Page 11 of Not that Impressed
Isla grabs my arm and gives a quiet cry of pleasure. “He’s here.”
I fix my face into a pleasant expression, readying myself to talk to Isla’s new collab partner, Colin Hurst.
He approaches with a slick smile, one that he probably thinks is charming but is oozing fake vibes. “Isla Emerson, you areglowing.” He chuckles in a breathy way like he’s so clever, but the way Isla is—well, glowing—over his praise, says she either believes him or she’s much better at acting.
I’m hoping for the latter.
“Thank you so much for coming,” Isla gushes.
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He leans in and leaves a lingering kiss on her cheek. Then he quickly pulls away, bright eyes turned to me. He holds his arms out wide like he’s coming in for a hug.
Curse these cameras. I’d like to shove him away from me but I need to play nice, especially for Isla. I allow him to hug me but give him a quick pat and try to step away.
He just laughs. “Oh, come on, El—” This man doesnotknow me well enough to use a nickname. “—give me a proper hug.”
I slide a hand up between us to cover my lapel mic. “Take your hands off me now.”
Colin laughs louder, but he steps back. “Good to see you.”
I smile pleasantly again as I step back and don’t respond. He doesn’t hug Janelle, but he still leans in for a cheek kiss. Janelle expertly tilts away as his lips reach her so it looks like he kissed her, but he didn’t touch her.
“Isla,” I say brightly. “You should go introduce Colin to thePhillips.” Travis Phillips is a former Pumas player and one of Isla’s dad’s best friends. Also, if Colin steps a toe out of line, Travis won’t hesitate to correct him, especially around Isla.
Isla claps softly. “Great idea.” She slides her arm around Colin and leads him away. I let out a relieved breath. I clock the cameras around me and then angle my hand away before spelling outHe’s the worstin sign language.
Janelle makes a fist in front of her and nods it.Yes.
Isla.Is.GLOWING
So grateful that @Mr.Colin came to support the launch of the Glow True Line. I’m blown away!
CHAPTER 7
WILL
I smile in a satisfied way at the ground as Charlie and I walk out of practice, my limbs loose and my mind replaying the way I kept stuffing up Alec Sanford, one of the running-backs. My smile grows.
“You’re in a good mood,” Charlie says from beside me.
“I’m always in a good mood after practice.”
He chuckles. “That’s true. Bet Sanford isn’t.” He gives me a good-natured grimace.
I shrug it off. “Probably not, but he’s one of the best in the league. Not many linebackers out there like me that he’s going to face. I’m making him better.”
Charlie puts a hand on his heart. “Always so humble, Pemberton.”
I roll my eyes.
“Dinner tonight at my house. Eight o’clock. Wanna come?” He rubs at the back of his neck, a weird show of nerves over a dinner invitation to me…
“I’m guessing this isn’t you inviting me over for takeout and video games.” I eye him.
He laughs. “Kara is cooking. I invited Janelle and Ellie too.”
My shoulders tense. I don’t want to go to dinner if Ellie’s going to be there.
But … I could use it as another opportunity to prove Ellie wrong about who I am. I hate that she thinks I’m judgmental. I shouldn’t be obsessing about it. I should let it go, but I can’t. Watching her the day we packed up school supplies has made it more imperative that she think well of me because … I’m not sure I even know why.
