“It’s obvious you’re younger than her, I just can’t pinpoint the age gap,” Roxy explained with a condescending smile.
Audrey blinked a few times, taken aback by her rudeness. What the hell did it matter how old they were? It was their business, not hers. But before she could say anything, Tate said, “I don’t think there is an age gap between us. I don’t look at age. I look at the fact that she makes me happy.” His eyes locked with Audrey’s, and she smiled, squeezing his hand as he turned back at Roxy. “Plus, it is none of your business.”
That seemed to shut them up, and Audrey was beyond proud to be with Tate. Before dinner was served, he decided to introduce her to the rest of the team, and the two of them circulated through the room while he did. Later, even though she was happy, Audrey couldn’t help but feel the pang of jealousy at seeing Mary Ann and Elli’s pregnant bellies. She had found a man who didn’t care about having a child of his own, but it still hurt to the core that she couldn’t give it to him.
“Hey, are you okay?”
She glanced up to see Tate watching her intently. “Yeah.”
“Your time will come, Audrey.”
She smiled; he knew her so well. “Yeah, I know, but I just wish I could do it like they have. Like Fallon will do again one day. I want to carry my own child.”
“Well, you never know. The medical field has advanced so much in the last ten years. Maybe we can find a way. Don’t give up.”
Her eyes filled with tears and the words were right on her lips. She was going to tell him, right now, that she loved him, but before she could say anything, they were interrupted.
“Hey, Audrey.”
She knew his voice before she even turned.
Levi stood before her, wearing a crisp black suit, his hair in its regular buzzed cut and an evil grin on his face. Janet stood beside him, wrapped so tightly around his arm, Audrey was sure Levi was losing feeling in it. Janet wore a short black dress with ballet flats. Her brownish blond hair was down, framing her face, and Audrey couldn’t help but think, He left me for her?
It felt great to look as good as she felt and be in the arms of a man who cherished her. No one could touch her or hurt her anymore. The only person who could was the man who held her. Smiling up at Tate, she noticed that he wasn’t smiling. More like wishing Levi to the fiery depths of hell with his eyes. Looking back at Levi, she saw that he was staring at Tate with eyes that could kill.
“This is the new guy?” Levi asked, nodding at Tate.
Tate’s chest puffed up and Audrey spoke before he could. “This is Tate Odder. Tate, this is Levi Moss and … I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
Janet gave her a disbelieving look before saying, “My name is Janet, not that it matters.” Turning to Levi, she said, “Are we done here, Levi? I thought we were going to the table to eat?”
“We know each other. Lucas’s friend, right?” Levi said to Tate, who gave him a quick nod, still eyeing him. Levi shook his head, glancing from Tate to Audrey. “He’s kind of young, don’t you think?”
“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” Tate sneered.
Levi chuckled, rolling his eyes. “Calm down, kiddo, I was just stating a fact.”
“Levi,” Audrey warned, “is there something you wanted?”
He nodded and sent Audrey a small smile. It was the one he used to give her when they were alone. It was a real smile, only now it had no effect on Audrey at all.
No loss of breath, no dizzy spells. Nothing. She was completely over him.
“You are gorgeous tonight, Audrey. I don’t think I told you that enough before,” Levi said. Janet took in a sharp breath before dropping his arm and then stomping away.
“It is not your place to say that now. She is taken,” Tate said, wrapping his arm tighter around Audrey.
“Yeah, for now,” Levi said. Before either Tate or Audrey could respond, he Levi walked away in the direction Janet had gone. Audrey watched him, feeling nothing. She looked up to see Tate watching her.
“Do you want to run after him?” he asked.