“Don’t say that like you’re excited.He’s an ass.”
“Noticed, have you?”
“Don’t even start.I have not noticed, and I’m happily taken, thank you.”
“So, things are going well with Hannah, then?”Dammit, I knew she was going to jump on that.
“Yeah, I think so.”Unfortunately, I hadn’t quite managed to disguise my hesitation.
“Everything alright between you two?”
“She’s at KC’s tonight.”
“Oh.”Yes, oh.And here was why I was so glad to have Audrey in my life.
“I’m trying not to worry about it, but every time she spends time with KC, I end up having to apologize for something.”I didn’t typically like airing my problems like this because Hannah and I were adults, and if either of us was having issues in this relationship, we needed to be talking to each other.
But Audrey was my best friend, and now that the can was opened, the worms spilled themselves.“Ok, so.We have mostly been good, and I told you that I’m meeting her parents next weekend,” Audrey nodded, “which I’m excited about.I mean, how could you not love me?”I joked.“Lately, though, Hannah seems to be getting annoyed more often.Things that never got in the way before are suddenly a debate.Maybe it’s just work stress.She’s been putting in lots of hours, and it’s gotten really hard to spend any time together.”
“Maybe.Are you ok?”
“Yeah.Fine.I mean, I’m exhausted, and I have no idea how I’m going to work with this new guy, but yeah.”
“What’s his name anyway?”
“Sam.”
Her eyes sparkled.That couldn’t be good.“Last name Cooper, right?”
Oh, no.No, no, no.“Yeah, why?”
She whipped out her phone, typing quickly, her growing smile making me wonder what shit I was about to wade into.“Oh my god, it is him.I always wondered if there was a relation there.”
“Who.”
“Tiff,Sam Cooper is like a restauranteur wunderkind.”She cracked out a laugh.“I can’t believe you didn’t know that!”
“I can’t believe you do.This?This is who you know?One year ago, your superstar boyfriend—”
“Fiancé,” Audrey corrected.
“Right, fiancé, walks into my bar and nothing.But this guy.This asshole, you know.”
“Tiff, I work with alcohol on a daily basis; it’s my job to know people like this.Shit, how did you not know Sam Cooper was Harry’s brother?”
“We didn’t really talk about stuff like that.”
“I mean, I hadn’t considered it before because his reputation is huge, you know?He’s been on the west coast for the last nine years, even Vegas, but it makes sense that they’re related.Both of them being in the bar business and all.”
“Ok, I think it’s a bit of a stretch to say that Harry was in the bar business.”I considered the other information she provided.“Vegas, huh?Explains the attitude.”Like a snake charmer in the desert.
“There have been some pretty high-profile pieces done on him.I wonder what made him want to come back?”
“Maybe his ego didn’t fit in the great state anymore.”
“Wow, you really hate this guy.”
“He’s just so …” I grunted in frustration.“Anyway, can we not talk about him anymore?We’re meant to be wedding planning.”
