Playing the Game (Providence University #6) - Ali Parker Page 0,47

had the same temper at times, and from what little I had seen, I didn’t want to see her when she really got angry. “I care about Avery, and I’m crazy about her. And I know that nothing I tell you is going to make you believe that, so why don’t we just all four go out to dinner and you can see for yourself?”

Dillon was the first to react positively. “That’s a good idea. Isn’t it, Clara?”

“That’s fine. I’ll give you a chance to prove it. But only because my sister cares about you. And you better be good to her, or I’ll kick your ass myself!”

Dillon pulled his lips in tight, and I could tell he was trying not to smile. “Okay, I think that’s enough excitement for today, Clara.” He put his hand on her shoulder and turned his attention back to me. “You and Avery work out the details and give me a call.”

“Tonight good?”

“Yeah, sure. The sooner, the better.” He turned around and saw that Clara was giving him a hard look. She was tougher than Avery, and that surprised me. That and how much I was actually intimidated by the little girl. If she had been anyone else, I wouldn’t have cared, but being that she meant so much to Avery made it matter.

Dillon opened the door to his truck, and once Clara was in, he shut it and turned to me. “Hey, man, don’t screw this up.” He shook my hand and walked around to get in.

I got in my Jeep and waited for them to drive away.

And I thought the practice had been intense.

Chapter 17

Avery

With the playoffs wrapping up for the girls’ team and Seth’s team having a night off, we had made plans to go to dinner with Dillon and Clara.

I still couldn’t believe they had shown up at Seth’s practice to defend my honor. Seth had come up with a good solution, and hopefully after tonight, things would be different for Seth and my sister.

I just wanted her to see him the way I saw him. He could be sweet and kind and really romantic when he cared about someone. If he had wanted to screw me and leave, he would have been gone by now.

As I got ready, there was a knock on the door. I was dressed, and my hair was fixed, but I only had my makeup half done, thanks to Abi, who had helped me find the best products for my complexion and needs.

I didn’t expect Seth so soon, and he gave me a strange look before kissing me. “Look at me,” he said. I glanced up, and he smiled. “Oh, only one eye has eyeliner. I thought you looked a bit different. I wondered if Clara dotted your eye for a minute.”

“You’re the one whose eye she wants to dot, not mine.” I laughed at the thought of my frail sister smacking him. It would be like a gnat on a rhino. “You can come sit on my bed and talk to me while I finish the other side if you want. I’m kind of new at this, so you tell me if I look like a clown.” I was still a bit self-conscious that I was doing it wrong. I wanted to look good for him.

“You aren’t going to look like a clown. But honestly, Avery, you can wear that if you want, but you don’t need it. I think you’re a knockout with or without it.”

“So, off or on?” I didn’t want to go through all that trouble if he didn’t care either way. I led him down the hall.

“How does it make you feel? That’s what matters.” He followed me to the bedroom and plopped down on the foot of the bed while I walked over to the dresser and stood in front of the mirror.

I shrugged. “I like it. I think I’ll just do the other eye. Clara will be surprised. When we were younger, she loved makeup. She stopped for a while with swimming, but she’s back to it now that she lives with Dillon. I think it gives her something to do mostly. I know it’s taking me forever. They should call it a hobby.” I would get used to it. It wasn’t going to be an everyday thing, but I liked it for going out.

Seth laughed. “You do a lot to make her happy, don’t you?”

“Yeah. Is that so bad?”

“No, but make sure you’re making yourself happy too.