“Do I go with the guy who only wants sex and who I know is the wrong choice but a safe one, and I know no one can get hurt, well maybe me, but I’m used to it,” Audrey said, referring to Levi. “Or do I go with the guy who wants me but that could change and then we both could get hurt, because I could fall for this guy. I know that hands down.”
The more Audrey thought about it, the more she knew she could. They had so much fun together, and if she would stop with the walls and secrets, there was a chance she and Tate could be happy. But even with that dream staring her in the face, she couldn’t help but see Tate walking away when she told him she was defective. It could happen. Then what would she do?
“I don’t know what you are talking about, Audrey. I am beyond confused.”
Audrey could tell she was confused. Hell, Audrey was confused.
“Here is my question,” Elli said.
“When your mind wanders, who comes up? Because that’s the person who matters, that’s the person you want.”
“You make it sound easier than it is, Elli.” Audrey groaned, leaning against her hand.
“It is that easy,” she said, standing. “I gotta use the bathroom, but let me say this first.”
“What?” Audrey asked.
Elli smiled. “I think you should go with Tate.”
Yeah, I want that, too.
Tate sat on the beach, his toes in the sand as the sun warmed his face. The surf was running up on his legs and he felt like everything was okay in the world. He could make a list of things that were wrong, but he wouldn’t think of that. He would also try to resist the urge to call Audrey and tell her he missed her. Not right now, it was too early. Instead, he would relax and prepare for the next game.
The Assassins had done well on the road. Beating Washington, Carolina, and then Tampa Bay left him was feeling good, especially since two out of the three games were shutouts. He was on his game, but that could change at any second. All he could do was hope it didn’t. He didn’t think it would, and at the moment he felt good, really good.
Pulling his phone out, he checked his Facebook, or rather, checked Audrey’s page. She posted everything she did. He would never tell her he checked it consistently, but he did. The other day he found himself laughing that he had been on his phone as much as she was. She was rubbing off on him, it seemed, and he didn’t mind at all.
Leaning back onto the hot sand, Tate looked up at the cloud-free sky. He wondered if his parents and Matilda were up there, looking down at him. Closing his eyes to keep the tears from falling, he took a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. He needed to get it together. He was supposed to go out with the guys later, and if he kept thinking about things that he couldn’t change, he wouldn’t be in the mood to go. When his phone signaled a text message, he opened his eyes and raised his phone above his face so he could read it.
Would it be totally creepy if I was standing behind you, watching you lay on the beach?
Tate laughed as he typed back quickly to Audrey. She was so funny. It wasn’t creepy at all, and he wished like hell she was there, but knew she wouldn’t be. She had work, and Aiden stuff. She was busy, too busy to come and hang out with him.
A little, he typed back.
Shit, then don’t turn around …
Tate sat up quickly, turning to see Audrey standing with her phone by her side, waving awkwardly at him. She wore big black glasses and a bright yellow sun. She had a short yellow skirt on, with a black and white see-through top covering a black tank top. She even wore a pair of impractical black spiked heels, but it didn’t matter.
Because she was there.
“Holy shit,” he muttered, before getting up and closing the distance between them. Ignoring the awkwardness, he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. His grin grew when she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him just as tight. He pulled back to see her bright face, but not to let her go. “What are you doing here?”
She shrugged. “I was bored, so I decided to play hooky in Miami. I happened to be walking down this beach when I saw you lying there.”
Tate chuckled. “Liar.”
“Ah, so you caught me. You’re not creeped out, are you?” she asked with a worried expression.