Page 65 of The Backup Plan
Avery’s face lit up when she turned around. “I was hoping to run into you,” she said.
He leaned forward and bumped his shoulder against hers to nudge her away from the group. “Well, now you have.”
She bumped him back. “No. Now I have.”
“That’s fair.” His eyes darted around the room. “I hate to bring this up, but have you seen your brother?”
“No. Is he even here?”
“He was here,” Cam said. “Hitting the tequila and working the door, two things that do not mix. I saw Prof—I saw Mindy a little while ago, but it’s been a bit.”
“They’re probably up in his room.” Avery shuddered. “Yeah, not interrupting that.”
“Of course not. But he was really upset this afternoon, and I don’t think it was entirely about the loss. And tequila is not usually his go-to.”
Avery tucked her hand in his elbow and led him away from several noisy groups that had congregated in the center of the room. “It was three years ago today that our brother died. It’s always a hard day for us.”
He held her gaze. “Are you okay?”
“I am, thanks.” She didn’t let go of his arm. “I took a little time early this morning to ground myself a bit and feel all the feelings. My counselor told me that’s the happy medium between trying to fake like it doesn’t hurt and wallowing in grief. Make a space and keep it there.”
“That sounds like the advice my friend Cory would give. He’s one of the chillest people I know, but he cares so deeply about so much. I think he just compartmentalizes really well.”
“It takes some practice.”
“I’m glad it’s working for you.”
His hands ached. The flutter of her fingers on his arm was more than anything they shared before, and was immediately not enough. “Come with me to get something to drink.”
Cam reached for her hand and spotted Gia Tomlin watching them. Gia’s boyfriend, Hakeem Malo, was one of Justin’s nine roommates, and Cam’s left guard. Gia was a gossip who smiled when she made people uncomfortable, and her over-sharing on social media was an easy example when anyone protested the no-phones rule at The Farm.
He didn’t like the look on her face. When the quarterback didn’t like the look from the other side, he changed the plan.
Cam pulled his hand away and nodded for Avery to follow him to the kitchen. Gia could say what she liked about him, but Avery was the one who would look bad if anyone still thought she was with Isaac.
“Aww, I remember this place,” Avery said as they entered the kitchen. “We had the world’s worst first conversation here.”
“That’s entirely on me.” Cam retrieved two waters from the refrigerator and handed her one. “I appreciate the second chance.”
A blush crept up from the V-neck of her dress and warmed her cheeks as she fidgeted with a section of her hair. “I haven’t regretted it.”
“I’ll never give you cause to.” He steadied himself with a deep breath. “When we talked yesterday, I should have asked?—”
“Avery.” Isaac poked his head in the kitchen. “Sorry. Hi, Cam. Avery, Mindy’s over in the rec room if you want to talk to her. Alone.”
“Of course I do. Where’s Justin?”
“Beats me. I figured it was a good chance for you to see her without seeing him, as per the plan.”
“As per the plan,” she echoed, peering around the cabinets. “All right, then. Wish me luck, guys.”
Isaac grabbed a water from the fridge and raised it to Cameron’s in a quiet toast as Avery disappeared. “To getting the Whitmans sorted out, as per the plan.”
“Whatever plan that is, I’ll drink to it.” Cam gulped his water, and batted aside a nagging feeling about hanging out with Avery’s ex. Her brother, their friend, was a more timely concern. “She thought maybe he and Mindy were upstairs together, but if she’s down here, where’s he?”
“Not in the rec room, and not at the bonfire. I was just out there.” Isaac leaned back on the counter. “Mingling, I guess, but it’s weird he wouldn’t have Mindy with him.”
“Avery said this is the anniversary of the day their brother died, and I saw Justin hugging a bottle of tequila before you guys got here.” Cam craned his neck to see her sitting with Mindy on a loveseat. “We should find him. She’s worried.”