Page 24 of Hey Girl

Swoon… no!

“I… can’t.”

I can’t be someone’s girlfriend. I don’t know how to be.

“Why, because of your speech issues and your fear of being around other humans?”

I nod.

“Well, I admit that’s something of a hurdle, but I’m up for it!” He rubs his hands together, grinning. “What do you say, bae?”

I feel my shoulders drop with my exasperation. This is all too much. Too much pressure, too much interaction, too much awesome, hot, cute, funny rockstar goodness standing in my living room asking me to be his.

My issues go so far beyond what I thought.

“Why?” I implore him.

“Oh,” he straightens up and his eyes dart upwards and to the side as he does that cute face scrunch thing again. “Fair point, I suppose. Because you’re not like any of the usual girls that want to be with me. You don’t throw yourself at me, and I like that you’re kind of quiet. I never realized how nice it could be. I’m loud and crazy enough for myself as it is. You blew me away with those album covers; you’re creative and talented as fuck. Whenyou’re emailing me, you’re seriously sharp-witted and funny. And you’re cute,” he finishes.

Wow.

I’ve never had anyone completely dismiss my shortcomings and list off other attributes about me that they like.

I feel my limbs go weak, and his words settle over me like melted butter on my poor overactive brain. I’m completely disarmed.

“Now, I know that isn’t much.” He starts pacing. “But the way I see it, you haven’t allowed me the time to find out more, but from what I already know, I really really want to, so it would be great if you’d be my girlfriend so I could do that.”

“Okay.”

I gasp and bring both my hands to my mouth as if I could shove the word back in.

“Ha!” He points at me with a triumphant smile. “I heard that! No backsies!”

Before I can argue, he gives me a look, his eyebrows shooting up. He turns and strides quickly towards the front door.

“I’ll start planning our first date! Text you later, mouse!”

The door is shut before I can respond.

Not knowing what else to do, I hurry over to the couch and scoop up Iggy, who’s still happily bundled. I pace back and forth, cradling him for my own comfort.

This is bad… This is so, so bad.

I’m dating a rockstar against my will! He didn’t even let me take three months to think about it! He just… took the pressure away.

And just when I was feeling ready to self-destruct, he left. Course, that could have been an effort to get out of dodge before I changed my mind, but I don’t think so. He seemed to sense that my discomfort was at its brink.

And then he said he’d text and not call… he remembers that I have trouble talking, even though he didn’t actually mention it. In fact, he doesn’t mention it much at all.

Oh my God…

I have a boyfriend.

I have a boyfriend.

And he’s a famous rock star.

7

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