“Well, what a fantastic sister you are,” Audrey said with a grin.

“Someone’s gotta be since Reese said she is too busy to deal with any of it.”

“Grr, I don’t like her,” Audrey growled out, “Let me know if you need anything, I’m here for y’all.”

“Thanks so much, babe, you mean the world to me,” Piper said compassionately.

“Same to you, babe,” Audrey declared, climbing into her car.

“So, off sad stuff!” Piper said quickly, “How was last night with sexy goalie?”

Audrey laughed, “Fine, we watched movies and played games.”

“Sounds boring,” Piper said causing Audrey to laugh.

“Actually it was quite awesome, and at the end, he kissed me.”

“SHUT UP! So, y’all hooked up?!”

Audrey shook her head, laughing as she reached her car, “No, I stopped him.”

Piper was quiet, and then she asked, “Can I ask why?”

“Because we need to be friends, and if we get together and break up, it would kill me not having him as my friend,” she said and part of her meant it while the other half knew she was full of crap.

And Piper, being Piper, called her out on it, “That is the biggest load of crap ever! What the hell is going on, Audrey?”

Audrey hadn’t started the car yet, and sat there not knowing what to say. She couldn’t tell Piper, she didn’t want to tell anyone, but her reason of ‘she was too old for him’ was getting old. Taking a deep breath in, she said, “There are things about me you don’t know. No one knows. I can’t be with someone so young and who has all these dreams and aspirations because I won’t be able to contribute.”

“For goodness sakes Audrey, y’all ain't getting married tomorrow! If y’all are meant to be, then anything that is a problem will work out. Stop fighting it. You want your Happily Ever After, your Prince Charming, he’s standing right in front of you!” she yelled.

“Maybe you’re right, but don’t you think that it’s a little f**ked up that I like him, but I am apparently still in love with Levi? Explain that to me!”

“It’s easy! You never loved Levi cause if you did, you wouldn’t be so smitten with Tate. You were in love with the idea of being in love, but here’s the kicker, no one loved anyone! Sometimes I don’t even think you know what love is, but then I see you with Fallon, Aiden, Lucas and me, and I know you do. Please, stop being stupid, be happy instead!”

Could she be right, did Audrey never really love Levi? As if Audrey wasn’t confused enough. “I don’t know, maybe I should wait it out, see if Tate is a good guy.”

Piper scoffed, “Even I know that is a bogus ass statement. Tate is fantastic and you know it.”

She did.

“Maybe I should feel him out, get to know him, see if he wants the same things I do.”

“That’s what dating is for! You want to do the boot leg version of it because you are afraid to put your heart out there! Stop being scared, Audrey Jane Parker! Be a woman! A lusty yummy, wanting woman!”

Audrey shook her head and then started laughing, “Do you feel like you did a good job there?”

Piper laughed, “I do actually, I’m pretty sure that was inspirational.”

“Yeah, you had me at ‘a lusty, yummy, wanting woman’.”

“Thought so, now come on, be you. Be the amazing Audrey I know.”

Audrey really wanted too, but could she? If she couldn’t even tell her dad that she wanted a cupcakery, how could she tell a guy that she couldn’t have children but would love to have a chance to be with him?

One thing was for sure, she had to do something.

Audrey had rocked out to her new Karmin CD the whole way home. When she came inside with bags from the grocery, she was still rocking out. She didn’t even notice the two large hockey players standing at her island. Seeing them, she let out a girlie scream, and jumped almost six feet in the air.

“Great balls of fire! Sheesh, guys!”

Lucas looked unaffected as he munched on a sandwich, sweat drenched his white tee, and a tool belt hung low on his waist. Tate grinned as he made his way towards her, leaving his (no surprise) cupcake on the counter. He reached for the bags and she rewarded him with a bright smile as she took in his hotness. He wore low riding jeans, with a fitted blue tee. His hair was in a mess, drenched in sweat, and she could see sweat glistening in his beard. Within seconds Audrey was back in her dream, feeling his beard and hands all over her body.

Mmmm, she wanted so bad to reach out and touch him.

“Hey, Audrey,” he said looking deep into her eyes.

Why was it even hot when he said “hi” to her?

“Hey, Tate,” she said breathlessly as he turned to take her groceries to the island. “What are y’all doing? Other than eating my food?”

Tate smiled sheepishly as Lucas shrugged his shoulders, “Getting the closet done. We leave this weekend for a week trip, back for three days, then back out for another week, so I wanted to get it done today since I’m about to be really busy. Tate wasn’t doing anything so I made him help me.”

Audrey doubted Lucas had to make Tate do anything. He was still grinning at her and Audrey couldn’t help but smile back as she unloaded groceries.

“Well that blows y’all are leaving, what will I do without my favorite brother-in-law, and my cupcake monster over there?” Audrey joked.