Chapter 22

“So where’s the ring?”

Audrey looked up from the dishes she was washing, “Huh?”

“You and lover boy out there,” Fallon said cocking her head in the direction where Tate and Lucas were playing with Aiden in his new tree house. “I know darn well, there is a ring and probably a baby on the way.”

The last part burned a little but Audrey ignored it, shaking her head, “No ring, or babies, he hasn’t even told me he loves me.”

Fallon stopped smiling, her brows coming together in confusion as she said, “Seriously? Shit, I could tell that he loves you from 1,000 miles away.”

A small smile played on Audrey’s lips as she looked down at the dishes she was washing, “You think?”

“Ugh yeah, so why don’t you just say, ‘I love you’ and get it over with.”

Audrey shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know. I want him to say it first.”

“Why?”

“Because I do, I’m nervous.”

“Why?”

Audrey glared as she shook her head, “Because what if you and I are wrong and he doesn’t love me.”

Fallon rolled her eyes, “Well that’s just dumb. Anyone could see that he completely adores you.”

Audrey giggled at the thought of that being true. It had been a week since the Christmas party. They had burned up the floor with their mad dance moves before going home and tearing up her bed. It was amazing. She had never felt so close to someone in her life. He was there for her when she needed him. He believed in her, and listened when she talked about her dream of opening her cupcakery. He was there for her, and she didn’t think twice that he wasn’t.

He was her everything.

The next morning, Tate left for three days, but it passed quickly and Audrey was glad he didn’t miss their first Christmas. The bad thing was he was leaving in another four days which meant he was going to miss their first New Years and that was probably worse than missing Christmas. New Years meant a lot to Audrey. It meant she was starting over and would try to make the next year better than the last. She always started it with a kiss from someone, whether she had a boyfriend or not. This year would be no different, just Tate wouldn’t be there.

Total bummer.

“I don’t know, okay? Today has been amazing Mom loves him, and Dad seems to like him somewhat. All I can hope is that he is comfortable and has enjoyed our first Christmas together, and that my family didn’t scare him away. When he is ready he’ll tell me, and I’ll be right there, ready to scream it in his face.”

Fallon glared and then said, “You always are going to sit back and let stuff happened to you. You’ll never make things happen for yourself.”

“I do too!”

“Do not!” she yelled, sticking out her tongue.

“Oh my God, childish much!? I do too!”

“Do what?” Nora Parker, Audrey’s mother, asked as she came into the kitchen. Glancing at her mom, Audrey wondered what Tate thought. Did he think she looked like a doll? Because Audrey sure did. The woman needed to stay away from that plastic surgeon. Her lips were bigger than Angelina Jolie’s and her ass was bigger than JLO, and she wanted it that way! It was insane, but man, Audrey loved her mom.

“Nothing,” both the sisters said before they returned to cleaning.

“Huh? Okay,” Nora said with a wave of her hand. She came over between them, wrapping her arms around Audrey’s waist and smiling, “I love him, Audrey Jane. He is a complete delight.”

Audrey grinned up at her mother, and nodded, “He is.”

“He’s young though,” Nora warned.

“I don’t care, I’m happy.”

Nora nodded, kissing Audrey’s temple before helping with the dishes. The three women worked in silence until William walked in. Her father was still a dashing looking man. He reminded Audrey of Pierce Brosnan, without the accent. He was hard on them, but she still loved her daddy. She just hoped he wasn’t too hard on Tate. He threw question after question at him all through dinner. Tate sat confidently though, one hand in Audrey’s as he answered each question. It was so sexy, and he looked so strong, but she was still worried that later Tate would decide she wasn’t worth it. Her daddy was hard to deal with.

William watched the women work, and when Audrey looked up at him, he smiled.

“Well, Audrey, I can’t believe it, but I like your new guy.”

“Fantastic, Daddy, he’s great and makes me very happy,” Audrey beamed as she wiped her hands on a towel. William nodded once, and Audrey knew that was the end of the conversation about Tate.

“I also like these cupcakes, they are wonderful,” he said picking up a Reindeer cupcake that Audrey had spent all night making. They were a dyed red white cake with a green mint icing. She had made little reindeer out of pretzels and chocolate. She knew Tate and Aiden would devour them, but what surprised her was that her father also did.

“Thanks, Daddy,” Audrey said, pride filling her from the inside out. It wasn’t every day that her father complemented her and Fallon. When he did, they savored it like the finest Rocky Top wine.

“Shouldn’t she open a cupcake shop, Dad? I think she would be fantastic at it,” Fallon said. Audrey quickly looked over at her sister, an uneasy feeling creeping over her. What was she doing? Was she nuts? Audrey looked over at her father, seeing him give Fallon a confused look.