My One and Only(56)

Since Cooper was fairly certain that Haleigh never told Abby what happened the summer after graduation, he couldn’t help but wonder what other mistakes his sister was talking about. And why she’d betray Haleigh’s confidence to keep him away from her.

Crossing his arms, Cooper stared his sister down, waiting for her to elaborate. When she held silent, he said, “Haleigh Rae has repeatedly told me that she isn’t a good person. That she’s a mess and that I should steer clear.”

Green eyes like his own went wide before Abby covered her surprise. “Good. I’m glad. But if that’s true, why did I catch the two of you ripping each other’s clothes off the other night?”

“Because I don’t care what she says.” Cooper leaned forward. “Regardless of what Haleigh’s mother thinks, or what you seem to think, Haleigh is not a bad person. And nothing you say will change that. If she’s made mistakes and she wants me to know about them, then she’ll tell me. Whatever they are, I’m not going to condemn her for them.”

Abby’s jaw ticked. “She’s been engaged.”

Returning attention to the documents on his desk, he said, “So long as she isn’t engaged right now, I don’t see how that’s a problem.”

“Three times,” Abby said, emphasizing each word. When Cooper met her eye, one dark brow rose. “She goes through men like most women go through shoes.”

Curious, but still in Haleigh’s corner, he said, “I’m pretty sure women go through more than three pairs of shoes in a week let alone in a decade. Now, like I said, so long as she isn’t engaged or married to anyone right now, we don’t have a problem.” Assuming this statement would end the argument, he retrieved his pencil. “If there’s nothing else . . .”

Abby ignored his dismissal, but didn’t speak again for nearly a minute. Determined to wait her out, Cooper went on compiling the order, unaware how much he’d underestimated his sister’s willingness to betray her best friend’s secrets.

“There’s one more thing,” she said, her voice flat. “Haleigh Rae is an alcoholic.” When Cooper’s head shot up, she added, “Just like Daddy.”

Setting the pencil down slowly, Cooper let the words sink in. Though the first part may have been a fact, the second was an outright lie.

“Unless Haleigh Rae is a mean drunk with a solid left hook, she isn’t anything like Daddy. Why would you say something like that?”

“Is that what you want?” Abby asked, jolting out of the chair. “You want to be with someone who puts alcohol over the people they love?”

“I’ll say it again. Haleigh isn’t Daddy.” Cooper charged around the desk. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you, Abby. In fact, I’m not even sure who you are right now. Haleigh Rae has been your best friend for more than twenty years, and she deserves a hell of a lot better than for you to come barging in here trying to make her sound like a plague on humanity.” She opened her mouth, but Cooper had heard enough. “You’ve said what you came to say, and now you can leave,” he spat, pointing to the exit.

Eyes glaring, Abby followed the order, but Cooper stopped her at the door with a warning.

“If I hear one peep that you’ve repeated this crap to anyone else, you and I are done.”

Abby reeled. “That’s a horrible thing to say. I would never tell anyone else. I’m only telling you to protect you.”

“Protect me from what?” he asked. “She’s your oldest friend, Abby. She grew up in our house because she was treated like crap at her own.” Ripping off his hat, he shoved a hand through his hair. “Look,” he said, reining in his temper. “So she isn’t perfect. So what? Nobody is.”

“This is different, Cooper. You remember what it was like. She called that night at Brubaker’s a slip. How many slips did Daddy have?”

Crossing to his sister, Cooper tried to make her see reality. “Abby girl, it isn’t the same. You know better than anyone that Haleigh Rae is nothing like him. Daddy was a failure who couldn’t live with his own shortcomings. The bitterness made him mean, and the liquor made him meaner. Don’t let what he was ruin things between you and Haleigh. Not after all these years.”

Staring at the pocket of his T-shirt, she mumbled, “Do what you want, but when you get hurt, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Without another word, his sister walked away, leaving a confused and disappointed Cooper behind her. Being angry with the world was one thing. Attempting to destroy her best friend’s reputation, even if only to her brother, was another. Something else was going on.