Empty Net

by Toni Aleo

  Tate nodded, standing up and undressing as she went into the bathroom. He crawled into bed, feeling beat as he went under the covers. Audrey came out, sexy as hell in a grey lace bra and panties set, but for the first time, Tate had no desire to have his way with her. Instead, he wanted to hold her and never let her go. He watched as she shut the light off and crawled into his bed. His hands itched to be on her, and when she was finally under the covers, he took her into his arms, kissing her temple.

  “I’m sorry again,” he whispered in the darkness against her temple, “I should have told you a long time ago,”

  “It’s fine,” she whispered back.

  “I feel so much better, now that I have told you.”

  Audrey nodded, moving in closer to him, “Good, I’m glad.”

  Tate slid his hands into her hair, moving her mouth to his, and kissing her hard with all the appreciation he had for her. He couldn’t believe how quickly she had come into his life and taken over his heart, but she had. It hadn’t been easy, that’s for sure, but he was grateful it had happened. Even if it scared him one second and made him the happiest man the next. Kissing his jaw, Audrey let out a sigh, moving her hands up around his neck.

  “I’m falling in love with you, Tate,” she whispered against his neck, “Don’t ever feel you have to hide anything from me. I will always be here for you, whenever you need me.”

  He pulled her back so he could see her face. Her eyes were bright in the darkness. Her lips parted and he could feel her heart pounding against his chest. He leaned forward, kissing her lips softly. When he parted, he nodded, running his nose against hers as he said, “And I’m falling for you, love, it’s hard not to.”

  “You’ll let me know when you do, right?”

  Tate smiled. Her lips dusted his jaw as he thought that when he did fall in love with her, he would probably scream it from the rooftops. He couldn’t wait. Although his heart was ready, his spirit just wasn’t there yet, but it was happening. That moment they had just experienced proved it. She was everything he needed and no matter what, he would love this girl for the rest of his life.

  After kissing her cheek, he whispered against it, “Right away, love. Right away.”

  Chapter 21

  Something was different.

  Audrey didn’t know what it was, but when she came down the stairs and looked around her living room, she knew something wasn’t the same. In the three weeks since Tate had told her about his family, their life had happily settled into a routine. Tate sat at the bar, eating cereal as he played on his laptop, which was normal when he was home. So it wasn’t that. Glancing around the room, she took in the chic pink Christmas décor that Tate had helped set up (even if he did complain it was too girly). But nothing was standing out. So, what could it be? Glancing at her bright pink tree that touched the ceiling and was covered in pretty white lights, she finally figured it out. Under the tree was a pile of presents wrapped in pink Santa paper which was different from the neon green paper that covered her presents for her family and Tate.

  Stepping off the bottom stair step, she walked to the tree, crouching to pick up one of the presents. The tag said it was for her, and it was from Tate. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Tate grinning at her as he shook his head.

  “You know back home, my mom would call you a present gnome.”

  Audrey smiled, “What does that mean?”

  “It’s when you always know there are new presents under the tree and have to hold and inspect them,” he said still smiling at her. “She said I used to be one but I don’t remember being like that. I actually like the surprise of Christmas.”

  “Oh yeah, totally a present gnome right here,” she laughed standing up with the present in hand, “What is it?”

  “Not telling you. The whole point of presents is the surprise.”

  Audrey waved her hand at him, shaking her head as she laid the present back down and took a quick inventory of how many presents she had.

  Twelve.

  With a grin, she stood and put her hands on her hips. It was the first Christmas she had a boyfriend, and also the first time someone other than her family had bought her gifts. Usually she bought herself stuff, so Christmas morning wouldn’t be boring and lonely. It was sad, but it used to make her happy. Audrey smiled, locking eyes with the man who made her see what true happiness was.

  He was her happiness.

  Things had been so great since Tate had opened up about his family. He seemed a little less guarded in general, and he had begun talking more freely about his family. She had learned so much about them, it honestly made Audrey feel she had learned more about Tate. Robert Odder was the best doll maker in Sweden; his dolls were detailed and beautiful. He also had an extreme love for hockey. He was the reason Tate played. Julie Odder was a homemaker. She won prizes for her candies and cakes. Tate had gone on for hours about her many baked goods and Audrey had actually looked up one of the recipes. She planned to make it for him Christmas morning.

  Even though learning about his parents was great, learning about Matilda was amazing. She was such a beautiful, smart girl, and Audrey could tell that Tate loved her dearly. She competed all over the area, and was a damn good dancer. Tate had showed her a video of Matilda at one of her competitions and it blew Audrey away. She could dance, really dance. She was tall and lean like Tate, and her movement was so fluid, so free. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Audrey just wished she had the pleasure of meeting her before the accident. She was sure she would have loved Matilda, just as she loved Tate.

  Yup, she had fallen head over heels in love with him.

  She didn’t know when it happened but it had, and man, did it make Audrey feel on top of the world. Many opportunities had passed when she wished she had told him, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. What if he didn’t love her? So many times that scenario had happened; she would tell the guy that she loved him and the moment would be ruined when he would say, “I don’t love you”. It broke Audrey so many times. Tate meant too much to her to have that happen with him, so she wasn’t going to tell him. Not until he told her.

  And for some reason, she felt like he never would.

  It was the weirdest thing. One minute Audrey was sure he was going to say it, the next, she wasn’t so sure. He was the hardest person to read about some things, and with others, she knew him like she knew her favorite book. She hated how much she second guessed herself and wished for his reassurance, but what could she say?

  Hey, you think you might be in love with me yet?

  Tate had said he would tell her right away when he did fall in love with her, but Audrey being the most impatient person in the world, couldn’t wait. She wanted that moment when the words would leave his lips and left her up into the clouds. He was already in control of her heart and she was falling hard, fast. It wasn’t a simple want anymore, no, she needed him now. He meant the world to her. It was so new to feel so good, so in love. But this was for real. She knew that, felt that, and nothing could ever change her mind.

  Audrey tiptoed to the bar, where Tate had a cup of coffee ready for her. She smiled a ‘thanks’ to him and sipped from her mug as Tate continued to eat. Moving into the seat beside him, Audrey sat down and thumbed through the newspaper that was on the counter in front of her.

  “Are you ready for tonight?”

  Audrey looked up, and nodded her head, “Yup, got everything laid out and I’m not going to hide the fact that I am very nervous.”

  Tate rolled his eyes, “What do you have to be nervous about?”

  She shrugged her shoulders, “Your whole team will be there, they are like your family.”

  “They are my family.”

  “Exactly, so I’m nervous.”

  Tate chuckled, “Love, don’t worry about it. Everyone is really nice.”

  Audrey nodded, even though her nerves were going crazy, “Okay.”

  Tate stood up, going to the sink and dropping his bowl in it before comin
g over to Audrey. He wrapped his arms around her neck, kissing her temple. She let her head drop back so she could look up at him. He smiled and said, “I can’t wait to pick you up later and see how gorgeous you’ll be. Everyone at the party will be jealous of the girl I get to bring. So don’t be nervous anymore okay? I’ll see you later?”

  Audrey nodded. “Can’t wait.”

  Tate smiled and placed his lips to hers upside down. When they parted he smiled as she said, “Good bye, babe.”

  “Bye,” she said as she watched him grab his bag and head out the door. He had practice to get to and Audrey needed to get to work. Finishing up her coffee, she made her way up stairs to get ready. She was only going for half the day since she had hair and nail appointments, so she was excited about that. After quickly getting ready in an outfit of dress slacks and an off-the-shoulder black sweater, Audrey swooped up and fastened her hair, while sliding into some black heels before running out the door.

  Her work day couldn’t end quickly enough.

  ***

  “How are things with Audrey?”

  Tate looked up from the salad he was devouring to see that Lucas was looking at him, chewing on whatever he had just put in his mouth. They had decided to go to lunch at Maggiano's after practice and Tate was glad they had. With Tate dating Audrey, he hadn’t been out with his friends that much. Not that Lucas minded, but he knew that Erik and Phillip did. They gave him shit about it all the time. They just didn’t understand that Audrey was his world now.

  Tate nodded, swallowing his food before he said, “Things are good.”

  “Good, I’m glad. You guys seemed really happy at dinner the other night.”

  Tate nodded again, remembering the dinner they had with Fallon, Lucas, and Aiden. He had been nervous, but once he got there, it was as if nothing had changed, except that he was glued to Audrey’s side and wouldn’t let her out of his sight.

  “We are. We’re good. Great even.” Lucas nodded before going back to his lunch. “Fallon is coming tonight, right?”

  Lucas laughed, “Of course she is. You’re bringing Audrey right?”

  “Yeah,” Tate nodded, “I wanted to make sure someone she knew was there.”

  “Yeah, we’ll both be there.”

  Tate nodded before going back to his salad. He wanted to ask Lucas something but he felt stupid asking. It wasn’t that he thought Lucas would make fun of him. It was that Tate should know the answer. Tate looked up, staring at the top of Lucas’ hat-covered head, trying to decide what to do. When Lucas looked up, and narrowed his eyes, Tate laughed.

  “What the hell are you staring at?”

  “That ugly ass hat,” Tate teased.

  “Hey, shut up,” Lucas retorted as Tate laughed.

  “No, I wanted to ask you something.”

  “Okay,” Lucas said and Tate could tell he was a little annoyed. Oh well, he would be okay, his hat was ugly. Who wore a hat with a duck on it?

  “When did know you loved Fallon?”

  Lucas looked up and smiled. “I think I knew that first night. She walked in with a short ass skirt on. I mean her ass was practically hanging out,” he closed his eyes as he shook his head, a contented smile still resting on his lips, “She also had a low cut shirt and I almost didn’t try hitting on her because she was small chested but then she looked at me and I couldn’t breathe. Her wide eyes were to die for and when she talked, man, I was a goner. We spent the night together and I asked her not to leave, to tour the world with me. She did, and it was the best summer of my life. She made my life worth living when I didn’t want to live at all. I have been totally devoted to her since.”

  Tate smiled, nodding his head, “That is how I feel about Audrey. I think I love her.”

  Lucas smiled, “Have you told her?”

  “No, not yet. I want it to be special.”

  “Tell her during sex, girls dig that.”

  Tate let out a booming laugh as he shook his head, “They do not!”

  “No, really, Fallon goes nuts for it. Audrey’s her sister, so I am pretty sure it will work.”

  “You are an idiot, dude,” Tate laughed, holding his gut as he laughed, “No, I’m going to wait for the right moment. Maybe Christmas morning?”

  “That’s cheesy dude.”

  “Hey, it is not.”

  “Yes it is, what are you going to do, put it in a present?”

  Actually, he was thinking of that.

  “Shut up.”

  Lucas laughed, shaking his head. “All joking aside, even though I think it is cheesy, Audrey will eat it up. She wants this Cinderella-with-her-fairy-godmother’s-magical-carriage type love. She wants to lose the glass slipper and have the man look through the kingdom for her, just to give it back to her and then sweep her off her feet into the sunset. She is a complete romantic. So doing the whole under-the-mistletoe-I-love-you shit, would work with her. Fallon, on the other hand, dude, I had to fight for that chick because of our past. You’re lucky. You guys have a clean slate; no hurt, no regret, just you two. I know for a fact that Audrey is completely in love with you.”

  Tate eyed him, his lips tugging at a smile at the thought of Audrey loving him, “How do you know?”

  “By the way she looks at you. It’s the way Fallon looks at me.”

  Lucas was a hardass but moments like these, Tate knew he had a soft heart. And that heart belongs to Fallon. “Even if I wanted to do it on Christmas, I couldn’t. We are coming to your house and her family is going to be there.”

  “So? She’ll love it if you do it in front of everyone.”

  Tate nodded, but something didn’t seem right. “Maybe.”

  He didn’t know if it was the idea of saying it in front of everyone, or because for the first time, he would be meeting Audrey’s family, but the idea of it made him nervous. He wasn’t worried about her mother, but picturing her father had Tate sweating bullets. It was going to be tough, but thankfully Audrey would be by his side. With her there, Tate could face an army with no fear at all.

  “Enough with all that, here is the real question.”

  Tate looked up questioningly, “What?”

  Lucas was grinning fully at him, “Are we going to get a repeat of your amazing dancing skills tonight? I need to see that in person. Facebook didn’t do it justice.”

  Why did Tate like this guy?

  ***

  Audrey slid into her black Christian Louboutin pointed toe, steel heel pumps and stood up. Looking in the mirror, she viewed herself, admiring the loose curls that were brought back in an elegant chignon. Her makeup was very soft, hardly there, only dark on the bottom of her eyes while her lips were glossed to perfection. Her dress was stunning: a strapless, heart-shaped bodice covered in black lace over pink silk, with a big black bow as a sash. The skirt of the dress was her favorite. It was a big, puffy pink tutu, and it was totally to die for. She looked amazing, and was proud of herself because even her legs were starting to look good.

  Thank God for those morning runs.

  Audrey smiled, moving her hips back and forth, listening to the swooshing sound the skirt made. Biting on her lip, she hoped that Tate liked her dress. It was a little young, but Betsy Johnson knew her stuff, and Audrey loved her clothes. The more she stared at the dress, the more she thought she should change. She wasn’t 21 anymore. She was older and this dress wasn’t really her age. But before she could even look for another dress, she heard Tate running up the stairs. He was running late. He had fallen asleep after his afternoon workout, but she didn’t mind. She wanted him to sleep when he could.

  When he appeared at the door, Audrey’s mouth started to water. He wore a black fitted tailored suit with a light pink tie that matched the skirt of her dress. His hair was slicked to the side, and of course, he was drop dead gorgeous. He smiled, looking her over before he jerked his head to the door.

  “Love, we’re late. You ready?”

  Well shit, he can’t say I looked nice? Audrey thought as she made
her way towards him. “Yeah, do I look okay?”

  Tate nodded, “Gorgeous, baby, let’s go.”

  Narrowing her eyes since she didn’t like his quick answer, she said, “You look great.”

  “Thanks, come on.”

  “Are you sure this dress is okay? I think I look fat.”

  “What? Stop being stupid, come on,” Tate said rushing her out the room.

  “Wow thanks for the reassurance!”

  “Reassurance? Audrey, I look at you and I’m hard, I mean, shit,” he said taking her hand in his and pressing it to his rock hard dick. Audrey gasped looking up into his, dark-with-lust blue eyes, “I want you, all the time, baby. You are gorgeous with clothes on and without. Don’t you ever forget that. Now come on. We are late.”

  Well didn’t that just catch her on fire from head to toe?

  “Tate, give me a second,” she gasped, her hand on her chest while her other was still in his; “You can’t say something like that and then expect me to be okay. I want to climb up your body and hump your face, not go to some party. Sheesh.”

  Tate’s mouth quirked up on the side as he slowly moved his arms around her, pressing his hardness against her. “You want to climb me?”

  “Like a damn tree.”

  Tate chuckled, his nose moving lazily up her neck, trailing kisses before he nipped at her ear lobe. “And hump me, is that right?”

  Audrey could only nod to his low throaty voice. He knew it made her drip with want, and he knew what he was doing when he pinned her with those bedroom eyes. So he shouldn’t have been too surprised when she grabbed his face, and pressed her lips to his in delirious need. Tate took her by her hips, lifting her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist. When he assaulted her mouth with his tongue, she felt his hand go between their bodies, freeing his throbbing cock and pushing aside her panties before he entered her with one smooth thrust. She gasped out in his mouth, moaning as he filled her completely, his fingers still teasing her lips as she moved up and down his length.