Page 5 of Shy Girls Can't Date Celebrities
I hit speaker on the phone. “Hi, Erika. I’m with my mom.”
“Hello, Mrs. Bartlett,” Erika says. “I’m Erika Hartley, management for Wyatt Hayes. I called your daughter because Wyatt has requested to see her.”
“What? When?” Mom asks in alarm.
“We will have the Learjet at Victoria Falls airport tomorrowmorning for an eight a.m. departure,” Erika replies matter-of-factly.
Mom puffs out an air of shock. “What? She has school and her father and I work. Not to mention her siblings. She can’t just leave.”
“She can,” Erika replies. “My assistant, Randall, will be there to escort Josie on the plane, to the hotel, and to the clinic to visit Wyatt. Your accompaniment is not required.”
Mom laughs with nervous shock. “You want us to send our daughter off with a stranger?”
At that, Dad walks into the house, arriving home from work. His expression becomes serious when he takes in the bewilderment on mine and Mom’s faces.
“What’s going on?” he asks, loosening his tie.
Mom gestures at my phone. “There’s this woman who...”
“Mr. Bartlett?” Erika butts in. “My name is Erika Hartley, management for Wyatt Hayes.”
Dad’s chin drops as surprise colors his face. “Wyatt Hayes?”
“Yes, the same Wyatt who Josie grew up with,” Erika replies. “He’s requested Josie come to Cherry Beach to see him.”
“Tomorrow,” Mom blurts, astounded.
“Tomorrow?” Dad asks, flinching. “All the way to Cherry Beach? There’s no way we can make that happen. We both work, plus the kids...”
“As I was already saying,” Erika cuts in, “you and your wife can stay home with your other children and we’ll arrange everything for Josie to have a safe flight and trip here.”
Before my parents can repeat their lines again, I pivot between them and say, “He has amnesia. The rumors are true.”
“No...” they breathe out in unison. “Can’t be.”
“It’s true,” Erika says. “He’s forgotten the past three years. The medical team hopes a familiar face will help with his recovery.”
Mom blinks at me. “And that’s Josie?”
“Mom,” I murmur, shivering with adrenaline. “He’s forgotten his fame, but he hasn’t forgotten me.”
A tear buds in the corner of her eye, knowing how I’ve kept tight hold of my former relationship with Wyatt.
“How do we know this is legit?” Dad asks, crossing his arms. “You could be some nut who’s trying to lure our daughter away for nefarious reasons.”
Erika sighs into the phone. “Believe me, Mr. Bartlett, I’m far too busy to play games with a sixteen-year-old. But, to put your minds at ease, I’ll call you back on video.”
The call abruptly ends, leaving me and my parents looking at each other.
“This is unreal,” Mom mumbles.
Nervous energy bubbles inside me. “Mom, it’s Wyatt.”
Dad grunts. “I’ve called her bluff. It’s a total scam.”
I groan. “Dad. What would she get out of that? Do you really need to put your skepticism cap on right now?”
Mom hugs an arm around me. “Josie, we can’t have you leave with strangers.”
