It was.
Letting his head fall back, he let out another breath as his mind wondered. What if something happened and she was lying on the side of the road, dead? What if she had some kind of crazy stomach bug that ate away her stomach and came out looking like an alien and it killed her? He sat up, holding his head as he shook it. He needed to get it together, he had an important interview with the NHL network about All-Star week, and he couldn’t worry himself with what ifs. They wouldn’t help the situation.
But he couldn’t help it. Through Shea’s interview and a little into Lucas’s, he sat there coming up with horrible scenarios that took the love of his life away from him. He hated when he did this, he would always think of what could happen instead of just thinking that maybe they gave her some great meds and she was knocked out. Or maybe she was dying in the hospital and they didn’t know who to call so she was just going to lie there and die without him there to tell her how much he loved her.
Tears filled his eyes, and he looked down, trying to push them back. He had always felt like he didn’t get to tell his mom, dad, and Matilda that he loved them, as much as he’d wanted to. When they were taken from him it was one of the hardest things to cope with. Did they know that he loved them more than life itself? Did his father know that he wanted to be him, and that he was the best father in the world? Did his mother realize that his childhood was the best because of her kind words and loving smiles? Did Matilda know that he couldn’t have had a better sister and that he thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world with such an amazing talent? He would never know, but he learned from that situation and knew that a day wouldn’t pass without him telling Audrey that he loved her, and that she was the most beautiful person on the inside and out.
He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
Letting out the breath he was holding, Tate glanced up to see Shea watching him. “You okay?” he asked.
“I can’t get ahold of Audrey. I don’t know where she is.”
“Isn’t she sick? She is probably sleeping. It’s okay. She’ll call you.”
Tate nodded. “I hope you are right.”
Just then his phone rang. Tate rushed to get it out of his pocket, almost falling out of the chair. When he saw Audrey’s smiling face on the display, he answered quickly. “Baby, you okay?”
“Yeah,” she said breathlessly. “I’m sorry, I’ve been at the doctors, and I didn’t have a phone signal.”
“Oh, okay, everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything is fine.”
“Did they give you the medicine?” he asked. She sounded weird and it was making him nervous.
“Um no, they said I didn’t need it. That I would be okay.”
“Okay,” he said, his brows coming together. “So you are okay?”
“I’m good. I’m great actually. Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” he said with a grin as his heart settled. “I was worried about you. I love you.”
“Oh, Tate, I love you more. I’m sorry to make you worry.”
“It’s okay. I’m just glad to hear your voice.”
“It’s good to hear yours.” She then paused before saying, “So what are you doing?”
“Interviews.”
“When are you going to be home?”
“My plane leaves after this. I should be home by five.”
“Okay, are you coming straight home?”
“Of course, I haven’t seen you in nine days. I plan on keeping you very busy tonight,” he said, lust lining his words. His need for her was great and he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her.
“Mm, I can’t wait,” she cooed, causing his dick to come alive and press hard against the zipper of his jeans.
“It is crazy how you only have to say that and all the worry from before vanishes and I find myself harder than a rock,” he whispered gruffly into the phone.