Empty Net

“Yeah, I think they did. I haven’t asked her yet. She’s been crazy busy with the studio.”


Audrey didn’t understand Piper’s obsession with Erik. Yes, he was insanely gorgeous, with dark hair and dark sexy eyes, but he kind of gave off a dick vibe. Piper was such a sweet and funny girl, and Audrey really didn’t think they would be good together. But apparently Erik Titov did it for Piper, and who was she to question it? She herself was in love with an ass-hat and lusting over a child. She was in no place to judge anyone on their lusty needs.

“Well, let’s hope they didn’t,” she said. “Have you said you’re interested in him? Flirted at all with him?”

Piper shook her head sadly. “No, he doesn’t really look at me. I’m shorter than Reese, and I guess he just doesn’t see me.”

Audrey rolled her eyes. “You’re gorgeous, Pipe. He’s probably too blinded by your amazing awesomeness and can’t handle it, so he goes to Reese.”

“Audrey …”

“What?” Audrey said innocently.

“Be nice, she’s my twin.”

Reese was also a bitch.

Reese Allen was not Audrey’s favorite person. She walked around like her shit didn’t stink, and she was quick to tell Reese that it did. She had legs up to Audrey’s head. But so what? And who cared if Reese could put those said legs above her head? She sure the hell didn’t.

“I know she’s your twin,” Audrey said with a smile just as Aiden came barreling down the stairs.

“A.A.! Tate is outside!”

“Who?” Piper asked.

From where she sat, Audrey looked out the window and didn’t see anything, but it wasn’t like she could with Aiden’s head blocking most of it.

“He’s making a fire! We should go out there!”

“Who’s Tate?” Piper asked again as Audrey got up and went to the window.

“See, A.A.!” Aiden yelled.

“Yup, I see,” she said as she watched Tate throw a log on a small fire.

What was he doing?

“Can we go out there?” Aiden asked as Piper came up beside her.

“I don’t know,” Audrey said.

“Oh, hot hockey-goalie-lay!”

“Piper!” Audrey shrieked, smacking her on the arm. “Little ears!”

Piper giggled while Aiden paid them no mind. He was too busy slamming his fist against the window.

Aiden shot her a toothless grin before running to the door and throwing it open. “Hey, Tate!”

“Why is hot hockey-goalie-lay making a fire outside your condo?” Piper asked.

Audrey shrugged her shoulders as she made her way to the door. “I have no clue.”

She threw a coat on as she walked outside, with Piper on her heels. Tate had made his fire in the same place she had made hers. He sat in a chair, with Aiden in his lap now, putting a marshmallow on the end of a metal stick.

“A.A., we’re making s’mores!”

“Oooh! S’mores!” Piper gushed as she ran past Audrey to get a stick. Before grabbing it, she held her hand out to Tate. “Hi, I’m Piper, Audrey’s best friend.”

Audrey had to smile at Piper’s proclamation. They had gotten close over the last couple of months, and she did love Piper with all her heart, so the best friend status fit. She saw Tate flash Piper a full-on grin.

“It’s nice to meet you. Tate Odder.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Piper said, and giggled, before dropping down in an empty chair.

Tate looked confused, but when he looked up and his eyes met Audrey’s, they both froze. She really needed to stop looking him right in the eyes, she told herself. It was like he was a basilisk, freezing her in place. She felt like she couldn’t move or think then, was lost in the sea of his eyes. A slow, sexy grin brought her attention from his eyes to his full lips. When he pressed his tongue against his teeth, she swore she came.

Seriously!

“Hey, Audrey.”

The slow way he said her name sent tingles down her spine. She swallowed loudly, bringing her gaze from his lips to the ground. She waved awkwardly and then looked away. “Hey.”

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