Empty Net (24 page)

Audrey made a face, eyeing him before saying, “Because I look like a doll?”

“Hey, these dolls were beautiful. You should take that as a compliment.”

She laughed as she nodded. “Okay.”

Not wanting to eat, Tate got up and went to the piano. Before moving his fingers to the keys, he glanced down at Audrey. She was looking up at him, a taco halfway to her mouth. “You aren’t going to eat?”

“No, I want to play.”

Audrey nodded. “Well please, don’t let me keep you. Play on, Mr. Oooooder.”

Chuckling, Tate began to move his fingers quickly across the keys. He was playing “We Found Love” by Boyce Avenue. The song was about finding love in a hopeless place, and with the way he was feeling, it fit. He didn’t think he could ever find love after Elsa’s leaving him and losing his family, but he hadn’t factored in Audrey Parker. He didn’t think he was in love yet, but he felt something for her. She was everything he needed, and he just needed her to figure out that he was something she needed too.

He glanced over to find her watching his fingers move, her knees pulled up under her chin, her eyes glossy. When he was done, he put his hands above his head and took a deep
breath.

“I wish I could be like you.”

Tate looked down at her and asked, “How so?”

“Following your dreams. You play hockey, the ultimate man game, and you play amazing instruments, and you’re funny, outgoing, and carefree.”

“I do what makes me happy. Life is way too short, Audrey. So short,” he said, thinking of how short Matilda’s had been.

Audrey watched him for a moment and then nodded. “I agree.”

“So do what makes you happy, don’t hold back.”

She nodded again. “I’ll try.”

“Good.”

Don’t make cupcakes while I am gone, and if you do, please make sure they are gross
.

A stupid little grin sat on Audrey’s face as she read the text message from Tate. He had sent it at 4:00
A.M.
, and she hated that she missed it, but even if she was two hours late, she typed back a response anyway.

I don’t make gross cupcakes, dear sir
.

You are probably right, ma’am, so you should not make any
.

Audrey smiled as she sat up in bed, leaning against her knees as she typed back.

I won’t. Who would eat them with me? Instead, I will run
.

When his response came, a loud giggle escaped her lips.

Please don’t watch out for poles
.

How did she already miss him?

It didn’t get any better. Each day seemed like weeks, and with each text or phone call, it only got worse. It was weird how used to him she had become. They had only been friends for a week, but it seemed like months. She couldn’t believe how much she missed seeing him push his tongue against his teeth as he thought of something or smiled. Or how loud his laugh was, or the two
A.M.
wake up by him playing the piano. But most of all, she missed how intensely he would look into her eyes when they talked.

Audrey had never had a guy actually care when she talked. Even over the phone, she could tell that Tate was paying attention and that he cared about what she was telling him. And Lord knew it was a bunch of crap! All she could contribute to the conversation was all the TV
shows he had missed, or things that happened at work, which was basically a bunch of nothing. The only useful information she could give him was about Aiden’s hockey games, and how the little bugger scored his first hat trick.

Tate, on the other hand, was busy. They had won the first three games and were hoping for another win that following night. Tate loved traveling in the southeast. Apparently it was nice and warm. Tate loved being back in Florida, but did miss Tennessee. He, Erik, and Phillip had been really busy hitting up the clubs when they could. Lucas didn’t like it, but Tate said they always made curfew. Overall, they mostly talked about nothing, and Audrey couldn’t have been happier.

The sad thing was, while Tate was having a blast, Audrey sat at home, sad he was gone. To top things off, Levi had texted her again about meeting up for drinks. She told him no, like a good little girl, but it didn’t stop her from wondering what he wanted. Did he miss her? Was he thinking of her? Or did he just want sex?

Sheesh, why did she even care?

Looking up at the Panera Bread menu, Audrey decided that she really had to stop caring. Levi only wanted one thing from her. Every time he contacted her, it was about “getting together,” and Audrey knew all about his “getting together.” She didn’t want any part of it, either.

Having decided on her favorite soup and salad, Audrey was ordering when a tap came on her shoulder. Audrey turned to see a bright familiar face.

“Elli,” she gushed, wrapping her arms around her friend, “how are you?”

“Good, thank you. How are you?”

“Okay, thanks. On lunch break?”

“Sure am, and Lord, am I hungry. This baby is already eating like Shea!” Elli said, rubbing her belly fondly. Audrey smiled down at Elli’s growing bump before looking up at the mommy-to-be. Elli looked amazing in a dark red skirt with a black-and-red blouse that flowed over her tummy perfectly. Of course, she wore red-and-black polka-dotted heels, and damn it, Audrey couldn’t help but think she wore them better than she did.

“You look amazing, Elli, honestly,” Audrey gushed while being green with envy. Elli was the perfect mother, a wonderful wife, and a business owner; add in her awesomeness, and she was everything Audrey wanted to be.

Lucky bitch.

“Aw thanks, Audrey. That means a lot; I’m feeling kinda blah lately.”

“Well, hopefully you’ll get out of that,” Audrey said, and Elli nodded.

“Yeah, I think it’s ’cause I miss my hubby. It’s hard when he’s gone,” she said sadly.

“That sucks, Elli. If you need anything, please let me know.”

Elli smiled widely at her before taking her hand in hers. “Thank you so much. I’m good. I got this … I think.”

Audrey giggled as Elli continued to smile. “Wanna join me for lunch?”

“I would love to,” Audrey answered.

With food in hand, the women entered a booth and sat across from each other. Elli smiled up at Audrey and said, “So, I talked to Fallon yesterday.”

“Oh God.” Audrey groaned jokingly.

Elli giggled as she waved her off. “Nothing bad, just she informed me that you’ve been hanging out with my star goalie.”

“Key word there, Elli,
hanging
, nothing more,” Audrey said dryly.

“I think it is more, and so does Fallon.”

“I don’t think y’all know what you’re talking about.”

Elli laughed, rolling her eyes as she took a bite out of her chicken-salad sandwich. It looked way better than Audrey’s salad and soup. Now Audrey wanted a sandwich. Damn it, she hated when she had food envy!

“I saw the way y’all were at Shelli’s birthday. I think it’s cute.”

Audrey shrugged her shoulders. “He’s easy to get along with.”

“Is that it?”

Audrey paused, and then looked up at Elli. She was bursting to tell someone and maybe Elli wasn’t the right person, but damn it, she asked!

“No,” Audrey gasped.

Elli looked up in surprise and then smiled. “Wow, I was only picking. I didn’t expect that at all.”

“I like him, like really like him. A lot. But, Elli, it’s just so hard. He so much younger than I am, and well, I’m scared he only wants sex. Plus, I’m supposed to be in love with this other guy, but to be honest with you, I haven’t thought about him except when he texts me. It’s insane, and I feel like a two-bit whore.”

Elli blinked twice, her sandwich halfway to her mouth. Placing it on her plate, she took in a deep breath. “Well, goodness me.”

“Right?!”

Elli smiled. “Audrey, the age thing is stupid. I wouldn’t even think twice about that.”

“But I’m almost twenty-nine; he just turned twenty-one!”

“So? At least he can drink legally.”

Audrey shrugged her shoulders. “I guess you’re right.”

“I am, and let me tell you, Tate is not looking to just sleep with you. What would give you that idea?”

“Elli, I think it took him four minutes to get me in bed.”

Elli took in a sharp breath. “You already slept with him?”

“Yeah, the night of Fallon’s bachelorette party.” Ignoring Elli’s shocked expression, Audrey went on, “I take back my previous statement; the more I talk to him the more I know it isn’t about sex anymore. It’s about us. He hasn’t been subdued about his feelings for me. He likes me, but I’m the one holding back and putting up walls.”

“Why?”

“Because I am,” Audrey answered sadly. “Because I’m confused and not sure what is right and wrong.”

“How so?”

“Do I go with the guy who only wants sex and who I know is the wrong choice but a safe one, and I know no one can get hurt, well maybe me, but I’m used to it,” Audrey said, referring to Levi. “Or do I go with the guy who wants me but that could change and then we both could get hurt, because I could fall for this guy. I know that hands down.”

The more Audrey thought about it, the more she knew she could. They had so much fun together, and if she would stop with the walls and secrets, there was a chance she and Tate could be happy. But even with that dream staring her in the face, she couldn’t help but see Tate walking away when she told him she was defective. It could happen. Then what would she do?

“I don’t know what you are talking about, Audrey. I am beyond confused.”

Audrey could tell she was confused. Hell, Audrey was confused.

“Here is my question,” Elli said.

“When your mind wanders, who comes up? Because that’s the person who matters, that’s the person you want.”

“You make it sound easier than it is, Elli.” Audrey groaned, leaning against her hand.

“It is that easy,” she said, standing. “I gotta use the bathroom, but let me say this first.”

“What?” Audrey asked.

Elli smiled. “I think you should go with Tate.”

Yeah, I want that, too
.

Tate sat on the beach, his toes in the sand as the sun warmed his face. The surf was running up on his legs and he felt like everything was okay in the world. He could make a list of things that were wrong, but he wouldn’t think of that. He would also try to resist the urge to call Audrey and tell her he missed her. Not right now, it was too early. Instead, he would relax and prepare for the next game.

The Assassins had done well on the road. Beating Washington, Carolina, and then Tampa Bay left him was feeling good, especially since two out of the three games were shutouts. He was on his game, but that could change at any second. All he could do was hope it didn’t. He didn’t think it would, and at the moment he felt good, really good.

Pulling his phone out, he checked his Facebook, or rather, checked Audrey’s page. She posted everything she did. He would never tell her he checked it consistently, but he did. The other day he found himself laughing that he had been on his phone as much as she was. She was rubbing off on him, it seemed, and he didn’t mind at all.

Leaning back onto the hot sand, Tate looked up at the cloud-free sky. He wondered if his parents and Matilda were up there, looking down at him. Closing his eyes to keep the tears from falling, he took a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. He needed to get it together. He was supposed to go out with the guys later, and if he kept thinking about things that he couldn’t change, he wouldn’t be in the mood to go. When his phone signaled a text message, he opened his eyes and raised his phone above his face so he could read it.

Would it be totally creepy if I was standing behind you, watching you lay on the beach?

Tate laughed as he typed back quickly to Audrey. She was so funny. It wasn’t creepy at all, and he wished like hell she was there, but knew she wouldn’t be. She had work, and Aiden stuff. She was busy, too busy to come and hang out with him.

A little
, he typed back.

Shit, then don’t turn around …

Tate sat up quickly, turning to see Audrey standing with her phone by her side, waving awkwardly at him. She wore big black glasses and a bright yellow sun. She had a short yellow skirt on, with a black and white see-through top covering a black tank top. She even wore a pair of impractical black spiked heels, but it didn’t matter.

Because she was there.

“Holy shit,” he muttered, before getting up and closing the distance between them. Ignoring the awkwardness, he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. His grin grew when she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him just as tight. He pulled back to see her bright face, but not to let her go. “What are you doing here?”

She shrugged. “I was bored, so I decided to play hooky in Miami. I happened to be walking down this beach when I saw you lying there.”

Tate chuckled. “Liar.”

“Ah, so you caught me. You’re not creeped out, are you?” she asked with a worried expression.

“Creeped out? No, not at all. I’m really glad to see you.”

Her face brightened as she moved out of his arms. “Good, so whatcha doing?”