need...”
Mom smiles at him. “End of discussion.”
Wyatt smiles back and nods. He uses the walking cane to make his way into the house. Mom and Dad carry our luggage, and I take Callum’s hand as we go inside.
“How come he needs a walking cane?” Callum asks, watching Wyatt move. “His leg doesn’t look broken.”
“It’s not broken,” I reply.
“Sometimes when people get hit on the head, it causes all kinds of neurological issues,” Dad says once we’re all inside. “Wyatt could’ve had part of his brain hurt, which meant he needed to relearn to walk.”
“How long did it take to relearn to walk?” Mom asks Wyatt.
“I didn’t com-completely fo-forget how to walk,” Wyatt replies. “I just had balance and co-coord-ordination issues.”
Callum pulls a face. “Is he having an episode?”
My gut drops and I whack Callum’s shoulder. “Do you have no filter?”
Wyatt mumbles a laugh. “It’s okay, Joze.”
“Casey!” Mom calls up the stairs. “We’re home!”
“So!” Casey calls back.
I move over to the bottom of the stairs with Mom. “Come down and tell me you missed me!”
My little sister is definitely in a mood. Loud stomps echo from the upstairs hallway. She appears on the top landing with a grumpy face andcrossed arms.
Mom points at the floor by her feet. “Now, missy.”
Casey trudges down the stairs, and stops on the last step in front of me. “Finally.”
I arch an eyebrow. “That’s all you have to say?”
“Yes. You were gone forever.”
I open my arms out wide. “And now I’m back.”
Reluctantly, she hugs me. I rub a circle on her back, hoping to deflate her sour mood.
When I pull out of the hug, I check her expression for something brighter, but she’s quick to move past me.
