Empty Net

Fallon stopped laughing and eyed her. “Tate?”


“Yeah, he wants me to quit and open a cupcakery,” she said, then started giggling. “He can’t say the word at all—it’s so cute when he tries—but he wants me to open one and he said he’d be there every day to eat my cupcakes. It’s really cute,” she gushed, her heart warming at the thought of her amazing boyfriend.

“Okay, before when you said nothing was going on, I believed you, but now I think it may be more. Your eyes just went glossy on me, and you have a stupid grin on your face.”

“It is something more,” Audrey declared, her heart skipping a beat. “I think I might be falling in love with him.”

Fallon’s smile fell, her eyes going wide. “But, Audrey, he is seeing someone. He told me the other day that he is bringing her to dinner, that she is amazing, and that he knew I would love her. I’m sorry, honey, how did you not know?”

Audrey started to laugh again, knowing he’d been talking about her. It made her stomach flip-flop to know that he’d said all that about her. “Yeah, he is seeing me. Dork.”

“Shut the hell up!”

“Yup, it’s been the best two and half weeks of my life.”

Fallon covered her mouth, her eyes bright, then popped up and came around the desk to wrap Audrey in her arms. Audrey hugged her back, nuzzling her nose in her sister’s long hair, her eyes shut tight. She loved when Fallon hugged her like this. Pulling back, Fallon’s eyes were glossy as she held Audrey’s face in her hands.

“I am so proud of you.”

Audrey giggled. “For what? Getting a boyfriend?”

Fallon shook her head. “No, for finally realizing that you deserve the best in the world. Tate is a good man, he will take good care of you. You wanted your Prince Charming. You found him, darling.”

Fallon wrapped her arms back around her, and all Audrey could do was agree with her.

One hundred percent.





Chapter 20


Audrey had spent part of the day shopping for the perfect outfit after her morning at the salon, where she had her hair, nails, and eyebrows done. She was polished, primed, and ready for the evening out. She wanted to look good so when she stood beside Tate, Fallon and Lucas would think they belonged together. Was it crazy? Sure, but it was their first outing together as a couple and she wanted it to be a success.

It had been five days since she’d seen him after their almost big fight. She had been so nervous when she saw him holding her phone with a text from Levi on it, she didn’t know what to do.

“I don’t understand why he is still sending you this,” Tate said. “If you were done with him and you let him know that, then why would he still text you? Did you not make it clear?”

“I did, and it’s because he’s crazy,” she said, snatching the phone from him. She typed quickly, then held the phone out for him to see.

Leave me the hell alone, Levi. I told you I am seeing someone. Someone who makes me forget every single thing you did to me, so just leave me alone.

Thankfully, Tate realized that Audrey wanted nothing to do with Levi. Levi hadn’t texted her since. Audrey felt good. She felt as if a thunder cloud was gone from over her head. Now, with Tate home, she felt not only complete, but like the sun was shining and all was well in the world.

Corny, yes.

Did she care? Nope.

She was too happy to care.

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