Empty Net

by Toni Aleo

  “I can help.”

  Audrey jumped at the sound of Tate’s voice. She turned to see him towering over her, looking so freaking good that she found herself over heating in the cold Tennessee air. He looked amazing in a dark grey cardigan that covered a white button up shirt. He wore khaki pants with dark boots. His outfit wasn’t what Audrey was looking at it, though. It was his eyes. They were always so bright, and with his hair falling into them, Audrey was finding it hard to form coherent thoughts. But then she noticed that he hadn’t shaved.

  For the love of God.

  It didn’t matter how many times she mentally reiterated that they could only be friends, she couldn’t help but think that Tate was looking way more delectable than the cupcakes she had spent hours concocting.

  She wanted to lick him like she did the frosting of her cupcakes.

  Mmmmm…what a fantastic thought.

  “Hey Tate!” Aiden exclaimed before jumping up to high five Tate.

  “Hey bud,” Tate said with a wide smile. He ruffled Aiden’s hair before looking over at Audrey, “Hey Audrey, can I help?”

  Audrey could only nod as she moved out the way for him to grab the four platters of cupcakes that sat on her front and back seats. Tate and Aiden made their way inside as Audrey finished. She then took a deep breath. That boy was too damn sexy for his own good.

  Jeez.

  “Hey.”

  Audrey turned to see Piper coming up behind her. She was wearing a pair of tight jeans and a large sweater that hung off her bare shoulders. Her hair looked like a bird’s nest on top of her head, and she had large sunglass covering her eyes. Audrey could also tell that she skipped putting on makeup.

  “Bless your heart! Pipe you look like death,” Audrey said as Piper stopped beside her.

  Piper nodded, “I just don’t understand why beer messes me up so bad. I feel like poo.”

  “Aww, you poor thing,” Audrey said, wrapping an arm around her best friends shoulders. “I made yummy cupcakes that will make you feel better, come on.”

  “Ew. No. Please, don’t make me eat them.”

  Audrey pinned Piper with a mock offended look, “Ew and my cupcakes do not belong in the same sentence thank you.”

  “My bad, homie. I feel like poo, remember?”

  Audrey giggled as they made their way inside. The house was packed with friends, family, and a good part of the Assassins’ hockey team and their families. Audrey caught a glance of Elli moving among the guests, her face bright with a toddler on her hip, a newborn in the nook of her arm and her growing belly making a very prominent bump in her beautiful beige colored dress. What killed Audrey was that Elli also wore 4 inch heels, acting as if she wasn’t carrying over 50 pounds of children as she walked, sometimes fluttering, through the party. How she did it, Audrey didn’t know, but one thing for sure, Elli Adler did it with class and beauty.

  As Audrey and Piper made their way through the party, towards the kitchen where Elli had gone, Audrey took in the beauty that was Elli and Shea Adler’s home. There wasn’t a time when Audrey came over that she didn’t find herself breathless. Abundant love filled the home. The exuberant atmosphere was positively catching! Pictures of Elli and Shea from their wedding adorn a whole wall in the living room. Pictures of them with friends and family were also everywhere, but the best ones were the photos of their daughters. A huge picture of Shelli kissing Posey Rose’s head when she was just born took up most of the wall leading to the kitchen. Around the massive picture were candid pictures of Shelli through her first year. Since Posey was not even three months old, there weren’t many pictures of her, but the ones that were up, were beautiful. It wasn’t hard to tell that Shea and Elli were very proud of their little girls and that their mother was a photographer.

  When Audrey entered the kitchen, she found Elli gushing over the cupcakes with Tate beside her. Elli turned, gushing about the cupcakes, but Audrey couldn’t take her eyes off Tate. His massive hands were holding baby Posey close to his chest, as he dusted kisses along the top of her head.

  You’ve got to be kidding me, she thought as she forced herself to pay attention to Elli.

  “They are fantastic, Audrey! You are a life saver!”

  Audrey smiled, “I told you, anything for y’all. They need to go in the freezer until it’s time to eat ‘em.”

  “Yes ma’am,” Elli said, “Can you hold her?”

  “Duh!” Audrey quickly took Shelli, kissing her plump little cheeks. Shelli was honestly the prettiest little girl in the world, but then again, Audrey said that about all the little girls who she was around. She just loved babies and little people in general. After kissing Shelli to the point of the poor baby backing away from her, Audrey looked up to see Piper looking at her with a worried look on her face.

  “What? She’s okay,” Audrey said referring to Shelli.

  Piper shook her head, “No, it’s not that.”

  “What is it?”

  “Erik just walked in with Harper and Jakob,” Piper said, nodding her head towards where the three walked in. Harper Titov held her precious daughter, Allison, closely in her arms. Harper looked classy in pair of white dress pants and bright purple low cut v-neck blouse. Her hair was in large curls that framed her face perfectly. When Jakob Titov came up behind Harper, wrapping his arm around her waist, and placing a hand on Allison’s back, Audrey was not only finding it hard to breathe but she also notice that Allison was her daddy made over. With dark hair and dark eyes, Allison matched her daddy and Uncle Erik more than her own mother.

  That had to suck for Harper, Audrey thought. Surely their next baby would favor her.

  “So what?” Audrey said turning her attention back to Piper, “Harper is Elli’s BFF.”

  “Well I know, but I didn’t know he was gonna be here. I would have actually done my makeup.”

  “And combed your hair,” Audrey supplied with a grin.

  Piper nodded, “Yeah.”

  “You look fine, Piper,” Audrey said. She did. She just looked hung over, that’s all. No big deal.

  “You are such a liar,” Piper laughed before turning to leave, “I’ll be back,” she said over her shoulder.

  Audrey looked down at Shelli, she was playing with the button of Audrey’s blouse, “Would have been better if she would have said it like Arnold Schwarzenegger, huh, Shelli?” Shelli smiled and Audrey said in her best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice, “I’ll be back”

  Laughter erupted behind her, and Audrey turned to see Tate still holding Posey, laughing so hard his eyes were dusty with happy tears. Of course, when someone else laughs, Audrey has no chance; she too, erupted in laughter. Audrey leaned against the island that centered the kitchen, giggling as she held Shelli close to her.

  “I just watched that movie the other night. That part always makes me laugh. The guys always say it when we are on the ice,” Tate explained.

  Audrey smiled, “That’s funny.”

  “Yeah,” Tate chuckled. He cleared his throat, moving Posey up his chest, before nuzzling his nose in the curls that covered her sweet little head.

  Audrey couldn’t help but let out a little aw, before saying, “You’re good with her.”

  What Audrey really wanted to say was ‘You look fantastic with a baby in your arms.’ But she was pretty sure that would freak him out so she went with the latter.

  Tate nodded, “I love babies. They are so cute.”

  And she was supposed to stay friends with this guy?

  “Yeah, they are,” Audrey said breathlessly.

  This was going to be hard. She needed to stay at arm’s length with Tate. He was so young; he’d hardly lived his life yet. He hadn’t found that young woman who he would love forever and make sweet babies with. Audrey needed to find someone who was her age, with no children, who really wouldn’t care if she couldn’t have kids. Not someone who obviously wanted kids and actually thought they were cute! She should have never agreed to this friendship. Because friendship wasn’t the on
ly thing Audrey wanted.

  She wanted to get naked with him.

  Tate was too gorgeous for words. The white button-up shirt he wore was unbuttoned quite a bit, showing off the wings of one of the black birds that adorned his chest. His big hands held baby Posey with the ease of a man who knew what he was doing with a baby. As always, Tate’s eyes were the best part. She didn’t know how many times she had gotten lost in them, but in a way she didn’t mind. Audrey honestly wanted to get lost in his eyes, his arms, his kisses, hell, anything. She just wanted him.

  Such a bad idea.

  Inwardly groaning and wishing like hell that Piper hadn’t left, Audrey placed a kiss on Shelli’s curly head. But then she looked to her right and froze in place. It was as if a needle had screeched across a record as Audrey’s eyes met Levi’s. She hadn’t seen him since the morning after Fallon’s wedding, and she had ignored every text he had sent. But seeing him now brought back to the surface all the feelings that she had been trying to bury.

  Looking scrumptious in a tight black Ed Hardy t-shirt with fitted jeans and his black hat tilted to the side, Audrey couldn’t help but wish she was beside him. Levi’s mouth curved into a wicked grin, as someone moved into his arms and he placed a kiss along her temple while still keeping eye contact with Audrey. Audrey froze, but unlike last time, the air rushed out of her when she recognized the girl as Elli’s assistant, Janet.

  Angry tears sprang to her eyes as she watched Janet wrap her arms around Levi’s neck, taking his mouth with hers. Audrey had no problem with Janet, she was a nice girl, but Audrey didn’t understand how Levi could think that Audrey was fat when Janet was twice her size. She looked a lot like Audrey; dark brown hair flowing to her bottom, a round face, big breasts. The difference was that Janet had blue eyes and was wider in the middle then Audrey.

  It wasn’t fair.

  Levi sent Audrey one last grin before wrapping Janet in his arms and leading her down a hall to the living room. Audrey took in a deep breath, begging her tears to stay at bay. She could not cry at Elli Adler’s child’s birthday. That was wrong on so many levels. Word would get back to Fallon and, oh God, Levi. It would be an epic failure on her part. She had to keep the tears in. She couldn’t do this. Not here.

  “Audrey, you are really beautiful.”

  Glancing up to see Tate uttering the words that every girl needs to hear did it. The next thing she knew she was handing Shelli off to him and rushing to the bathroom so that no one saw her cry.

  ***

  Tate had no clue what he did to make Audrey cry, but he found himself waiting outside the bathroom for Audrey, with both of Shea Adler’s daughters in his arms. Shelli was babbling while smacking Tate in the face, and Posey was snuggled close in the nook of his arm. He wished he could go find Elli or Shea, but he didn’t want to miss the chance of seeing Audrey when she came out. He had to know what he did.

  Telling Audrey that she was beautiful wasn’t the plan. The words just poured out of him. Tate loved her kooky style and today was no different. She looked amazing in a blue dress that was really tight along her hips and thighs. The top was made of a sheer white flowing fabric that dipped down, showing off her impressive breasts. His mouth watered at the sight of her. She was delectable and he would have loved any excuse to rip the dress off her.

  Tate wished like hell that someone would come and get these two beautiful girls. He felt like a dirty, dirty pig, holding the two girls with a hard on begging to be released. He couldn’t help it. Audrey did it for him. He loved when she was all jazzed up and even more when she was wearing little bitty shorts and a sexy little tank, setting things on fire. She was, honestly, so fucking hot, he couldn’t take it.

  Tate had enjoyed spending time with her the night before, especially the conversation that happened after they put Aiden to bed. He figured he was wearing her down. Asking to be friends, and her agreeing, was one step closer to her seeing that he was the guy for her. They could be great together if she wouldn’t over think it. He liked her a lot, and he was excited to see what would happen between them. He couldn’t wait for that moment when his lips would be able to meet hers again. He had been dreaming about it for weeks now.

  He really didn’t understand how he had become so smitten with Audrey so quickly. Was it spending last night with her around the fire? Or was it when they went to the hockey game and shared cupcakes? Or did it really go back to their first meeting? Once they were in that hotel room, all walls were down. It was just two people who wanted each other and nothing else. Tate could still feel her body against his, the softness of her curves in his hands, her lush lips against his. With a groan he banged his head against the wall.

  This was not helping the situation in his pants.

  Still leaning against the wall, he took in a deep breath as Shelli continued to run her tiny little fingers through the coarse hair on his jaw. He usually didn’t allow a beard or mustache to grow, but the Assassins’ charity was doing a fund raiser for prostate cancer. All the guys on the team were growing out their mustaches for donations. Tate wasn’t having much luck with the mustache so he decided not to shave at all and hope for the best. He basically had a neck beard, and that was all.

  Not his best look.

  When Elli Adler turned the corner, he didn’t know if it was he or Shelli, who squealed in delight. Elli’s face broke out in a large grin as she looked from her beautiful baby girls to Tate.

  “Why do you have Shelli? Where’s Audrey?”

  Tate moved his head towards the door, “In there, she-”

  “Oh no! Did one of the kids puke on her!?”

  “No, but could you-”

  Before Tate could even finish his sentence, Elli entered the bathroom leaving Tate with Shelli and Posey. He glanced down at Posey just in time to see her puke all over his cardigan.

  Wonderful.

  “Ew! Baby Posey icky on you!” Shelli giggled.

  Even with ‘icky’ all over him, Tate couldn’t help but laugh.

  ***

  “Audrey?”

  Audrey glanced up from the sink when she heard knocking on the door. She recognized the voice as belonging to Elli, so she quickly splashed water on her face, hoping to wipe away any sign of tears. With another knock at the door, Audrey took in a shuddered breath.

  “Yeah?”

  “Hey, are you okay? Did the kids get you? Little spewers! I gotta change 15 times a day!” Elli laughed. Audrey unlocked the door, so that Elli could come in.

  With a smile, Audrey said, “You don’t know how lucky you are, spewers and all.”

  With one look in Elli’s eyes, Audrey knew her ploy to wipe away the tears didn’t work. Taking Audrey’s hands, Elli said, “What wrong?”

  Audrey shook her head, begging her tears not to fall.

  “I know something is wrong, what is it?”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Audrey, let me be your Fallon. Tell me what’s wrong, let me help you.”

  Elli was such a good person, so caring and loving. How could Audrey not want to open up to her and spill all her drama to her? Shrugging her shoulders, she said, “I’m so tired of caring so much about someone who doesn’t care about me.”

  Elli looked confused as she said, “Ok, what happened to make you feel that way?”

  “My ex. He always told me I’m fat, but the girl he just showed up with at your party is twice my size.”

  Elli grimaced as she looked away, “Yeah that sucks.”

  “Basically,” Audrey said choking back the tears, “what made her better? I was so good to him. It just isn’t fair.”

  When Elli looked up into Audrey’s eyes with compassion, Audrey allowed a tear to fall. Elli asked, “Saying that you are better than that, and that you don’t deserve that would be pointless huh?”

  Audrey nodded.

  “Yeah, I figured it would be.”

  They stood for a moment, no one saying anything. Audrey felt more tears falling down her face and she became so
disgusted with herself that she wanted to find a hole and hide in it for the rest of her life. Not only was she upset about Levi bringing Janet to the party, she hated how much she let him affect her. Like Elli said, she didn’t deserve this. So why did she let it bother her?

  Why couldn’t she have it like Elli? That perfect man who wants you no matter what?

  “How’d you do it?” Audrey whispered. She didn’t even know what she said was audible until Elli looked up and smiled.

  “Do what?”

  Audrey shrugged her shoulders, tears running down her cheeks, “Get so lucky to find such a fantastic man.”

  Elli smiled remained as a dreamy look came over her face. “I didn’t find Shea, he found me,” she declared. She brought Audrey to the couch, sitting down before she continued. “I used to crush over his sexy captain butt for years, then all of a sudden he was crushing on me and I don’t know why.”

  “Because you’re amazing,” Audrey supplied.

  Elli nodded, “I have come to realize and accept that now, but I didn’t back then. It drove him insane, hell, it almost drove us apart.”

  “I couldn’t imagine y’all not together.”

  “Me neither, but Audrey you gotta believe that you are good enough for Prince Charming to sweep you way.”

  “I do believe it,” Audrey said, “I just can’t find him.”

  “I don’t think you do believe that you are worthy. I think you are settling for less than you deserve and need to wait for the grand prize. Stop messing with these idiots and find a man who will love you for the amazing girl you are.”

  Audrey nodded, “I’m trying.”

  Elli smiled, “Then he’ll come, and when he does, you’ll wonder how you went on without him.” She looked down at her growing belly before looking back up at Audrey, “Shea is the best thing that ever happened to me. His love has made me the strong confident woman who is in front of you. Not only does he love me but also my rapidly growing waist line. He is the best father imaginable. I knew he would be with just one glimpse of him with his niece and nephew.”