Empty Net

Lucas continued to chuckle, his eyes full of love for her sister. “Things change, babe. It’s his loss.”


“I just wish you’d let me hook you up with someone,” Fallon said. “There are a ton of guys on the team.” She meant the hockey team Lucas played for, the Nashville Assassins. Audrey knew the team. Hell, she watched and cheered for them on occasion. But she’d be damned if she was going to let Fallon hook her up on a pity date!

Looking around the room, she reminded them, “I told you, I have a date.”

“I mean a date of the adult variety,” Fallon said. “Aiden is sweet, but he is also your nephew, and he’s seven.”

Audrey laughed. She loved Aiden more than she loved anyone in the world, other than Fallon. He was the perfect kid, her best friend. She had a special bond with the little booger since she’d basically helped raise him. She had always been his second person. That was, until Lucas came along, but again, she couldn’t hate Lucas for taking her family away. He was what they needed and she did love him. She smiled as she said, “Aiden will be the best.”

Fallon shook her head. “Let me hook you up with Phillip, or even Sergi—”

“No, not Sergi, he’s a man whore,” Lucas interrupted. “There is a new guy, Jakob Titov’s brother, Erik. He’s a good guy.”

Audrey wanted to bash her head into the wall. Another reason why being single sucked. Everyone wanted to hook you up with someone. “I’m fine.”

“I just wish Tate was a little older,” Fallon said, bringing Audrey’s attention back to her. “He is such a great guy, sweet as all get out.”

Lucas nodded. “He really is. Best guy I know. Have you guys met yet? He said the other day he hadn’t met you.”

Audrey shook her head. “Nope, my infamous neighbor is still hiding, but not for long. I took him some cupcakes today.”

Fallon tensed up, her eyes filling with worry. “What kind?”

She hated the way Fallon thought she only made cupcakes when she was depressed. Yes, she did make them a lot more when she was upset, but that wasn’t the only reason she made them. Baking them made her happy. “Red Velvet.”

Her sister smiled as if Red Velvet cupcakes didn’t mean she was on the verge of killing herself.

“He will love that.”

Lucas’s face perked up. “I want some Red Velvet cupcakes.”

Audrey smiled. “I’ll make you some when you get back from your honeymoon.”

Lucas smiled his lady-killer smile. “Sounds good to me.”

Audrey was about to tease him about his sweet tooth when Molly, Lucas’s mom, called him over to where she stood with other family members.

“You know, Tate is super hot,” her sister said after Lucas left.

Audrey sighed. “I wouldn’t know anything about that. I haven’t been graced with his presence yet.”

Fallon smiled. “Oh, but you will be tomorrow. He’s young, but good Lord almighty, if he was ten years older, I would be all over that!”

“We both know that isn’t true. You have eyes for one man and one man only.”

Fallon’s gaze cut to where Lucas stood. Her left hand came up to cup her neck as a dreamy look came over her face. “You got that right. I can’t believe it, I’m getting married tomorrow.”

Audrey watched the workers fastening lights to the umbrellas. “Me neither,” she said wistfully.

When she looked back up, Fallon was regarding her with a compassionate look. “I’ll always love you, Audrey.”

“I know. I’m just jealous,” she said with a shrug. “Where the hell is my Lucas Brooks?”

Fallon took Audrey’s hand in hers. “He’s out there, I promise, and when you meet him, you’re never gonna let him go.”



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