Awkward silence filled the space between them, and Tate hated that. He wanted this to be relaxed; he wanted her to be comfortable. He cleared his throat, causing her to look up into his eyes.

“What do I need to do to make this less stressful for you, Audrey? I don’t want this to be awkward between us.”

She narrowed her eyes, curiously, “I don’t know what ‘this’ is.”

Tate shrugged his shoulders, “Me neither, but when it is just us, you act weird.”

“Because I don’t know how to act around you.”

“You just have to be yourself, Audrey. I don’t want anything else.”

Audrey smiled, “I’m not that girl who came home with you after 5 minutes, Tate. That was hurt, drunk, Audrey, I’ve never been like that before.”

Tate nodded, “I understand that, I’m not asking you to be.”

“Then what are you asking?” she asked, her eyes wide and glossy as she looked up at him. He took a step toward her, and luckily, she had nowhere to go. Her head leaned back against the wall, as her eyes met his. He watched her for a reaction and when she didn’t say anything or move, he reached out, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. He needed to touch her, and even if it was only for a second, his heart was beating in over drive.

“I just want to know you, Audrey. I’m not asking you to sleep with me again,” he paused, his lips curving into a grin. “Not that I would mind if you wanted to,” he added with a chuckle. She smiled bashfully as he continued, “I just want to know you. I want you to be comfortable around me. Yes, I’ve seen your- what did you call them? Wobbly bits?”

Audrey’s face broke into a grin as she nodded, “Yes, wobbly bits.”

Tate continued to smile, “I’ve seen them and again, I wouldn’t mind a repeat but not until you are comfortable.”

Audrey started to shake her head before Tate even finished his sentence. “Tate, nothing can ever happen between us. You are so young and my brother-in-law’s best friend. What if the relationship went south? I’ve already tried dating Lucas’ best friend, and it didn’t work out for me. I just don’t see this,” she moved her hand between them, “working at all.”

Tate’s shoulders fell in defeat. He wanted to shake her, tell her that he was different, that he would never hurt her. She didn’t know him though, so how could he convince her when she had no proof?

“Then let’s be friends.”

Audrey narrowed her eyes again, her lips perked out, “Be friends?”

“Yeah.”

“Just friends?”

“Sure,” he said with a shrug. He knew that once she got to know him and when he put on his charm, she would have no chance. She needed to trust him first, though. Turning on a 100 watt smile, Tate looked deep into Audrey’s eyes, begging her to say, “Yes”. He needed an in, he needed her to agree so that he could convince her he was a good, honest, man.

Audrey watched him for a moment and then let out a long breath. “Okay, I’ll try.”

“Awesome.”

After saying goodnight, Tate went back to his condo. He kicked off his sneakers and tore his shirt off as he made his way through his living room before going upstairs. A grin remained on his lips as he opened the door to the second bedroom and went inside. Moving behind the piano he had had since he was four and sitting on the bench, he opened the keyboard lid and ran his fingers along the cool white keys. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone, turning it on before pushing his Facebook App. When he did what he wanted to do, he moved his fingers to the keys and started to play one of his favorite songs. It had been an emotional day, he had thought a lot about his parents and sister.

Being so close to Audrey and not being able to either verbalize his feelings or physically touch her the way he wanted had also taken its toll, but hopefully all that would change. Hopefully, he could convince her that he wasn’t too young and that he was different than that asshat she had dated before. He was a patient man, and had no problem waiting. He knew Audrey was different.

She was the girl who made him want to have a girlfriend.

***

Audrey leaned her head against the wall with the melody A Drop in the Ocean, by Ron Pope playing just for her. Tate played it beautifully and it always made Audrey breathless. She wondered what it would be like to lie on his piano and watch him play. She bet it would be a sight to see and she would enjoy every moment, but she knew she couldn’t do it. A little piece, okay, maybe a big piece of her was already smitten with him.

Tate was funny, he was sweet, and he loved Aiden. He wanted to know her, he didn’t just want to sleep with her and be done, no he wanted more. So why couldn’t she give herself to him. Throw all her reservations in the air and just jump in?

Because that’s what she always did. She went out with Levi twice before she was already sleeping with him. She said she never went home with a guy after one night but she sure did the second night. She never got to know someone before she slept with them. She just jumped right in. She listened to the horny little girlie parts instead of her mind. Nothing had worked before, so maybe waiting and being patient would work this time. But was Tate that guy? He was so young. She hadn’t lied when she said it was the best sex ever. It had been. But what was going to happen when he found out she couldn’t have babies, or when she fell in love with him and he wanted to break up?

When her phone went off, she picked it up, looking down at the display.