Page 16 of Not that Impressed
He nods but doesn’t seem convinced that he’s not to blame. “There’s a guest room just down this hall, if she wants to lay down.”
“I’ll tell her.”
He holds out a bottle of water. “Let me know if she needs anything.” I try not to smile at him. My sister is miserable, but I can’t help but melt at him hoping to be any help at all.
“I will.” I slip back into the bathroom. “Want to try to drink something?” I ask her softly.
To which Janelle answers by throwing up again.
It’s forty-five minutes before Janelle stops throwing up. She’s wrung out. Just standing up is difficult.
“You’re going down the hall to sleep off some of this in theguest room,” I order her as we inch across the, fortunately, small space of the bathroom, her arm slung over my shoulder.
“I want to go home,” she whines.
“I get that. But I can’t see you making it all the way out to the car. And there’s no way we get a parking spot close to the apartment at this time of night,” I point out. “Mom and Dad’s?”
She cringes, but given how she spent the last hour, I don’t know if that’s from how she physically feels or her reaction to spending the night at our parents’.
“Cameras,” she moans.
I open the bathroom door. Charlie’s house is quiet. There’s the smallest pinch of disappointment in my stomach at the thought that Will’s gone home. I’m curious about him now that we’ve spent an hour in each other’s company without arguing.
Well, not really. When I called him out for curating his own story, it was more of a discussion.
It’s silly, but I want to know more about the man who stares down the world 24/7 with a glare that dares you to cross him. And maybe I want to prod that bear some more. Now that I have an inkling there’s more to him than the jerk who was judging me and Janelle, it sounds like fun.
“The guest room it is,” I tell Janelle. We’re scheduled to film in the morning. Janelle can get out of it if she’s sick, but not if she’s at my parents’ house. Victoria will insist on some footage. Sick Janelle would be ratings gold.
“I’m going to have to insist on that,” a voice says, making us both jump. Charlie appears at the end of the hall, lit from behind by a soft glow from the living room. He scoops Janelle up and into his arms before either of us can say anything and sets off down the hallway, Coco padding after him.
“Charlie,” Janelle moans quietly.
“No arguments,” he says, his voice firm, but the way he’s looking at her is so soft.
Janelle turns to me, widening her eyes in a plea for help, but Ishrug. She doesn’t want to leave; she just doesn’t want to be a burden. Charlie has already readied the bed by turning the blanket down and moving the decorative pillows aside. There are a couple bottles of water on one of the nightstands and even a bucket.
He lays Janelle carefully down on the bed and then leans over and kisses the top of her head. “You’re welcome here as long as you need to be. You’re not a bother. Promise.”
“I’m sure I’ll feel better in the morning.”
“Don’t be in such a hurry to leave me,” he teases, then backs away. I lean against the doorframe, a little besotted myself with Charlie’s sweet display. “You’re welcome to stay too, obviously,” he says to me. “I’m sure Janelle would be a lot more comfortable with you here.”
“Thanks.” I pat his arm in gratitude. He gives one last look at where Janelle has already curled up on the bed, eyes closed, and leaves the room.
I take a seat in a chair by the bed, resting my head back and closing my eyes. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, glancing over at Janelle to make sure the sound hasn’t woken her. She stirs but then breathes deeply again. I put my phone on do not disturb, to be safe, and then check the text message.
Unknown Number
I got your number from Isla and wanted to text. This is Grayson Hollis. It was cool to meet you at Isla’s party.
I smile. There are so many things about Grayson that I’m curious about, and besides, he is good-looking. I do need to figure out why the Pumas cut him though, since I don’t think it’s about his talent. If he’s feuding with another player, and it got bad enough to let him go, I have to take that into account in any kind of friendship that might result. It’s exhausting to have to consider PR every time I meet someone new, but it’s a fact of my life.
Ellie
I’m glad you texted. I could use the distraction.
Grayson
