“Well, that is not fair.”
“Life isn’t fair.”
Tate smiled. “I guess you are right, but I still think you should do what makes you happy.”
Audrey smiled, hugging her legs tighter as she watched Tate munch on the leftover popcorn. She didn’t know why, but she wanted to tell him everything. Even about the biggest mistake of her life. Was it because then she was sure he would be scared away, or because she honestly wanted to tell him?
“I want to own a cupcakery,” she found herself saying in a small voice.
Tate looked over at her. “What is a cupcakery? It sounds tasty.”
“It’s like a bakery, but only for cupcakes.”
“Sounds like the greatest plan ever. You should do that.”
Audrey smiled. She would do anything for that dream, but until she grew balls to leave the family company, that dream would always be out of reach. “That’s a dream, eh?”
She giggled. “Eh?”
Tate grinned shyly, looking up toward the ceiling. “Hey, don’t make fun of my accent.”
“I love it! Do the ‘eh’ more, it makes me laugh.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to do it ever again. Not around you.”
Audrey took hold of his arm, laughing as she shook it. “Don’t be like that! I love it … eh?”
Tate laughed, shaking his head as she giggled. She hadn’t laughed so much in her life. Being around him, she couldn’t help herself. He just made everything so much funnier.
“Sorry,” she said, moving her fingers under her eyes to catch her tears. “Yes, yes, it’s a dream.”
Tate shook his head, smiling as he moved his finger up and down the dewy can of beer. “Okay, well, I have a dream.”
Audrey couldn’t help it, she snorted with laughter.
Tate narrowed his eyes, shaking his head.
Even though he was pretty sure Audrey was laughing at him, he couldn’t stop his grin. Her laugh was infectious, hell, all of her was infectious. Not even hanging out with Lucas, Erik, or Phillip could amount to the good time he was having with Audrey. Her commentary on her favorite show was hilarious. When she giggled, it was as if her whole body was laughing. She was beautiful and, God, he wanted more.
Tate wanted to have her wrapped up in his arms, her body shaking his with her laughter. He wanted to stop her laughter with deep kisses. He wanted to calmly lay her back against the couch and just lay on her. Feel her heat against his. He wanted to fall asleep and wake up to that beautiful, glowing round face. Of course, he wanted to get her naked, but it was more than that.
What it was, he wasn’t sure, but it was more.
Looking over at a hysterical Audrey, he tried to scowl at her, but a grin tugged at his lips. She held up her hand, still laughing with the occasional snort.
Damn, she was cute.
“Oh my God! I am not laughing at you, oh my God!” Audrey said. When she finally stopped, her eyes were dripping with tears. “No, have you seen Tangled? There is a part when they are like, ‘I have a dream! I have a dream!’ But at the beginning of the song, this guy goes, ‘I had a dream once.’ It’s my and Aiden’s favorite Disney movie, you reminded me of that. I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to laugh so hard.”
Tate shrugged a shoulder. “No, it is fine. I just won’t tell you since you will laugh.”
Audrey’s mouth opened in a little O as she took hold of his wrist, shaking her head. “I would never laugh at it! I’m sorry!”
Tate smiled as she looked up at him with those big caramel eyes. They were dusty with happy tears. He liked them that way. “All right, hockey is my dream, I love it, but if it didn’t work out for me, I would want to be on a stage playing music for people.”
Audrey nodded, her lips curving in a sweet smile. “You are super good. I listen to you all the time.”