Page 50 of Not that Impressed
Victoria pinches her lips and turns to my parents. Mom looks exhausted, and the only reason I can think that she didn’t push back with Victoria on this is because she’s too focused on finding out what’s going on with Libby and doesn’t want to waste time arguing.
“That’s not how this works,” Victoria says. The biggest story of this season just plopped into the living room, and sure, Will might have chosen this, but I won’t let Victoria use him because he wants to be a good friend.
I raise my eyebrows. “We’ve met our contracted filming hours this week.” I stride into the room, Will following on my heels. The first guy hasn’t picked his camera back up, but thesecond camera operator, in another corner of the living room, hasn’t put their camera down.
“I just got off the phone with Libby,” I say in a soft voice to Mom. She cries out softly and grabs for my hands. Janelle sits forward. “She’s fine,” I assure Mom. For now, anyway. “I guess Will’s going to drive me and Janelle over to Charlie’s. Call us when Victoria leaves so we can figure out what to do next.”
Victoria grunts in displeasure at my words. I turn toward her and raise my eyebrows. “Keep Mr. Pemberton out of the shots,” she snaps to the room.
Dad reaches over and puts a hand on my shoulder. His expression is weary, but there’s a glint of pride in how I handled Victoria. I need to discuss the spin-off the network has pitched with my parents. Now isn’t the time but soon. So much has happened recently, I’ve barely thought about the discussion Janelle and I had a couple weeks ago. And a night like tonight tips me in the direction of saying no way, even if Janelle thinks I can work out a deal where I get more control.
I can use the show for good, but I don’t need it. I don’t want to fight with the crew about Will, but I also want to spend more time with him. I want him to spend time with my family. All of that will include cameras at some point, if something doesn’t change.
“What did Libby say?” Mom asks. She sinks into the couch, looking up at me hopefully. Her eyes are bright, a sure sign that she’s tried to keep from crying. When I sit next to her, she grips my hand again, and I can only imagine she’s terrified. Will moves to stand behind me, a few steps away from the couch so they can still film me and my parents, but close enough that I feel his presence there. The camera operator across the room shifts his position. I wish they’d leave, but if Dad hasn’t made them, there must be a reason.
“It’s not much more than she’s texted Janelle,” I admit to Mom. “She sounded fine. Safe. She doesn’t think this is a big deal.” Dad, Mom, Janelle and I share a look.
Mom’s breath hitches, and I squeeze her hand. She’s ready to fall apart—which she has never done on camera before. She’s cried—dainty, quiet tears a time or two—but she won’t melt down.
Mom looks across me to Dad. “What are we going to do?”
“Bring her home,” Dad promises. It’s bold. It’s a promise that could easily be broken, but he won’t say anything less to Mom.
“Has she told you where she is?” I ask Janelle.
Janelle chews on her lip. “Shesaysthey’re in Cancun.”
“Ellie.” Will’s voice makes me spin around. He hands me his phone. It’s open to a picture on Grayson’s Instagram profile—him on a beach. I read the caption out loud for Dad and Janelle since Mom is reading over my shoulder. “Me at my favorite beach. Heading there now with my favorite girl.” Janelle scrunches her nose in disgust. Dad growls. “Girlbeing the operative word,” I mutter. “The location is tagged in Cabo,” I tell everyone. Will’s phone buzzes, and I glance down to see a text notification from Charlie. I hand the phone back to Will, enjoying the brief touch of our hands.
“Which one of them is trying to throw us off…?” Dad taps his fingers on the arm of the overstuffed chair he’s sitting in.
“Grayson,” I say, the same time Mom says, “Libby.”
Mom’s not wrong that Libby’s in a state of mind to frustrate all our plans to help her. But I trust her more than Grayson. “I’m going to Cancun to find her.” I’m the reason Grayson’s in her life in the first place. I let Isla introduce us, and I believed him because I was mad at Will.
“I’ll go to Cabo.” Dad rubs his chin. “I don’t like the idea of you going alone, though.”
“I’m going with her,” Will says.
I whirl toward him. “You can’t do that,” I cry. Will has a game on Sunday. He can’t skip the Saturday meetings and walk through, and that’s if we get Libby back by tomorrow night. “Can’t,” I repeat to him in a tone like the one he gave me.
He eyes me, gaze intense as always, expression steady anddetermined. I should be more irritated at how stubborn he is, but it’s downright sexy. I scowl at him anyway. How dare he use that on me now? Stupid protective man.
“I can go with you, or I can fly down on the same flight and follow you around. Your choice.” Will’s tone is hard and unrelenting.
“How are you going to fly on the same flight as me if my dad gets me a private plane,” I challenge, despite knowing this argument was lost before it started.
He shrugs, unconcerned with my attitude, I suppose. I mean, I have said a lot worse to him. “Commit terrorism, I guess.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Seriously, Pemberton.”
“You’re not talking me out of it.” He folds his arms, which makes his biceps bulge. Have I mentioned that Will is not a small man? It is not lost on me in this moment that he takes down other huge guys for a living. And it’s the stupidest decision he’s ever made, but he’s coming with me to find my sister and I can’t stop him.
I stand up and narrow my eyes at him. “Someone should have warned me how stubborn you are before I kissed you.” Behind me, Janelle gives a quiet, surprised squeal. Mom gasps quietly, and Dad’s eyes widen. Victoria groans, since she can’t use this footage and it’s probably pretty good. That’s satisfying. A little silver lining in this scary moment.
Will smirks.
But a girl still has to deal with appearances. I’m not starting out this relationship with Will thinking he gets to boss me around just because he’s protective and has big muscles and … well, such a pretty face.
