Empty Net (6 page)

Audrey laughed. “Your feeling is right. Those people are nuts,” she said, cocking her head in the direction of their family. “If I have to hear, one more time, that everyone thought I was going to be married before you, I am going to kill them … or myself.”

Fallon laughed as Lucas looked at his bride-to-be. “I don’t see why no one thought you would ever get married,” he said to Fallon.

She reached up to cup his jaw in her fingers. “When I said there wasn’t anyone else after you, I wasn’t lying.”

Seeing his sudden perplexed expression, Audrey quickly said, “There really wasn’t, Lucas. Fallon was a real prude, while I was busy enough for the both of us.”

A cocky grin crossed Lucas’s face, and he gave Fallon a sexy look before looking at Audrey. “You just haven’t found the right one yet.”

Audrey eyed him before shaking her head. “Fallon told you Levi and I broke up.”

Fallon look sheepishly at her as Lucas laughed. “She tells me everything.”

“There was a time when that wasn’t true,” Audrey countered.

Lucas continued to chuckle, his eyes full of love for her sister. “Things change, babe. It’s his loss.”

“I just wish you’d let me hook you up with someone,” Fallon said. “There are a ton of guys on the team.” She meant the hockey team Lucas played for, the Nashville Assassins. Audrey knew the team. Hell, she watched and cheered for them on occasion. But she’d be damned if she was going to let Fallon hook her up on a pity date!

Looking around the room, she reminded them, “I told you, I have a date.”

“I mean a date of the adult variety,” Fallon said. “Aiden is sweet, but he is also your nephew, and he’s seven.”

Audrey laughed. She loved Aiden more than she loved anyone in the world, other than Fallon. He was the perfect kid, her best friend. She had a special bond with the little booger since she’d basically helped raise him. She had always been his second person. That was, until Lucas came along, but again, she couldn’t hate Lucas for taking her family away. He was what they needed and she did love him. She smiled as she said, “Aiden will be the best.”

Fallon shook her head. “Let me hook you up with Phillip, or even Sergi—”

“No, not Sergi, he’s a man whore,” Lucas interrupted. “There is a new guy, Jakob Titov’s brother, Erik. He’s a good guy.”

Audrey wanted to bash her head into the wall. Another reason why being single sucked.
Everyone wanted to hook you up with someone. “I’m fine.”

“I just wish Tate was a little older,” Fallon said, bringing Audrey’s attention back to her. “He is such a great guy, sweet as all get out.”

Lucas nodded. “He really is. Best guy I know. Have you guys met yet? He said the other day he hadn’t met you.”

Audrey shook her head. “Nope, my infamous neighbor is still hiding, but not for long. I took him some cupcakes today.”

Fallon tensed up, her eyes filling with worry. “What kind?”

She hated the way Fallon thought she only made cupcakes when she was depressed. Yes, she did make them a lot more when she was upset, but that wasn’t the only reason she made them. Baking them made her happy. “Red Velvet.”

Her sister smiled as if Red Velvet cupcakes didn’t mean she was on the verge of killing herself.

“He will love that.”

Lucas’s face perked up. “I want some Red Velvet cupcakes.”

Audrey smiled. “I’ll make you some when you get back from your honeymoon.”

Lucas smiled his lady-killer smile. “Sounds good to me.”

Audrey was about to tease him about his sweet tooth when Molly, Lucas’s mom, called him over to where she stood with other family members.

“You know, Tate is super hot,” her sister said after Lucas left.

Audrey sighed. “I wouldn’t know anything about that. I haven’t been graced with his presence yet.”

Fallon smiled. “Oh, but you will be tomorrow. He’s young, but good Lord almighty, if he
was ten years older, I would be all over that!”

“We both know that isn’t true. You have eyes for one man and one man only.”

Fallon’s gaze cut to where Lucas stood. Her left hand came up to cup her neck as a dreamy look came over her face. “You got that right. I can’t believe it, I’m getting married tomorrow.”

Audrey watched the workers fastening lights to the umbrellas. “Me neither,” she said wistfully.

When she looked back up, Fallon was regarding her with a compassionate look. “I’ll always love you, Audrey.”

“I know. I’m just jealous,” she said with a shrug. “Where the hell is my Lucas Brooks?”

Fallon took Audrey’s hand in hers. “He’s out there, I promise, and when you meet him, you’re never gonna let him go.”

“You look amazing, Fal,” Audrey gushed from beside her gorgeous sister. It was the day of Fallon’s wedding, and she was not doing well. Fallon glanced over at her through the mirror, a nervous look on her sister’s face. She was basically shaking with nerves, and Audrey had no idea what to do or say. She could only stare at her beautiful sister.

Fallon was breathtaking. Her dress fit her better than it did the day before, if that were even possible. It flattered her hips, her shoulders, her breasts, and when she turned, her back looked spectacular. Long and lean. Maybe it was the whole package, the hair, the makeup, the dress, but she looked amazing. Her hair was done in an intricate bun with her veil tucked in underneath it. The veil itself was to die for. It was their grandmother’s, and had been passed
down to each girl as they married—it was the “something old” tradition that brides were supposed to have on their wedding day. It matched Fallon’s dress perfectly, with its lace design along the edges. Her sister wore no jewelry but heart-shaped diamond earrings and her large engagement ring. Not that she needed anything else.

Audrey blinked a few times as Fallon continued to shake. She knew she had to wait it out, to let Fallon have her crazy moment before reassuring her that everything was going to work out. This was the Fallon she knew and loved.

When Fallon looked over at her, appearing a little calmer, Audrey smiled.

“Are you good now?”

Fallon nodded slowly, taking in a deep breath. “Yeah.”

“Good. Lucas will love the dress. Love it all. Most of all, you. You look fantastic, babe, amazing. I promise.”

Fallon continued to nod slowly as she reached out for her hand. “Thank you.”

“Of course.”

“I love you, you know,” she said, looking at her with a watery smile.

“Not as much as I love you,” Audrey said simply.

They shared a long look before they were interrupted by a knock. They both turned toward the bright yellow door as it opened and their father entered. William looked dashing in a tailored black suit with a champagne vest. His dark hair seemed to have more gray in it, and he had even shaved for the occasion. He looked nervous as he glanced at his daughters.

Unlike Audrey, Fallon didn’t want their father to give her away. Well, really, both Fallon and William were hardheaded and neither one would swallow their pride and settle their differences, which had intensified over the years. It was sad. Even though their father had been
hard on them and made them both feel like they were worthless, Audrey still loved him. William took good care of her, but that was only because she never went against what he said.

She was the doting daughter, unlike Fallon.

Audrey glanced back at her strong, beautiful sister. Fallon never backed down to anyone; well, except maybe Lucas. But now she looked just as worried as their dad did. Fallon was probably wondering the same thing Audrey was: Why was he there in the bride’s room?

“You both look spectacular,” William said in his strong, deep voice.

“Thanks,” Fallon said as he took a step forward. “Isn’t the wedding about to start? Shouldn’t you be out there with Mom?”

William stopped, his eyes filling with sorrow as he looked down at them.

What the hell was going on?

Audrey had never seen her father look at them like that. He always had love in his eyes, but at that moment it seemed to her that his eyes held regret instead.

“I know, but I wanted to see you before you went out.”

Fallon moved her empty hand down the side of her dress, fluffing it out so the dress was full. Audrey glanced back at their father, waiting for him to continue. Just as he was about to say something, the door opened again and Grace Justice entered.

“Fallon, Audrey, we’re ready to start,” she said with a smile on her face.

“We’re com—”

“In a minute,” William said, sternly interrupting Fallon.

Grace looked taken aback, then retreated out the door while Fallon glared up at William, and Audrey looked at him confused.

Again, what the hell was going on?

“Audrey, will you excuse us, honey?”

Audrey nodded, but Fallon dug her nails into her wrist, causing her to wince at the pain. “Fallon!”

“Anything you need to say to me can be said in front of Audrey,” Fallon said, holding her chin a little higher. Audrey looked back up at her dad and saw that his neck was flushed. He was getting mad and for once he seemed to be controlling it.

That was new.

“Fine,” he said, clearing his throat. “I wanted to say that you are beautiful, Fallon. Lucas is a lucky man to have the opportunity to make you his wife.”

Fallon took in a deep breath as he went on. “I am proud of everything that you have accomplished in the last couple months. Most of all, I am proud of you for becoming the woman I knew you were destined to be, which is a great mother, a wonderful wife, and one hell of a business owner.”

Audrey’s eyes filled with tears as her sister continued to take deep breaths. When she glanced back at Fallon and saw the tears also filling her eyes, Audrey let go of hers. She knew that Fallon had always wanted their father’s approval, and to get it on the most important day of her life was the perfect addition to her Happily Ever After.

“Thank you,” Fallon said in a whisper, “that means a lot.”

“It’s the truth. I love you two very much,” he croaked out.

Audrey cried as she wrapped her arms around him. She felt her dad move, and then Fallon’s tear-streaked face was beside hers, hugging him tightly. The three of them held on to one another for a long time before Audrey backed up, taking Fallon’s hand.

William wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I only regret that I’m not giving you
away to that knucklehead you’re marryin’.”

Fallon smiled as she glanced up at him. “It’s not too late, Dad, we haven’t left the room yet.”

For the first time ever, Audrey saw her father’s eyes fill with tears. “It would be an honor, honey.”

Yup, this was going to be the best day ever.

Tate was convinced he looked dumb in his fitted dress suit. He was too tall and thin and it made him look like a noodle. For that reason he only owned one suit, and he wore it to everything he needed to. Lucas was lucky, he thought, that he loved both of them. If he didn’t, he would be at home, eating cupcakes and watching TV in a pair of shorts.

Tate ran his hand down the front of his suit and took in a deep breath as he looked around for either of his friends and his teammates, Phillip or Erik. They said they would meet him so he wouldn’t have to do the whole wedding thing alone. He had never been to a wedding—this was his first—and for some reason he felt uneasy. Thankfully, he wouldn’t have to think about it, because he caught sight then of Erik and Phillip.

Phillip Anderson was the guy on the team all the girl fans lusted over. A lot of the guys didn’t like him, but Tate did. Anderson was a good guy, funny. With his dark blond hair, baby blue eyes, and easy smile, he was just an easy guy to get along with. Erik Titov looked the complete opposite of Phillip. He had dark features, with dark black hair and dark green eyes. He was new to the team, after being brought up from the Rays. Tate and Erik had been friends back in Florida, and Tate was more than glad to see him when he joined the Assassins. He was quiet
and a little obsessed with Xbox, but all in all a good guy.

His teammates both nodded at him as he walked toward them. Ever since becoming friends with Lucas, Erik, and Phillip, along with the captain, Shea, and Erik’s brother, Jakob, Tate had felt more at ease. He hadn’t had an anxiety attack in months. After the death of his mother, father, and sister, they had occurred often. Coming to Nashville was probably the best thing that happened to him. He never felt alone; someone was always calling him, wanting to hang out. He wished it was someone of the female variety, definitely the Brunette Beauty, but still, he had friends and that was almost enough. At least for now.