Page 18 of Billionaire Unforgettable: Tanner

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“Are you worried that Hannah isn’t going to show?” Devon asked as we sat at a small table at The Mug And Jug.

Hell, maybe I’d glanced at my watch one too many times.

My younger brother might be a cynic, but he was one of the most observant people I knew.

He could also be supportive when he wanted to be, and it was obvious that he was lending me some moral support by plopping his ass down in the chair meant for Hannah.

Devon had been here with friends, but had strolled over to talk when he’d seen me snagging a table.

I’d told Kaleb and Devon about what had happened with Hannah when we were out at Charlie’s farm.

“I think she’ll show,” I answered confidently, but it was after eight, and I could hardly blame her lateness on traffic.

A few cars moving in the same direction was considered our traffic in Crystal Fork.

“She’ll be here,” Devon said in an unusually sympathetic tone. “Hannah isn’t the type to stand someone up.”

I shot him a questioning glance. “You say that like you respect her.”

He shrugged. “I always liked and respected Hannah. I only disliked her when I thought that she dumped you. Now that I know that you were the idiot, I like and respect her again.”

“Unfortunately, I think I probably deserved to get dumped,” I admitted. I’d thought a lot about the things my mother and Hannah had said to me earlier. “What in the hell happened to us during those years, Devon? It’s one thing to work hard to achieve a goal, but it’s another when nothing else matters except reaching that goal.”

Devon didn’t throw out excuses for either of us as he replied candidly, “KTD became so successful so fast that I think all of us lost our minds. I don’t think any of us expected to become billionaires, but I don’t think it was just the money. It was the challenge to become one of the best. We wanted to prove ourselves so much that we got lost in the game.”

He was probably right.

Besting our competitors was our main goal, and our success had put us on a high that had become addictive.

Looking back now on what had happened with Hannah, I knew I’d neglected her to the point that she couldn’t deal with that kind of disrespect anymore. And fuck knew she had deserved better than that from me.

Hannah had helped me build that company I’d been obsessed with, and her support had gotten me through some rough patches.

It was funny how the mind worked sometimes. I’d convinced myself that I was working for us, for my future with Hannah. In reality, I’d become a man that I’d never wanted to be duringthose years. A guy I hadn’t wanted to acknowledge after I’d come to my senses.

“I can’t change what happened,” I said regretfully. “But I can make sure people don’t treat her like the villain in our story anymore.”

“What can I do to help?” Devon asked.

I shot him a surprised glance.

“What?” he asked. “I told you that I liked Hannah. Hell, I thought she was going to be my sister-in-law, and she was like family.”

“Be nice to her,” I suggested.

“That’s not hard to do,” he replied. “She’s always been nice to me. I’m not sure that one drink with you tonight is going to change the whole town’s opinion overnight, but I’ll do what I can.”

Some people might be warmer to Hannah after they saw us together, but Devon was right. That was why I was on a mission to make sure that Hannah and I were seen togethera lotin the future.

I looked at my watch again, and started to sweat just a little.

“She’s never late,” I muttered.

“Maybe she’s changed,” Devon said. “It’s been years since you two have seen each other.”

It was hard for me to believe that Hannah had changedthatmuch.

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