William looked away and took in a lung filling breath, letting it out in a whoosh. “Don’t you want me to be happy, Daddy?”

“Of course I do, Audrey Jane, but I want to you succeed and I don’t feel this is a successful business.”

Audrey stood tall, shaking her head, “I’m gonna succeed, I’ll show you.”

William met her rebellious stare and shook his head, “You’re going to do it aren’t you? Against my wishes, and against my business knowledge and experience. You’re still going to continue pursuing this insane idea.”

She nodded, a grin pulling at her lips. She had never been so sure of something in her life. Everything was falling in place, she had the guy, the home, the closet, and now all she needed was the career. She had worked so hard for her father over the years and even though she hated Rocky Top, she didn’t regret those years. They would only help when she did what she had always dreamed of, but she was done with Rocky Top. She had always stood back, let things happen, like Fallon said. Well, not today. Today Audrey was going to do something to better herself. Glancing up at Tate, who smiled and nodded his head as he squeezed her hand, Audrey smiled. She looked at each of her family members, seeing their supportive faces before her gaze met her father’s angry stare. Even if he scared her and there was a chance he may be right, Audrey knew she was doing the right thing.

“Yup, I quit, Daddy. I’m gonna follow my dreams.”

~*~

Audrey lay on her stomach, naked and spent, cuddling into her pillow as Tate crawled back into bed. He lay across her back, moving his arm around her waist and his other beneath her head as she smiled. He was heavy, but she didn’t care. She loved the way he wanted to be near her, as close as he could. When he moved his legs with hers, tangling them as he pressed himself into her bottom, she let out a sigh.

She could lay like this forever with him.

She felt great, amazing, loved, and never before had she felt so free. She didn’t know when she woke up that morning, she would be quitting her job, but man, was she happy she did. Her father on the other hand was another story. But Audrey was happy and that was all that mattered! Tate moved his nose along her temple, dusting kisses as he held her tight.

“I am so proud of you, love.”

Audrey smiled, “Thank you, I’m proud of myself.”

Tate nodded, placing more kisses down her cheek, “Fallon told me I’d better watch out, she was going to steal me and keep me for herself.”

Audrey giggled, “I’ll cut a bitch.” Tate’s laughter shook her body as she laughed along with him. When her laughter subsided she said, “No really, she can’t have you. You’re all mine.”

“Am I now?”

“Yup, sorry buddy, my heart’s invested here.”

Tate nodded, kissing her shoulder before he lips rested against her ear. Whispering he said, “I’ll keep your heart safe, love, don’t worry about that.”

“Will you?” she asked, her heart skipping a beat. Even if it was a tender moment, she couldn’t help but think of what Fallon said, about saying that she loved Tate first. Why wait was what Fallon was saying, but Audrey couldn’t do it. She felt comfortable saying those little things that made him think. To assure him that she wanted him, and that she could possibly love him. She wouldn’t hide her feeling, but she wouldn’t put herself out there either. She just needed him to say it first, then it would be easy after that.

Tate bit her ear lobe, bringing her mind back to the bed they were in, against the hard body she loved. He moved off her to beside her, where he wrapped her up in his strong arms and kissed her fully on the month. She moaned into his mouth, hooking her leg over his hip, to bring herself closer to him. Parting, she nipped at his lip as he smiled down at her. His eyes were bright and happy, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that he did love her. He had such passion and admiration in his eyes for only her. He made her feel like she was the only girl in the world who mattered and how many times had she wanted that. Maybe Fallon was right, but instead of saying the words she yearned for, he said, “I will, because mine is just as invested as yours is.”

It wasn’t what she wanted, but damn did it make her swoon.

***

Tate knew something was wrong when the locker room door flew open and in stomped Eleanor Adler.

The first thing he noticed was her appearance, of course. How could he not? She was beautiful, stunning even. She wore a white button up shirt with a red polka dot skirt that came up over her swollen belly and under her breast. Her shoes were tall and bright, and reminded Tate of Audrey. She had the same matching polka dot red heels; she had worn them out with him, when they looked around West End at the different buildings that were vacant.

Looking back up at Elli’s face, he saw that she had her hair down, and her makeup was smeared on her face as if she had been crying. That was when he definitely knew something was wrong.

Everyone watched as Elli stomped by them. The locker room went silent when she reached Shea. He was talking to Lucas and wasn’t paying attention to the distraught wife who stood in front of him, until she threw what looked like sheets of small square pieces of paper.

“Whoa, Elli baby! What’s wrong?!” Shea said quickly standing up. Since they were suiting up for their morning practice, he towered over her with his skates on. They would be flying out the next day for their games out west but Tate didn’t think that Elli cared about any of that. She only cared about ripping Shea a new ass**le and Tate couldn’t wait for the show.