Page 191 of Shy Girls Can't Date Celebrities
Kylie walks us into the café, shows us to one of the rear booths, and then moves onto the counter to order for our group.
Wyatt and I take one side of the booth, with Parker taking the other side, awaiting Kylie’s return.
I can’t help noticing my best friend is a little sheepish when she walks back to the booth.
“My boss is a little skeptical,” Kylie says in a low voice.
My stomach spasms. “What do you mean?”
“I told her you were away,” Kylie says vaguely, avoiding eye contact. “And, umm, she asked who the guy was sitting next to you.”
Wyatt slouches in seat, baseball cap shifted downwards. “Did she recognize me?”
“No,” Kylie replies. “I just told her to act cool and not to make a fuss. She knows Josie doesn’t like to be the center of attention.”
“We can just tell her you’re the new guy at school,” Parker suggests.
Wyatt waves it off. “You don’t have to say anything. Making things a bigger deal tends to make it worse.”
I nudge Wyatt. “Don’t hunch. Savanna will be unhappy.”
“Right,” Wyatt says, sitting taller. “Hunching is your thing.”
I giggle at the kidding in his tone, and take in our surroundings. No one in the café has taken note of us.
Phew.
We might be in the clear.
“So, do I have to call your parents?” Kylie’s boss asks, standing over our table.
Kylie glances around at our group, and then back at her boss. “What do you mean?”
Maddy, her boss, sets the tray of milkshakes and cakes down on the table. “Hello. You guys have cut class.”
Parker mumbles a laugh. “Free period, Maddy.”
“Uh-huh.” Maddy deadpans him. “If I see any of your parents walk in here, I’ll be telling them the truth.”
Kylie beams at her boss. “We’ll leave a big tip.”
Maddy laughs to herself, moving back to the front counter.
Parker nods at Wyatt. “You can take care of that big tip, can’t you?”
Wyatt grins. “Would be glad to.” The corners of his mouth drop south and he palms his forehead. “Oh, man. I literally forgot. I have no way to pay for things.”
“What does that mean?” Kylie asks as worry vibrates her tone.
Wyatt winces. “Everything got charged to the hotel before.”
Parker lets out a belly laugh.
Kylie elbows him. “Shoosh.”
“Come on,” Parker says, fumbling with laughter. “He’s a mega star without the cash. That’s funny.”
Wyatt simmers with laughter, shaking his head at the tabletop. “I can’t believe it never dawned on me that I’d have to figure out how to pay for things.”
