Page 40 of Not that Impressed (Houston Pumas #3)
ELLIE
It’s another two days before Janelle and I feel good about going home to our apartment, but before we leave, we have a meeting with Mom and Dad.
Libby is up in her room with one of her friends, and Mom has popped out of her chair a handful of times to hurry a few steps up the stairs to listen for them.
Janelle and I share looks with Dad every time.
Everyone has been so tender with Libby, exactly what she needs, but I’m sure Mom and Dad will have a gentle talk with her soon about new rules and expectations.
After Mom passes out plates of cheesecake, I broach the topic I’ve been meaning to bring up with them.
“The network asked me and Janelle to do a spin-off next season,” I tell them. Mom and Dad look at each other, neither surprised. “They told you?”
Mom and Dad share another look. “We suggested it,” Dad says. “We felt that, with the contracts expiring this season, it was a good time for us to say goodbye to the show.”
Mom nods. “And with everything that happened with Libby, and … that solidified our decision.”
Dad puts his elbows on the table. “You two have used the show for some good things, and I’m very proud of you for that.
” His tone is careful. They might have suggested a spin-off show at one point, but I wonder if Dad regrets that now.
Everything with Libby has put so much in perspective for all of us.
“We’re telling them no,” Janelle says. Mom sits back, relief visible in her expression. Dad smiles.
“There’s other work we want to focus on,” I add.
The support of my followers when everything happened with Libby helped me understand I didn’t need the show to keep the community I’ve built.
They’re loyal and they’re going to follow and back me whatever I do next.
The ones that don’t … I don’t need them.
Dad reaches toward me for my hand, and I take it. “You’re going to do great things. You’ve already done great things, girls. We’ll always be here to support you in whatever you need.”
I squeeze his hand. “What about Libby? I’m worried that the network will be after her to do something—especially after what happened.” The executives will see it as proof that Libby can always bring the drama.
Mom pinches her lips together. “Well, for the next six months, that decision won’t be up to her. They’ll have to wait.”
“And hopefully,” Dad adds, “By that time we can convince her that it’s not healthy. At least not for a while.”
A small weight lifts from my heart. It wasn’t hard to guess where my parents’ thoughts lay on the subject the last week.
Cameras have still been banned from the house, and Dad’s lawyers used a clause in the contracts that was put in years ago to shield us in this exact kind of situation—our family emergencies, health crises, and a bunch of other legal jargon wouldn’t be broadcasted to the entire world unless my parents signed off.
And they’re not signing off right now. We’re still contracted to two more episodes.
We’ve discussed with the network about what that will include.
Some carefully selected family scenes to send Being the Bennets off in style, and Mom, Dad, and I will do private interviews that we control about what happened with Libby .
I’ll protect her from all scrutiny possible in this. Grayson Hollis is fair game.
And I intend to do exactly what I promised I would in Mexico.
Janelle and I tell Libby goodnight and promise to come see her in the morning.
Dad walks us to the car, giving us tight hugs before we go.
A new habit of his whenever anyone leaves the house.
He’s expressed a handful of times how much he worried that the last words Libby would have from him were a lecture.
The sting of fear will soften with time, but I imagine the worry won’t ever fully fade.
“Come by practice tomorrow morning,” Dad says as he hugs me.
I arch an eyebrow. “Me? Why?”
“We’ve got a surprise.” Dad’s eyes sparkle.
“We?” I have a feeling I know exactly who his partner in crime is. He just grins.
I text Will when I get home, but he’s no help either.
Ellie
What do you and my dad have up your sleeve?
Will
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Ellie
You coming over soon?
Surely I can wiggle information out of him if I see him in person.
Will
Sorry, got meetings late. Going into one now.
I guess I’ll have to go and figure out what they’ve cooked up. It’s not the worst thing in the world that my boyfriend and my dad are up to something together.
I show up to the field ten minutes earlier than Dad said to. His assistant meets me out front and takes me to the field.
“The field?” I question.
She grins, and it makes me laugh. “Come on. I can’t wait for you to see this.”
My guesses have ranged from some kind of flash dance Will got his team to do, although that seems more like a Charlie move, to us doing some kind of social media video for the team.
But why would the video be a secret? I coordinate with the team’s PR staff all the time to do stuff like that to cross over between the show and my personal brand.
I walk faster out onto the practice field, where groups of the team are working.
When we get to about midfield, Will pops up from the defensive stance he was in and walks toward us.
Then Dad comes off the sideline with a woman at his side.
I don’t recognize her, but I don’t know everyone on the Pumas staff.
Between the coaching and training staff and the front office, there are a lot of people involved in the organization.
She’s wearing joggers, a white tank top, and a Pumas hat over straight chestnut colored hair. I’d guess she’s middle-aged, maybe forties or fifties.
Will reaches me first, giving me a side hug and a kiss on the temple, which earns some cat calls from the teammates nearest us. Will ignores them, unsurprisingly. Dad and the woman step up to us a few seconds later.
“What’s up?” I ask, my gaze darting between the woman, Dad, and Will.
“Ellie,” Dad says, gesturing to the woman. “I wanted to introduce you to our new assistant quarterbacks coach, Dani Lawrence.”
It’s only with the poise that’s been drilled into me by growing up on television that I keep my jaw from dropping to the ground. The league has a few women on the coaching staff. The New York Liberty has a woman as the head of the strength and conditioning, but this is big. Like really big.
I put out my hand immediately. “It is a huge pleasure to meet you, Coach Lawrence.” I pump her hand enthusiastically.
She smiles back. “I have you to thank for getting this opportunity, Ellie,” she says.
“You have thirteen state championships and one of the winningest programs in Nevada history,” Will breaks in. “That’s where your opportunity comes from.”
Coach Lawrence reaches over and slaps Will on the shoulder, chuckling. “We both know if Ellie Bennet hadn’t put a bee in your bonnet, I wouldn’t be here.”
I turn to Will. His cheeks are red, and he shakes his head. “Okay, she’s not wrong about you making me pay attention,” he says in a gruff voice. “But Coach Lawrence earned the spot all the same.”
Dad beams as he watches all three of us.
I point at Will. “This is amazing.”
He scoops an arm around my waist and pulls me close. Ignoring more hoots and whistles, he drops a kiss on my lips and then whispers in my ear, “I’ll see you tonight.” He steps away and jogs back to his team.
I tear my gaze away to turn back to Coach Lawrence. “I’m putting together a football camp for girls through Girls Play. Would you be interested in speaking to them?”
“Absolutely. Let’s get together and chat more about it.
” She squeezes my shoulder, a gentler version of her shoulder slap of encouragement to Will.
I already get why all her players love her.
There’s an aura of goodness around her, something that makes you feel amazing, and I’ve only known her a few minutes.
Her expression holds joy and encouragement.
“I’d better go now. Don’t want to be slacking on my first day.
” She winks at me and jogs back to the huddle the offense is currently in, clasping her hands behind her back and leaning in to hear what the offensive coordinator is saying.
It’s all I can do to stay put and not follow her around the rest of the day.
Then my gaze trails to Will, who’s also watching me from his own huddle. A smile spreads across his face, and I can’t help my matching one.
“We’d better get off the field before they run this next play,” Dad says, putting a hand on my back and nudging me sideways.
“Will did this?” I turn to Dad as we walk off.
He nods. “For the most part. Came to Jack after that flag football camp for girls you had the players teach at. Told him the Pumas needed to lead by example when it came to giving women the opportunities they deserved. Had a list of five women he wanted us to consider. Coach Lawrence was at the top.”
“There he goes, throwing his weight around again,” I murmur with a smirk. I can’t help glancing over my shoulder at him again, but he’s lined up now, crouched in a defensive stance and ready to pounce as soon as the ball snaps. All focus.
Dad chuckles. “For all the right reasons.”
A few weeks ago, I might not have believed that. Now, I believe more than ever what I told Libby in Mexico. Will Pemberton is the hero.
He’s absolutely my hero.