Page 55 of Not that Impressed
“I was a mere two-hundred pounds, and it felt impossible to gain weight.”
“A real tragedy.”
He chuckles lowly, sending a shiver through me. “I managed to overcome my trials.”
“You work hard—” A large yawn interrupts me. “Every day.”
“Mmmmm,” he murmurs. “I set goals and I’m undeterred. That’s how I know we’ll find Libby.”
My breathing slows with each languid word. “How can I be falling for you so quickly when I hated you so much before…”
“You never hated me, Ellie Bennet,” he says, his lips against my temple. “You just didn’t know me yet.” His words blur and slide together as I drift off to sleep, safe and comforted in his arms.
Comment thread onEllie.Bennet.IRL’s post:
@kategirl93: Did anyone notice that after begging Ellie for a collab for weeks, @Mr.Colin just unfollowed her??
@pumaprincess598: Probably thinks what happened to Libby is bad press.
@jenniebakesandreads: Pretty sure there’s a reason Ellie didn’t agree to one…
@kategirl93: FIVE STAR TOOL.
@sue_loves_football: Her real friends are standing by her.
@bennetfanz100: Rally the troops. Now we all unfollow him. #bennetsistersforever
CHAPTER 24
WILL
It’s difficult not to fall asleep myself, wrapped up like this with Ellie. She’s peaceful in my arms, the first time I’ve seen her expression relaxed since Janelle called her last night. I stare at her, her thick lashes splayed over her cheeks. Lips in the slightest pout. Strands of loose, dirty-blond hair falling from the bun on top of her head around her face. I want to trace the outline of her nose, graze my fingers over her cheeks, but I can’t wake her.
When I’m sure she’s sleeping deeply, I carefully extract myself, feeling cold without her next to me. I move to the French doors that open to the balcony. Even though the rain still comes down in buckets outside, we’ve left it open. The air outside is hot and humid, despite the rain. I step out onto the cement balcony and listen to the water pound on the roof above me for several minutes, staring out at the misty city around me.
I draw back my shoulders to recenter myself. All day I’ve been the steady one for Ellie when the fear has still burned hot inside me as well.
We need to try something different. Considering what Janelle told us about how neither Hollis’s nor Libby’s name appeared on any flight manifests, I strongly suspect he didn’t give his real name to whatever hotel they checked into.
I let out a quiet groan. I’m not looking forward to having my own teenagers someday. They may not run off to Mexico with a guy they barely know, but it’ll be something.
There’s a message from my mom on my phone, and I relax a little. Ellie has told me a few times today that my presence is soothing for her. I feel the same way hearing from my mom. Just a text from her brings immediate comfort, even though she’s thousands of miles away in California.
Mom
Any luck yet?
Will
Nothing yet. Thanks for checking in. Love you, Mom.
Mom
Sending you guys prayers. Let Ellie know we’re thinking of her family.
Will
I’ll tell her.
