Page 107 of Animal Beats

Luke piles on. “We can offer you what you were making in PR and add an extra grand a month? Would that work for you?”

Damn. I could kiss Luke right now. I settle for turning to my fiancée and kissing her.

Hayden doesn’t miss a beat. “I’ll take it! Thank you so much!”

It feels as if everything is going right. Hayden has a new job so all her money worries can take a hike. Darren’s scholarship will be under good stewardship. Best part? She’ll be with me on tour. “An all-around win, if you ask me.”

The server clears our plates. As I’m sipping my coffee, my phone rings and Coop’s name is splashed across my screen. I hold it up so the table can see, then put the call on speakerphone. “I’m finishing up brunch with Luke and Hayden. Where you should be.”

“Sorry about that. I’m at home but my suitcases from the tour still haven’t gotten here yet. You told me you got yours?”

My head pulls back. “Huh. That’s weird. I got mine.”

I look at our manager, who says, “Hey, Coop. It’s Luke. I got my suitcases too. Let me make a few calls and I’ll get right back to you.”

We hang up as Luke excuses himself to make the calls. Hayden says, “Didn’t you guys fly private? There’s no way his luggage could get lost, especially since you got yours. Coop’s never come across this way to me, but is he somewhat of a scatterbrain?”

I put the empty coffee cup down. “Not at all. He’s the most responsible one of all of us.”

“Well, he’s at home now, so he must have plenty of things to wear,” she remarks.

I scratch my head. “To be honest, probably not. I pack my entire wardrobe when we tour and I’m pretty sure Coop does too. I only leave ratty t-shirts and shorts at the house.”

“Oh, dear.”

Hayden is cutoff when Luke returns. He shows us that he’s dialing Coop. “Hey, it’s Luke. Everyone got their suitcases already. Do you have other clothes at your house?”

Even though we can’t hear my best friend, Luke’s expression indicates I was correct. His final statement confirms my assumption.

“Well, in that case, I’ll text Nese your address so she can sort you out.”