Page 12 of Good Vibes Only
“In the end, everyone has a number.”
I huffed.This guy is unreal.
“You just met the one woman who doesn’t have a number,” I said, folding my arms. “You know … I really can’t stand you trust fund bros.”
His face lit. “Trust fund bro? Is that what you think I am?”
“Am I wrong? I mean, it can’t exactly be cheap to start a brewery and restaurant. And you look like you’re about my age. You’re what, twenty-five?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“Okay, so you’re a year older than me,” I said. “I lived in New York City for the past five years, Brett. I know all about you trust fund bros. I know you’ve got Daddy’s money burning a hole in your pocket. He told you to go out into the world and make something of yourself, didn’t he?”
He laughed. “Don’t stop. This is awesome.”
Oh, he was enjoying this, was he? If he wanted more, I’d gladly give it to him.
“And abrewery?Really,Brett?Just what Vegas needs—anotherbrewery! It’s not like we don’t already have fifty-thousand craft microbreweries or anything!”
“Let it all out,” he teased, egging me on.
“And what kind of name is ‘BarDown Brewery,’ anyway? What does that even mean? Kind of a dumb name, isn’t it? Makes it sound like the bar ran out of alcohol and is shut down or something.” I cupped my hands around my mouth and whisper-yelled, “‘Bar down! Bar down! Help, we’re outta booze!’”
He snickered. “Funny. Tell me you know nothing about hockey without telling me.”
“Oh, so it’s a hockey bar, then?”
“Don’t let that stop you, though. You’re on a roll, sister.”
I had to laugh. This guy hadnoidea who he was talking to. Remember my best friend, Sofia, who’d just texted me a few minutes ago? Well, not only is Sofia’s dad the coachandgeneral manager of the Vegas Sin, but she’s also a Sin “WAG”—meaning she belongs to the exclusive club of athleteWives And Girlfriends. Point is, I’d met a few of the Sin boys through her. If this guy knew that, he’d probably bebeggingme to bring Sofia and the boys over to his stupid bar to give it some actual hockey cred.
Hell, if he’d beenniceto me, I might have asked Sofia if I could bring a guest to that hockey party. He’d have been like a kid in a candy store!
“I probably have more connections in the hockey world than you do, but whatever,” I said. “You blew all that by running your mouth.”
“Oh, you have hockey connections, huh?” he asked with a doubting laugh.
“Sure do,” I said, loving the fact that he was probably super jealous right now.
“Uh-huh,” he said, a glint in his eye. “How is it that you’re this hockey expert, but you don’t even know what ‘bardown’ means?”
“I didn’t say I’m a hockey expert. I said I have connections in the hockey world. Why would I need to know what bardown means?” I gave a shrug. “All I know about ‘bardown’ is that it’s a bad name for a bar.”
He bristled. “Uh-huh. Hey, I’m curious, what makes you such an insider in the hockey world?”
“For one, I went to high school with a guy who plays in the NHL.”
“Did you bang him?”
“That issoinappropriate to ask and absolutely none of your business. He was incredibly arrogant and full of himself—kinda likeyou’reacting right now.”
“Is that a yes?” he asked, his eyes sparkling. “Because I know how much you chicks love that kind of thing.”
“Man, you haven’t got a clue.” I tutted. “If you’d come over here with a different attitude, maybe, justmaybe,we could’ve helped each other. But you burned a valuable bridge and you don’t even know it. I almost feel bad for you. Just interacting with you once tells me all I need to know. Your brewery isdoomed.”
He frowned. “Damn. Maybe you’re right. Maybe Vegas really is oversaturated with breweries. Maybe my brewery really is doomed.”
I raised an eyebrow, waiting for the punchline.
