Later that morning, Audrey lay at her desk with her face in a pile of paperwork. Her body was aching from the tips of her toes to the top of her head, complete with a new lump, thanks to a stupid pole. What was she thinking? She should just accept the cellulite, love it. It would be way better than running and being all healthy.
With a sigh, she knew she would go again tomorrow despite her aching muscles.
Trying not to move, she reached for her ringing phone to see that it was Fallon calling. Hitting Answer, she groaned, “Hello?”
“Jeez, what’s wrong with you?”
“I went running this morning, my body hurts.”
“Why on earth would you do that?”
Audrey shook her head and grimaced in pain. “Some people can’t eat anything, including cupcakes, and not gain a pound.”
“Yum, bring me some.”
“Will do. So what’s up?” Audrey asked.
“Nothing, just wanted to chat,” she said. Audrey could hear her moving papers and the phone ringing in the background. “Did you watch Survivor last night?” Survivor used to be their thing when Fallon lived with her. They loved Wednesday nights with their favorite show. A big bottle of wine for Fallon, beer for Audrey, and a bowl of popcorn to share, and they were in heaven.
It hadn’t been like that for months, Audrey thought sadly. Fallon probably watched it with Lucas now. But that was fine; she was going to start watching it with Tate.
“I haven’t seen it yet,” she told her sister. “I’m watching it tonight.”
“Why are you waiting?”
Audrey shrugged as she said, “Tate hasn’t watched it yet either, so we are watching it together tonight.”
“Tate?”
“Tate Ooooooodder.” She giggled then stopped since it hurt her head. “You know, Tate, Lucas’s friend.”
“I know who he is, and why are you dragging out his last name?” Fallon asked, but didn’t wait for the answer and went on. “But no, really, why are you watching it with him?”
“We’ve been hanging out,” Audrey said simply.
“Like, hanging out … or just watching TV?”
“Just watching TV. He’s my neighbor, we’re cool. But if we were to get together, you’d think it was weird?” she asked, feeling she needed to talk to someone about Tate.
Fallon paused. “Well, no, I wouldn’t. I just want you to be happy. The guy could have one leg and nine eyes, but if he made you the happiest girl on earth, nothing else would matter.”
“Well, that’s good,” Audrey answered, biting down on her lip.
“Why? Is it more than just watching TV?”
Audrey wanted to choose her words wisely.
When she still hadn’t answered, Fallon said, “Audrey?”
“Yeah, I’m here … I slept with him.”
“Excuse me?”
“It was before I knew who he was.”
“Wow. When?”
Audrey could tell Fallon was shocked. She was doing that sputtering thing she did when she didn’t understand something or was completely out of her element. She still felt she needed to tell her. Her sister would be okay. “The night of your bachelorette party.”
“So what? Like a one-night stand?”
“Yeah.”
“With Tate?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh my God, wow. I am totally stunned.”
“It was a one-time thing. I got into a stupid fight with Levi and then I went to the bar where Tate was. He gave me a sexy grin and batted those baby blues and I was a goner!”
“They are intoxicating,” Fallon agreed. “But Tate? Wow. I didn’t know it was this advanced.”