Page 179 of Shy Girls Can't Date Celebrities
“I have every Wyatt Hayes collector’s item imaginable.”
Wyatt grins looking around the room. “That I can believe.”
“Come on.” I beckon. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Okay, I’ll let you stop squirming,” he teases, following me out of the room.
When we make it back downstairs, Mom calls out that she’s getting dinner ready. Meanwhile, Dad is arguing with the twins in the living room. I encourage Wyatt to take the opportunity with me to sneak outside without them following.
Wyatt gasps as we move across the backyard. “It’s just as I remember it.”
I love seeing the nostalgia pour glee into his expression as his eyeswander the treehouse.
“We should’ve brought your guitar out here.”
Wyatt carefully climbs into the treehouse. “It’s okay. I’m a bit wiped. I’m happy to just sit out here.”
I crouch beside him as we smile at crude artwork on the walls, board games piled in the corner, and childhood costumes in a busted crate.
“The twins are so blunt,” Wyatt says with a nervous laugh. “They took me off guard since being around the suits, who kept trying to kiss my butt.”
“Yeah, lucky I’m related to them, or I might not love them,” I joke.
“It’s really nice that your family has welcomed me here,” he says. “It’s a lot to ask when you’ve just gotten home.”
“They adore you.”
“No, I think I’m the consolation prize. They only took me so they could get you home.”
“No, you’re the bonus prize. Having you here is better than just having me home.”
He takes my hand and kisses my cheek. “There’s nojustwhen it comes to you.”
I awe. “Well that was positively sickly sweet.”
He laughs. “No good?”
I giggle and wrap an arm around his.
He pats my hand and reclines against the pine wall. “I love how quiet it is here. Life’s happening, and your family is busy, but I don’t feel pressure.”
“I’m glad you don’t feel the pressure.”
He looks at me sideways. “Are you okay?”
I blow out a breath. “Yeah, of course. I’m so happy to be home, but there is a lot of pressure here. Mom and Dad are busy, trying not to show their stress.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. It’s not your problem.”
“But I care about your problems.”
“They both work a lot, and Dad has crazy long commutes. I don’t know how they managed the twins without me.”
“Oh.”
“I help a lot with them before and after school.”
