Tate found himself blinking in total shock. Was he getting the brush off?

“Okay, what if that isn’t what I want?”

Her eyes narrowed as she pinned him with a look, “What do you want, Tate? Another roll in the hay? Cause if you think I’m gonna get naked with you again, think again, bud. I tore up my slut card.”

“I never said anything about getting naked, you are the one that has brought it up twice,” he said holding up two long fingers, “I just want to get to know you.”

“Why?”

Tate thought it over for a moment and then said, “Because maybe I think you are worth knowing.”

“I’m really not. Go find someone your age.”

“I don’t want someone my age.”

“Well, you sure as hell won’t want me,” she said as she stood, “see you around, Blondie.”

Tate watched in disbelieve as she made her way down the stairs and around the rink to meet Aiden. He had gotten brushed off…again. Tate stood, picking up what was left of his cupcakes before making his way down the stairs. He knew he should take the hint and leave her alone, but Tate knew something was there. Their conversation was awkward, but wasn’t that part of getting to know someone? Things are always awkward at first, but he was convinced they had chemistry. He felt it in that bed, and every time he had been around her. He could feel it in his bones; he could see it in her eyes. So what was the problem?

His age couldn’t play that much of a factor and neither should the fact that he was good friends with Lucas. He also knew that she couldn’t still be so hung up on that guy if she was burning his stuff and making cupcakes for Tate. Maybe it was the embarrassment, but why? Didn’t she realize she was amazing and beautiful? He didn’t think twice about the fact that she went home with him quickly. He thoroughly enjoyed it and would love a repeat, but not until they knew each other. He could wait.

Something was different between them, and Tate was going to find out a way to make things not awkward between them.

He couldn’t let her go.

Not yet.

Chapter 8

“So, I am thinking about going on a Guy Break. Wanna do it with me?”

Piper looked up at her quizzically as Audrey handed her a beer. “Say what?”

“A Guy Break, you know, where we swear off guys for a while.”

Piper’s eyebrows came together; her bright blue eyes confused as she took a quick sip of her beer. “Why in the world would we want to do that?”

Because Audrey couldn’t do it alone.

It had only been 24 hours since she had walked away from Tate, but it felt like a year. She felt horrible for pushing him away but how was she supposed to tell someone that he needed to find someone else because he was young and she couldn’t give him what he wanted? It was obvious that he was attracted to her, and she was attracted to him, but it would never work. She wasn’t looking for a fling. Audrey was looking for forever, and she doubted that Tate was.

He was a hockey player for f**k’s sake.

“I was thinking that I wanted to do it and I kinda need a partner for it.”

Piper narrowed her eyes, “Are you telling me you’re g*y?”

They looked into each other for a long heated moment before laughter bubbled out of both of them. Audrey leaned her head back, laughing so hard her gut hurt. Wiping her eyes, she grinned over at Piper.

“No, you dork!”

Piper let out a few more giggles before saying, “Then why are we giving up guys?”

“Because,” Audrey whined playfully, “I keep picking idiots.”

“And how is that my fault? Why am I giving up penis?”

“‘Cause if I have someone doing it with me, I won’t crave them.”

Piper shook her head, “No, that’s dumb. No Guy Break, we both like penis too much for that.”

Eh, she was right.

Piper perked up, a big grin on her face as she moved her hair out of her eyes, “I was thinking we could set up an account on a dating site!”

“Why on earth would I do that? Both our brother-in-laws play on a team full of hot hockey players,” Audrey said, rolling her eyes, “if I am not going on a break, I’m gonna find me a man. I can’t sit here all sad and lonely.”

“True that, sister!” Piper said toasting her drink in the air before taking a long swig. “What about that sexy goalie who hollered at you at the wedding?”

Audrey shook her head, “He’s so young. Could you imagine what people would say?”

“Yeah, that you are a lucky bitch! That dude is gorgeous!”

Audrey rolled her eyes, “No way. We wouldn’t work.”

“You said it was the best sex you’ve ever had. I think it works.”

Eh, again, Piper was right.

“Well, yeah,” Audrey said, moving her hand with every word she said, “But still, he doesn’t want a forever kind of relationship. I’m pretty sure he wants a fling.”

“How do you know? And also, Levi never wanted anything but a fling and you stayed with him,” she said it with a little nod of her head, like she knew she was right.

Which, she was, but still.

“Exactly, so I need to find someone my age, someone who wants a long term relationship and someone who doesn’t mind me having so many shoes,” she added when really she wanted to say, ‘someone who didn’t mind adopting.’

“You’re crazy,” Piper said with a shake of her head.