Page 115 of The Backup Plan
Avery squinted down the hall. “Sorry. I swear, it’s like Gia is looking at us everywhere I turn. Not us. Me. She was staring when I was talking to Isaac a little bit ago, too, when you were helping Benny with all the chairs.”
“She’s just nosy,” Cam said.
The girl’s analytical gaze unnerved her, first when she and Isaac were hashing out the latest about Justin’s behavior and what they should do, and now with Cam when they were all over each other in a half-lit hallway.
“She just looks at me like she has a problem with me. I only met her once. Why wouldn’t she like me?”
“I have no idea. Some people just have that face. And I know she likes to know what’s going on.”
“Are we a hot topic? Or am I, after the thing with Justin?”
“Maybe a little of each. We did say we’d keep things kind of low-key for a while and I think we weren’t exactly low-key just now.”
“You’re not hurting my feelings,” Isaac said, popping up out of nowhere and punching her arm.
“You came by yourself?” Avery asked. “I’m so proud of you. Cam has an idea for someone you can bring another time.”
“Am I supposed to marry her?”
Cam glanced between them and settled on Isaac. “What?”
“Ask your girl the fortune-teller. And hey, good for you two, by the way. I think it goes without saying, no hard feelings.”
“I heard she didn’t like you that much, anyway.”
Avery rolled her eyes. “You two are pathetic.”
Isaac grinned. “Listen, friend. I am determined to rise above my pain in the name of friendship and teamwork. What do we do when they bring the heartbreak, Cam?”
Cam threw up a fist for a bump. “We rise! We rise together!”
Avery stepped back and looked at their faces, then below their belts. “Oh. I didn’t know you needed a pep rally for that, but please. Carry on.”
“Avery.”
She looked up from her chair by the bonfire. “Gia, hi. How are you?”
“I’m impressed is what I am.”
“By what?”
“How you stood up to your brother a few weeks ago.” Gia settled in Cam’s empty chair. “That was an insane couple of minutes. Hakeem’s always talked about Justin like he really has his act together.”
Avery bristled. “My brother was drunk on a very bad day for our family. That’s not who he really is.”
“You told him what’s what, though.” Gia raised her red cup. “I admire that.”
Avery didn’t lift her drink in return. “Thanks, I guess. That conversation should have happened privately. I’m sorry you and everyone else had to see it.”
“It worked out okay for you, didn’t it?”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
Gia stared into the fire as a smile curled her lips. “You have to understand, Avery, you showed up here as kind of the untouchable princess because of how much Justin talked you up. Hakeem’s played with him for two years and we heard about you all the time, and half the guys on the team either adopted you or wanted to date you.”
“My brother and I are close, but I can’t help what he says.”
“It was a little intimidating to meet you, I guess.”