Empty Net

“Tomorrow morning, at five.”


He nodded, and when he looked up into her eyes, she lost her breath. “Do you want to come watch me play tonight?”

She smiled. “I didn’t buy a ticket.”

“I’ll get you a ticket.”

She nodded. “I would like that.”

He took a step toward her, taking her hand in his. “I want you there.”

Looking down, his hand moved up to cup her face. She took a shaky breath before saying, “Then I’m there.”

A slow grin went across his lip, then he dipped his head down, placing a soft kiss against her lips as she closed her eyes. It was over before she knew it.

Opening her eyes, she watched him walk away, chuckling. Shocked, she threw her hands up. “That’s it?!”

Tate laughed while walking down the hall. Throwing a playful grin over his shoulder, he said, “We’re just friends, remember.”

Ugh!



The rest of the day, Audrey enjoyed lying in bed and recovering from the night before. She thought a lot about Tate, and later that night, it surprised her how much she screamed and cheered for him while he was in goal. He was amazing, and she couldn’t help but notice that he kept sending her quick glances and grins. It was nice to have someone who was so in tune with her. She had never had a guy chase after her, tease her, and want her all in one. It was different, and she loved it. As she watched Tate block over forty shots, she was screaming so loud that she was sure the whole arena heard her.

It was then that she realized that she and Tate Ooooodder were way more than friends.



The next day, Audrey pulled into her driveway a little sad that she wasn’t able to say ’bye to Tate in person. He had interviews after the game, and she tried to stay awake but couldn’t, and then he was asleep when she left that morning. She hated not being able to say bye, and she kind of wanted to thank him for the two amazing nights he gave her with a way better kiss than they had shared. She hadn’t had that much fun in a really long time, and it was all thanks to him. With a smile, Audrey thought that it was a good thing he was coming home that night, even if it was only for two nights, it was better than nothing.

Since she was still being lazy, Audrey left her overnight bag in the car as she made her way to the mailbox. Just as she reached into the mailbox, her phone rang. Pulling it out of her pocket, she saw it was the guy she had been thinking about all morning and all night.

“I overslept. I’m sorry,” Tate said when she said hello.

“No big deal. I’ll see you tonight, you can make it up to me,” she said with a grin as she opened up a letter from the health department.

“Actually, I’m not coming home tonight. After the game tonight, I’m going to stay with some of my old roommates. I haven’t seen them in months.”

“Oh,” she said sadly. “That’s cool.”

“Yeah, but I’ll make it up to you tomorrow.”

A smile tugged at her lips. “How so?”

“I was thinking dancing at our favorite club and maybe some dinner.”

“If you say sushi, you might have yourself a date.”

Tate chuckled. “Go eat sushi with me, love, and then go dancing with me.”

“Well, since you asked so sweetly,” Audrey cooed.

“Good, but the only thing is, I think Erik and Phillip want to go.”

Audrey laughed. “That’s fine. I’ll ask Piper to go.”

“Awesome, have you told her that you told Erik she liked him?”

Audrey gasped. “Oh no! I totally forgot about that! She is so gonna kill me.”

“Yeah she is.” He laughed.

Audrey giggled as she read the letter she had opened. With a grin, she said, “Well Mr. Ooooder, I would like to inform you that I am not pregnant, and that I am clean as a whistle, which means you are, too.”

“Huh?”

“I went and got tested after our one-night stand.”

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