Audrey shook her head even though he couldn’t see her. “I don’t want to get hurt or to hurt him.”
“Then don’t. Just do you, be happy. Live your life, Audrey. You’ve put yourself on hold for Fallon, and this is your chance. I know that I am being hard on you, but I believe that Tate is a good guy and I owe you for being there for Fallon when I wasn’t. You deserve to be happy, and we both know Levi wasn’t the person who could do that for you. But Tate could be.”
Audrey didn’t know what it was that Lucas said, but a light went on and she realized he was right. She had to stop this, stop her mind from trying to trick her, trying to keep her down. She had to do something for herself now, worry about the future later. This was her chance. Tate had told her the same thing. It was time to live life for Audrey and hope like hell that later it would work out. She had to put herself out there. She had to live in the now, just like Tate did.
“You’re right, Lucas.”
“I know I am. Now stop being difficult and call Tate.”
“I will,” she assured him.
“All right, so we are good?”
“We are great, Lucas, thank you.”
“All right. I do love you a lot, you know.”
Audrey’s grin grew as her heart expanded. Lucas really was the best brother-in-law in the world. “I love you more.”
Hanging up, she couldn’t help but think that Lucas knew what he was doing when he called. He was a very persistent man, and when he wanted something done, it usually happened. Thankfully, it hadn’t taken her long to see reason, or maybe it was bound to happen anyway.
She looked over at the clock on her bedside table and hated that she had waited so long to realize her mistake. She wanted to call Tate but knew he was training with the goalie coaches. He had told her his whole schedule for the day when they were in each other’s arms the night before. God, she missed his big strong arms, and even though she knew he had a big day, she couldn’t let him go through it thinking she didn’t want what he wanted. Finding the phone number she needed, she pressed Send and waited until someone answered.
When they did, she said, “Yes, I need a ticket for the first flight out to Anaheim.”
Chapter 17
Audrey had no time to pack since her plane took off in an hour. She threw a few necessities in her big Coach bag and ran out the door.
After a long, anxiety-filled four-hour flight and another twenty-minute ride to the hotel where the Assassins were staying, she finally stood in front of Tate’s door. She had been standing there for what seemed like hours but was sure it was only a couple of minutes. When she left Nashville, she was confident that coming to Tate had been the right choice, but now she was nervous and scared.
Her body was shaking with fear and her brain was telling her to run, and that it was okay to live in her condo with just her shoes and cupcakes. Who needed a man who made her toes curl and who got her to laugh out loud for no reason? Not her, no. She only needed Fallon and Aiden, and now she had Lucas and Piper. Yes, they were all living life and being happy, but they would have time for her. They loved her.
As soon as she thought it, she knew that wasn’t right. She wanted her own life with someone important to her.
With Tate.
Reaching out, she knocked on the door. When he didn’t answer, she did it again, and again. Until finally she realized that he wasn’t there.
Shit.
Letting her forehead fall against the door, Audrey pulled her phone out and checked the time. He had said he would be there by now. Where was he? She was about to click on his number when a text suddenly popped up.