Page 48 of Shy Girls Can't Date Celebrities
After a few desperate drags, Erika holds the cigarette behind her, leaning back into the room. “How was your visit yesterday?”
“Really good.”
“And he remembered you?”
“Yeah, he didn’t miss a beat.”
Relief fills Erika’s face. “Thank goodness. The doc was worried his past might still be patchy. This is really good news.”
“I agree. Maybe I should tell his parents. They seemed really freaked out.”
“Don’t worry about them,” Erika says, brushing it off. “Randall’s placating them downstairs. All we need you to do is keep Wyatt focused on remembering your past together.”
We? Who exactly iswe?
Gosh, could skeptical dad please get out of my head?
“Do you always stand like that?” Erika comments, judgment in her stare.
“Huh?” I stand upright in a flash, not realizing how bad my hunch had become.
“You know, if you want to be seen around Wyatt, you gotta act the part.” Erika puffs on her cigarette, the cloud of smoke wafting into the room. “You know how the world sees him. You should want to act like you belong in the same space as him.”
I hug my middle, willing myself not to lean or fidget. “I will.”
Erika flings cigarette ash onto the balcony floor and my mouth waters in the worst way. I swallow hard, suppressing the urge to retch at the putrid stench.
A throaty laugh hums out of Erika. “You’d better.”
I stiffen. “Does that mean you could send me home?”
Her cackle unsettles me further. “Why would I do that? You’re the most valuable tool I have at the moment.”
Tool?
What the actual heck?
“Do you remember I had a meeting yesterday with our financial manager?” Erika asks and then takes another drag like her life depends on it. “We’re in a very unpleasant limbo regarding Wyatt. We were inthe middle of some changes for him and this incident has come at the absolute worst time.”
“I’m sure he didn’t plan on ruining things.”
“All I’m saying is, we are very hopeful of your influence bringing him back to form,” Erika says, a smoke haze billowing past her face. “Wyatt will be released from Clearview very soon, and we can’t wait for him to be back in meetings with us.”
I bite inside my cheek as icy prickles embed themself along my spine. “You don’t plan to rush him, right? He still needs recovery time.”
Heck, he doesn’t even know your name, Erika! He called you Erin!
There’s a metallic taste in my mouth as I bite down hard to keep those thoughts from slipping off my tongue.
“There’s just a few things we need quick action on. Anything you can do to keep him in a stress-free headspace as we lead up to our meetings is greatly appreciated.”
I try to rid the contempt from my face. The best way to make him stress-free is keeping him well away from Erika and the rest of her team.
“I’m just here for Wyatt. I don’t plan on having anything to do with your business stuff.”
Erika smiles but I can’t get a read on her. “Of course, dear.”
“Besides, shouldn’t his parents be the one to help him get into that headspace? I mean, he’s still a minor. Can’t they act on his behalf?”
