Empty Net (47 page)

Where the hell was she?

Tate paced through a hotel room as an interviewer was finishing up with Shea. He didn’t know where Audrey was, and he had even called Piper and Fallon to see if they knew. No one did. Everyone was just as clueless as he was, and it drove him insane. He knew she went to the doctor, and the last text he got asked him to tell her what he had to tell her. After that, nothing. He was not only getting pissed, but worried too.

Tate turned to say something to Lucas, but he was on the phone, yelling about something. Tate turned back to where Shea was being interviewed and sat down in the chair next to him.
Taking a deep breath, he ran his hand through his hair and let it out as his leg bounced. He didn’t know what was going on with Lucas but he hoped everything was okay because Lucas’s face was bright red and a vein was popping out on his head.

Tate reached into his pocket, making sure his phone was on.

It was.

Letting his head fall back, he let out another breath as his mind wondered. What if something happened and she was lying on the side of the road, dead? What if she had some kind of crazy stomach bug that ate away her stomach and came out looking like an alien and it killed her? He sat up, holding his head as he shook it. He needed to get it together, he had an important interview with the NHL network about All-Star week, and he couldn’t worry himself with what ifs. They wouldn’t help the situation.

But he couldn’t help it. Through Shea’s interview and a little into Lucas’s, he sat there coming up with horrible scenarios that took the love of his life away from him. He hated when he did this, he would always think of what could happen instead of just thinking that maybe they gave her some great meds and she was knocked out. Or maybe she was dying in the hospital and they didn’t know who to call so she was just going to lie there and die without him there to tell her how much he loved her.

Tears filled his eyes, and he looked down, trying to push them back. He had always felt like he didn’t get to tell his mom, dad, and Matilda that he loved them, as much as he’d wanted to. When they were taken from him it was one of the hardest things to cope with. Did they know that he loved them more than life itself? Did his father know that he wanted to be him, and that he was the best father in the world? Did his mother realize that his childhood was the best because of her kind words and loving smiles? Did Matilda know that he couldn’t have had a
better sister and that he thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world with such an amazing talent? He would never know, but he learned from that situation and knew that a day wouldn’t pass without him telling Audrey that he loved her, and that she was the most beautiful person on the inside and out.

He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

Letting out the breath he was holding, Tate glanced up to see Shea watching him. “You okay?” he asked.

“I can’t get ahold of Audrey. I don’t know where she is.”

“Isn’t she sick? She is probably sleeping. It’s okay. She’ll call you.”

Tate nodded. “I hope you are right.”

Just then his phone rang. Tate rushed to get it out of his pocket, almost falling out of the chair. When he saw Audrey’s smiling face on the display, he answered quickly. “Baby, you okay?”

“Yeah,” she said breathlessly. “I’m sorry, I’ve been at the doctors, and I didn’t have a phone signal.”

“Oh, okay, everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything is fine.”

“Did they give you the medicine?” he asked. She sounded weird and it was making him nervous.

“Um no, they said I didn’t need it. That I would be okay.”

“Okay,” he said, his brows coming together. “So you are okay?”

“I’m good. I’m great actually. Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he said with a grin as his heart settled. “I was worried about you. I love you.”

“Oh, Tate, I love you more. I’m sorry to make you worry.”

“It’s okay. I’m just glad to hear your voice.”

“It’s good to hear yours.” She then paused before saying, “So what are you doing?”

“Interviews.”

“When are you going to be home?”

“My plane leaves after this. I should be home by five.”

“Okay, are you coming straight home?”

“Of course, I haven’t seen you in nine days. I plan on keeping you very busy tonight,” he said, lust lining his words. His need for her was great and he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her.

“Mm, I can’t wait,” she cooed, causing his dick to come alive and press hard against the zipper of his jeans.

“It is crazy how you only have to say that and all the worry from before vanishes and I find myself harder than a rock,” he whispered gruffly into the phone.

“Stop teasing me, Tate. I want you so bad,” she said breathlessly.

“Not as much as I want you,” he groaned, but when he received an amused look from Shea, he laughed before saying, “But that will have to wait. I need to tell you something.”

He hadn’t had the chance to tell her about Elsa calling him. Audrey had been so sick, and busy, while he had been slammed with stuff for the Assassins. He knew it wasn’t the best time, but he didn’t want to let her go, and he knew that if he didn’t change the subject, the NHL network wasn’t going to receive an interview from him. He would be on the first plane home to ravish his love.

“What?” she asked.

“I talked to Elsa the other night.”

“Elsa? Your ex?”

“Yeah, she called because apparently my parents had a storage unit that the lawyer forgot to tell me about. Or it got lost in the paperwork or something like that. I don’t know. Anyway, my lawyer is her brother and he asked her to get hold of me.”

“Oh wow, what did she say?”

“Well, she needs me to come back home and claim the unit to get its contents. So I am going home after the playoffs. I wanted you to come with me, if you want.”

Audrey paused for a moment, then said, “Yes, of course. I would love to go with you.”

“Awesome, I can’t wait to take you home. I know you’ll love it,” he said, the grin on his face so big and bright, it could probably have blinded someone.

“I know I will too,” she gushed. “That’s so awesome.”

“I thought so,” he answered. Shea looked over at him, nodding his head toward the interviewer who was wrapping up with Lucas. Tate stood up, walking over to a girl who was motioning for him before saying, “I need to go, baby, it’s my turn to be interviewed.”

“Okay, so you are coming straight home, right?”

“Yeah, why?” he asked. She sounded weird again.

“I need to talk to you.”

Tate paused mid-stride, and said, “About?”

“I don’t want to talk about it over the phone. But I need you to come home as soon as possible, please.”

“Are you okay?” he found himself asking again.

“I’m fine, I promise, I just need to talk to you,” she said, and he could tell she was about
to cry. She was doing that quick intake of breath and she was sniffling.

“I’m getting worried again,” he informed her.

“Don’t, just come home please.”

“I’ll be there as soon as possible, okay?”

“Wonderful. Don’t worry, okay? Everything is fine, I love you so much, Tate. So much.”

His heart skipped a beat as the girl motioned for him again. He ignored her and said, “I love you, more. ’Bye.”

“ ’Bye.”

He hung up the phone and paused. It couldn’t be anything bad that she needed to tell him because if it was, she wouldn’t have told him she loved him. It had to be something about the cupcake place, which was awesome. With a wide, happy grin, he made his way to the interviewer. He was in love. He was taking her home. And then he was going to ask her to marry him.

Audrey was still smiling when she pulled into her driveway. It was nuts, and insane, but this was her life. She was having a baby with Tate, and at the same time as Fallon was having hers. She had just gotten off the phone with her sister, and when she did the math, realized that Fallon’s due date was two weeks later than hers. Not that she’d told Fallon her good news yet—it was only right that Tate got to hear it first, and she couldn’t wait.

She had gone to the grocery store and brought home bags of stuff for “We’re Pregnant” cupcakes and a nice romantic dinner she would make before telling Tate. She couldn’t help but think about his reactions. She knew none of them would be anger, though; Tate wanted this just
as much as she did. It wasn’t planned, and Lord knew it was early in their relationship, but she didn’t think that would make any difference.

Just as she shut off the ignition and was about to get out of the car, her phone signaled a text from Tate.

Have you heard “Wanted” by Hunter Haynes?

Audrey shook her head as she wrote back,
I haven’t, why?

Download it, I am learning to play it for you
.

A smile came across her face.
You are?

I am. I love you, Audrey
.

Tears came quick to her eyes. She couldn’t blame it on her hormones because she knew damn well she would never love anyone the way she loved him. Wiping away the tears, she typed back:
And I love you. So much more. See you soon
.

Very soon
.

Her heartbeat kicked up as she jumped out of the car and gathered her things. While making her way up the walkway, she went over what she needed to do first, which was put the chicken in the oven. She also needed to put the ultrasound picture in the frame that she had bought. She was running late and hoped she could at least get the cupcakes halfway done before Tate got there.

She was almost to the door when she heard the gravel crunch in the driveway. She thought it was Lucas dropping Tate off, but when she turned, she saw Levi jump out of his car and come toward her.

“Levi?”

He looked up and smiled. “Audrey, I’m sorry to come unannounced but I need to talk to you. Here, let me help you,” he said, taking the grocery bags despite her protest. He walked past her to the door and waited as she unlocked the door.

“Tate is going to be home soon,” she said as he walked passed her, laying her things on the counter as she shut the door. “You need to be gone before he gets here. What do you need to talk about?”

He turned, leaning against the kitchen island, and said, “You told me you’d always be there for me.”

Something wasn’t right. He looked worried, his eyes wild, and he was sweating. She could tell that something was definitely off. As she set her purse and keys down on the counter, she noticed that his hands were shaking too. She had spent eight months with this man and had never seen him so upset. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I need you, Audrey. I can’t go on without you anymore,” he gasped, coming to her. Before she could pull back, he took her hands in his. “I love you.” She took in a sharp breath as his wild eyes held her. “I love you so much and I can’t go on another day without you. I need you to be mine again, Audrey. I miss our life, and you were right, we were meant to be together.”

Eight months ago she would have cared, but not now. And Levi’s behavior was so odd. His grip got tighter and his breathing quickened. He seemed totally out of control. Why was he saying this now?

She never questioned Tate’s motives, but she didn’t trust anything Levi said. Something was just not right. What was he after? She looked up into his eyes and said, “I’m sorry, Levi, but I don’t feel the same. I love someone else.”

“No, you love me. No one will love you but me.”

“No, I love Tate,” she said, “and he loves me.”

“No you don’t, we are meant to be together,” he said with annoyance.

“No, I’m meant to be with Tate,” she said, stepping back. “I don’t know what is wrong with you, Levi, but I don’t feel comfortable with you here anymore. You need to leave!”

“Don’t talk to me like that,” he yelled, taking a step toward her.

Quickly, she moved around him, heading toward the door, her heart pounding. She threw it open before looking back at him. She didn’t like the way Levi’s eyes were full of anger or the way his hands were clenched into fists. He needed to leave now.

“No!”
he shouted. “I’m not going anywhere! You will fucking love me. I love you and you will love me, you slut. And if you don’t love me, I will make sure no one will be able to love you. You fucking bitch!”

“Go,” she screamed, trying to be stronger than what she felt. She was scared out of her mind, and hoped he wouldn’t do anything. “Don’t ever come back either. I don’t love you, and I want nothing to do with you. Now leave.”

“You fucking fat ass bitch,” Levi sneered coming quickly toward her.

Before she could move or even say anything, his fist connected with the side of her head, knocking her into the wall. Her hand came up, covering her throbbing face as she leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath. When Levi’s fist went through the wall beside her head, she let out an ear piercing scream as pictures fell from the wall. Then he took hold of her face with his large hand.

“You are disgusting!” he whispered as tears streamed down her cheeks and over his hand.

She could hear her heart beat in her ears, and was afraid Levi would break her face, he was squeezing it so tightly. He slammed her head back into the wall. Her teeth cut into her
cheeks and she tasted blood. When his other hand connected, she closed her eyes as she tried to push him away. But he held her tight, squeezing her jaw, and she cried out in pain.