Page 18 of Erik's Redemption
“Henry,” Brigid complained. “I wanted something sweet.”
“Trust me. You’ll love this.”
When the three drinks were set on the counter, Henry handed one to Brigid and another to Hannah. She was usually a vodka soda drinker, and she always nursed her drinks because alcohol made her blood sugar drop, but tonight she didn’t want to play it safe, and with her new glucose monitor and pump, all she had to remember to do was eat throughout the evening.
As they moved to a table, she took a small sip, expecting not to like it.
Interesting…it wasn’t too bad. A bit sour. A bit bitter. But also sweet.
“Mm,” Brigid groaned. “Thisisgood.”
Hannah nodded, looking up at Henry. “You can choose my cocktails from now on.”
“I can’t believe you guys ever doubted me. You shouldknowthat I know my shit.” Henry was just taking a drink when his gaze lifted to someone over her and Brigid’s heads. His eyes lit up. “Are you excited to finally meet the man who rocks my dreams?”
“Yes!” Brigid said a bit too loudly.
Hannah glanced over her shoulder to see a guy striding toward them, his eyes only for Henry. He had shaggy brown hair that reached his chin, tattoos poking out from under his white shirt and up his neck, and an eyebrow piercing. He was nothing like the kind of clean-cut blonds Henry usually dated.
When the guy reached their group, he leaned in and kissed Henry.
Brigid sighed. “Aw. Cute.”
They separated, and Henry turned to face them. “Owen, these are my friends, Brigid and Hannah. Guys, this is Owen.”
Owen reached out a hand, and Hannah slipped hers into his. “It’s nice to meet you.”
When it was Brigid’s turn, instead of shaking his hand, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. Hannah chuckled. Anyone would have thought the woman had been drinkingbeforeshe’d arrived tonight.
“I love how happy you’ve made Henry,” Brigid said before pulling back. “Thank you.”
Humor danced in Owen’s eyes. “He makes me happy too.”
Henry’s grin widened. “Come on, Owen. I’ll get you a drink, then my friends can tell you every embarrassing story they have on me.”
Hannah shook her head and was just turning when she spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
Leo? What was he doing here?
The second Leo’s gaze hit hers, he cut through the crowd toward her. “Hey.”
She cocked her head. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
“Andi invited me when you and Erik were talking the other morning. I told her I didn’t know many people in Redwood, and she took pity on me and asked me to come. Said everyone who was anyone would be here.”
Hannah laughed. “Sounds like Andi.”
Brigid cleared her throat, and Hannah turned to her friend. “Sorry. Leo, this is my best friend, Brigid. Brigid, this is Leo, the new realtor at work.”
The smile slipped from Brigid’s face, and Hannah’s chest tightened as realization hit. Leo had taken James’s job. She hadn’t told Brigid who’d replaced him because her friend hadn’t asked.
Leo didn’t seem to notice the slip of the smile, or if he did, he didn’t point it out. Instead, he reached out a hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Brigid.”
For a moment, Brigid was still, and Hannah wondered if her friend would avoid shaking with him. Then, she finally stuck out her hand. “You too, Leo.”
The second Leo released her, Brigid took a big gulp of her cocktail, basically finishing it in one go. “I might go get another while Henry’s over there.”
Hannah’s heart thumped as she watched her friend walk away.
