Page 41 of Not that Impressed
“Hollis is causing trouble.”
She growls under her breath. “What now?” She has on a tough expression, but the fear is still in her eyes. I hate that he can do this, upend her life and her safety when she didn’t do anything wrong.
I’ve already told her about Grayson lying to Ellie, so I jump right into what Ellie has told me about the story he told Libby, a much more trusting target. “It’s not a coincidence that he’s convincing the Bennet sisters that he’s the one wronged here,” Itell her. “He’s gunning for getting the story out. His story, and I can bet he’s banking on you continuing to be silent so he can drag you through the mud. He told Libby the woman involved in it was my cousin. Someone’s going to trace that to you soon.”
She clenches her jaw. “Especially since I’m your only female cousin.” She huffs, the sound full of frustration.
“Time to slap him with a lawsuit, Ann, and shut him up.” I stop and face her.
She shakes her head. “It’s not that easy.”
“We have the texts. We have witnesses who saw him pull you into that room at the party.”
She swallows and looks away from me, folding her arms across her stomach. “It will still be he said, she said in the public eye. You’ve seen the way people are talking about him, and he got cut. He will come out the winner here, no matter what I do, and I’ll just be the girl in the front office, making a fuss.”
“We,” I correct Anna. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
She sighs. “I don’t mean to be harsh, Will, but you didn’t handle the thing with Coach Wilson’s wife in a way that instills confidence in me right now.”
I rub my hand down my face. She’s not wrong. “You also have Ellie Bennet.” I’m confident in offering that. I’ve seen the way she leverages her fame for others, like using her show to boost a friend’s new business and making sure they filmed the Pumas players at our latest service project. “She’s much better at this than me. Much.” I take Anna by the shoulders. “You also have the whole Pumas front office. Anna, it was easy to talk Jack into cutting Hollis once I told him what happened. Same with Coach Wilson.”
She leans her head into my chest, and I wrap my arms around her. “Let’s just … see if we can keep this from getting out. I’ll face him outing me when it comes to it.”
This is Anna’s life, and it happened to her. I won’t force her to react the way I think is best. “Okay.”
But when I’m back in my car and before I drive away, I send a text to Ellie.
Will
Anna doesn’t want to fight Hollis right now, but can you have a PR backup plan in case this blows up?
Her response is immediate.
Ellie
It would be my pleasure.
Isla.Is.Glowing
It’s Instagram official! @Mr.Colin is off the market, ladies. #sorrynotsorry
CHAPTER 19
ELLIE
My mind has been whirling for the last day with ideas for how to combat anything Grayson says about Anna if something goes public. I want to be able to control this story, get out in front of it right off and tear Grayson down before anyone even considers believing his story. But I won’t go against Anna’s wishes.
I’m so focused on it while I’m at my parents’ house filming with Libby as she gets ready for a date, that Victoria has to prod me a dozen times to get more involved in the conversation and participate.
Once Libby is off on her date, I hurry downstairs. I’m going out with Isla and some friends tonight for dinner. Normally I love hanging out with her, but judging by her Instagram posts lately, her new boyfriend Colin is probably going to be there. I should’ve only agreed if it was a girls’ night for the two of us, but I’d already agreed to going out with her when she told me a few of our friends would also be coming.
Does she seriously think I consider Colin Hurst one of my friends?
She must be blinded by love. Or something anyway. I can’t picture Colin loving anyone but himself, and I thought Isla was smarter than this.
My hand is on the door to leave my parents’ when Dad comes through the short hallway and into the entryway. “Leaving without saying goodbye?” he teases.
“Sorry, Dad,” I say sheepishly and move away from the door to meet him. “I’m going out to dinner with Isla.”
