Page 36 of Not that Impressed
“Oh, yeah.” I double down on my Will-who attitude with a shrug. “I don’t know him very well.” Given how much time I’ve been thinking about him lately and all these good qualities I’m suddenly realizing about him, that might be a bit of a stretch of the truth.
“Hmm,” Jett says in a way that implies he’s not buying it. “Well, that’s the kind of guy he is.”
I decide to play devil’s advocate and see what Will’s teammates really think of him. Grayson lied to me about what happened with Anna, but it could still be true that Will’s a jerk to people he doesn’t like. And he seems to not like a lot of people. Most lies are based in some kind of truth, no matter how small the sliver. “The kind of guy who makes sure people know he donates to charities?” I ask, arching an eyebrow.
“Ha.” Jett shakes his head. “The kind who donates to more charitable causes than anyone on the team and nobody knows it.”
I furrow my brows. “What’s his foundation? I didn’t realize he had one.” It’s not out of the ordinary for players to have their own nonprofits to highlight causes they’re passionate about. I thought I would’ve heard about Will’s, but Jett’s right. He’s quiet, and obviously good at keeping secrets.
Jett shakes his head. “He doesn’t have one. Last year he paid for cancer treatments for the kid of one of the rookie players. When you add in all the stuff like this,” he gestures toward the tables around us and probably a dozen more things Will’s bid on, “he’s hard to top.”
“I take it you have?” I tease.
“Every year.” Jett chuckles. He leans over to read something on the flyer for one of the items. “Oooo, getting to choose a water boy for one game. And Will only bid ten-k? Rookiemistake.” He jots down his name and smiles at me before he moves further down the table.
I shake my head at myself. Did I want Jett to confirm that Will’s a jerk? Maybe because if he was awful to everyone but Charlie and Anna, it would help me feel better about how I treated him the night he asked me out. Especially since it turns out I was completely wrong about him, and he didn’t deserve any of it. He said one mean thing about me and I decided he was the villain.
I don’t like the tight feeling in my chest when I think about the way I treated him and thought I was justified.
I write my name and some bids down on a few other things—a spa day for me and Janelle, signed books for a romance series I love, and a spot on the Blue Team for a flag football charity game sponsored by the Pumas later this season. When I’m done, I see that Janelle and Charlie have left the dance floor and are getting drinks. I move toward them.
“Blue team, huh?” Will says from behind me.
I spin toward him, my heart racing. I’m excited to see him.
Bad idea, girl.
“Please tell me you’re going to be on the Black Team.” I put a hand on my hip, an automatic power move I can’t help doing when I face off with Will. His eyes do a sweep over me after I strike that pose, and shivers slide up my spine. He’s wearing a pair of black athletic pants that hug his muscular thighs and a pair of high-top white Nikes. His white Pumas t-shirt stretches across his chest.
“Captain,” he says simply, but his low voice and the confidence almost make me take a step closer to him. I like it and I shouldn’t.
I wonder if I can donate extra to get the captain spot for the Blue Team. I doubt it. It’ll be one of the other players. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Jett. Our two star players, offense and defense.
“So,” I say, shaking my hands a little like I can get rid of mynerves. “Sorry … about what I said to you when you asked me out. I was way out of line.”
His shoulders relax. “Thanks.”
When he doesn’t say more, we end up staring at each other for several moments. My cheeks burn and something flutters in my stomach. I remember how gently he held me after I hit my head. I try to push the thoughts from my brain, keep myself from leaning toward him.
I rush to fill the heady silence. “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions like that. Believed something horrible about you without a second thought. I mean, that’s exactly what I yelled at you about at Charlie’s party. Pretty hypocritical of me, right?—”
“Ellie.”
Holy viral meltdown, his deep voice makes my knees so weak, I might end up in urgent care again.
With him carrying me.
Stop picturing that, Ellie Bennet!
“I just want you to know,” I continue, the tone of my voice rising, and soon it will be a squeak. Where is hand-on-her-hip Ellie? Has she fled the building? “Well, I want you to know that I recognize I overreacted to what you said at Charlie’s party?—”
“Ellie.” His shoulders tense again, and I look down to see him clenching his fists.
Our friendship is doomed if I can stress him out just by talking. Forget about more.
Ugh! I don’t want more!
“You’re not the first person Hollis has charmed into believing his side,” he says. “I didn’t even insult those people first.”
