Page 34 of Shy Girls Can't Date Rockstars
“That’s crazy. Why is he living with his manager?”
“No idea. It’s a weird setup. Not to mention, the whole house is weird. It’s basically Dracula’s castle.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. It’s so surreal. My aunt kinda looks like my mom, but acts nothing like her. My mom wore her emotions on her sleeve. I could always tell what she was thinking. But when it comes to my aunt, there’s something really off about her.”
Three little dots appear, and then disappear. Knowing Jill, she was going to mention my aunt’s no-show at the funeral and then freaked out.
I don’t want to make her sad with my own grief, so I steer the conversation back to my rockstar roommate.“You’d never guess what I did at dinner the first night.”
“Hi, it’s Patricia in nursing,” Mrs. Whiteborne says into her desk phone. “Can we contact Alice Winter’s guardian about her being ill? I want to make sure they park close to the front door because she’s had some dizzy spells.”
My heart pumps harder at the thought of the school calling Miranda. Will she be mad? She’s counting on me to help Ryderwith his grade average. What will she think when I’m already skipping classes? Reasonable adults recognize that I just lost my parents and I’m adjusting. But my aunt is different. My aunt barely acknowledges the loss I’m experiencing.
“Oh, is that so?” There’s an air of surprise in the school nurse’s voice. “Oh, okay. I’ll pass on the message then.”
Mrs. Whiteborne turns to me, and it’s hard to read her expression.
“Your aunt called and left a message with the front desk,” she explains. “Apparently, she needed to take an early meeting with a client and record label executives. She said a car would be waiting for you. Do you know who’ll be picking you up?”
I nod, wincing from the sloshing in my fragile stomach. “I met the driver this morning.”
Mrs. Whiteborne smiles with placating relief. “Oh good. And, are you feeling any better?”
My aunt is having a meeting with her client. Ryder is her client, meaning no Ryder during the ride home. Meaning, no Miranda when I walk through the door.
No tutoring session tonight.
A smile curves my lips. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Excellent.”
Mrs. Whiteborne returns her attention to her computer, and I read Jill’s text.“What happened?”
I suck in a breath and tap my phone nervously, recounting my first evening with the brooding guitarist.“Ryder walked in and I got so overwhelmed by how freaking gorgeous he is, that I tripped and broke an expensive vase.”
“Lol, he is pretty hot.”
“It was a disaster. Crystal smashed everywhere.”I send the message and remember Ryder’s hands cupping mine.“And there was something else.”
“Spill.”
“He tried to help me. He held my hands, asking if I was okay.”
“Aww. Hot, brooding, and caring. When’s the wedding?”
“LOL, never. He hates me.”
“Ummm, what??? That sounded so freaking cute!”
“I know. But then I damaged his keyboard and amp.”
“WTH?? Since when have you been so clumsy?”
“I dunno. Maybe lack of sleep?”
There’s a long pause before her simple reply of,“Oh, I’m sorry.”
