Page 93 of Shy Girls Can't Date Celebrities
“You...” Wyatt pivots between his parents, unable to fathom their words. “You’re not my parents. Get out!”
At that, my heart shatters into a thousand tiny pieces.
Erika snaps her fingers at Randall. “Alert security. This needs to be over.”
“No, this isn’t over.” Mr. Hayes glares at Erika. “We’re not leaving things like this. We need to be alone with our son.”
Wyatt’s palms rub over his eyes as his head hangs low. All I want to do is hold him, but I’m scared. If I move one step closer, Mrs. Hayes might crash-tackle me to the ground.
“Wyatt, sweetie,” his mother says softly. “You don’t mean this. You’re confused. Let us stay and help you see things clearly.”
“I, I know what you want,” Wyatt stammers, keeping his face covered. “Y-you just want me to g-go back to work.”
“We want you to feel like yourself again,” Mr. Hayes responds.
Wyatt sniffs hard. “You want me to get back to work so, so, so I can mm-make you more money. You don’t love me.”
Mrs. Hayes’s expression shatters as she clutches her chest. “Sweetheart, that’s not true.”
His dad squeezes Wyatt’s shoulder. “Son, we only...”
Wyatt bumps him off. “No, don’t touch me. You’re not making me do anything. That includes keeping me away from Josie.”
“That’s it,” Erika steps in. “The room needs to be cleared.”
At that, security moves in. As if they’ve been through this before, Wyatt’s parents back away. My heart thunders in my chest as security escorts them to the elevator. With my pulse blocking my ears, I watch Erika and Randall close in around Wyatt.
I will myself back to life as Erika pulls a manilla folder out of her large handbag. I can’t stop blinking as she slips it in front of Wyatt.
Wyatt’s hands still shield his eyes, but it doesn’t stop Erika from softly saying, “This form is an emancipation document. Our legal team had it drawn up before your accident because it was something you wanted to sign. Wyatt, honey, dealing with your parents won’t get easier. I’ll leave this with you. If you want further information, I’ll have someone from legal drop by and walk you through it.” She snaps at Randall again. “Come on, let’s go.”
Erika and Randall leave the dining area, disappearing toward the elevator. I move closer to Wyatt as his hands lower from his face. Before he can reach for the document, I slide it away and wrap him in my arms.
“You don’t need that right now,” I whisper, cuddling him against me. “I’m so, so sorry. You don’t deserve that kind of treatment.”
His body shivers against me and he lets out a shattered sigh.
I rub his back, standing as I hold him in his seat. “You can let it out. It’s okay.”
“I, I...” he stutters. “I hate this.”
Before I realize it’s happening, a tear drops from my eye and landson the top of his head. I sniff hard, attempting to dry my eyes. His head shifts, but ultimately rests against me again.
“They...” He exhales roughly. “They kept us apart.”
Unable to respond, I cling to him.
“How, how...” Tears morph his tone. “How did ev-everything get so, so, ruined?”
I grit my teeth, urging myself not to say it, but it slips out anyway. “Money?”
Wyatt tugs on my shirt, motioning me to crouch down. I lower and his face hides in my curls. “I, I never should’ve done what they said. I, I should give it all away. Just, go home with you.”
I slip my hand to rest behind his head and shush him. “You don’t need to dwell on this. They’re all gone. We’ll just work on lowering your stress levels.”
“They won’t, Joze. My parents won’t stop.”
His head turns away, angling at the table. I peer over my shoulder, spying the same document as him.
