Tate laughed as Lucas smiled bumping shoulders with Audrey. “Help Fallon out with Aiden please, and who’s a cupcake monster?”

Audrey looked over at Lucas and nodded towards Tate, “Tate.”

“Tate?” Lucas looked over at him, and then back at Audrey, “He eats your cupcakes?”

Audrey laughed, “Tate’s a cupcake monster and, yes, he does.”

Lucas eyed Tate for a moment before saying, “Okay.”

Audrey could tell by the tone of his voice that nothing was okay, but she ignored it, putting away groceries.

“Oh, Tate!” she gushed, turning from refrigerator, “I thought of something that only a few people know,” she laughed.

Tate smiled, leaning against the island, “What’s that?”

“I am an intense club dancer. I be breaking it down, son,” she said, before doing her rendition of the robot.

Tate laughed, shaking his head, “I don’t believe it.”

“Oh I’ll show you, we’ll have to go dancing.”

Tate nodded, his eyes piercing hers, “I look forward to it.”

Audrey grinned widely at him before skipping to the sink to clean off her chicken. When she turned and saw Lucas staring at her, she said, “What?”

“Nothing, I didn’t know you guys were hanging out.”

Audrey nodded, “He’s my neighbor.”

“Well, yeah,” Lucas agreed before looking over at Tate, “Is that all?”

Tate put his hands up and said, “We’re friends, apparently.”

“Apparently?” Lucas asked as Audrey shook her head.

Tate couldn’t leave off the ‘apparently’?

“Yes, we are just friends, no worries, Lucas,” Audrey said patting him on the back.

At least there was no worry for the time being, things could always change, though.

Audrey was just waiting for her balls to drop to change them.

***

Tate knew he should have been worried about the way Lucas was eyeing him, but he was too busy taking in the beauty that was Audrey. Even wearing a dress that look like a big brown bag, she looked gorgeous. When she came in singing, (yeah, she sounded terrible) it was nice to see her so carefree and happy. He liked that little peek into her private life, and he wanted more than anything to be a part of it.

After finishing their lunch, Lucas and Tate made their way up stairs. It had been a long day after a sleepless night. But there was no way Tate was able to sleep last night when he still could feel Audrey’s lips on his. He spent most the night playing his piano. When he had to wake up early for practice he was hoping to take a nap. But Lucas needed his help, so here he was, banging a piece of wood with a hammer.

For a monstrosity of a closet.

“Does she really have this many shoes?” Tate asked, glancing over at his friend.

Lucas looked up and shrugged his shoulders, “She’s your friend apparently, shouldn’t you know that?”

Tate chuckled, “Let me have it man, don’t hold back.”

Lucas shook his head, “I have nothing to say, should I?”

Tate shook his head, picking up another board, “What can I say Luc? I’m attracted to her.”

“Of course you are; she’s gorgeous. But didn’t you think you should have told me?” Lucas said one hand on his chest, “I’m your best friend, that’s the sister I never had.”

“I’ve been waiting for the moment to tell you. How did you even know?” Tate said since they had only interacted for 5 minutes down stairs.

Lucas scoffed, “The sparks were flying, dude! She would smile and you would go all starry eyed while she would bat her eyes at you. It was honestly disgusting.”

Tate laughed, “Whatever, it wasn’t like that at all.”

“Yes it was. It makes me wonder why you never even mention her… hold the f**k up!” Lucas yelled, causing Tate to drop his board, thankfully not on his foot. “Is she the runaway lay?”

Tate froze.

He told Lucas everything, but if he told him yes, then that would be putting Audrey’s business out there, but if he said no, then Lucas would think that Tate is trying to two time Audrey.

Shit.

“No comment.”

“Odder, fess up dude, before I knock you in the back of the head with a board,” Lucas warned.

Tate laughed, turning to see Lucas holding a bottle of water, not a board, “What board?” he teased.

“Whichever one I decide to pick up, now answer me.”

Tate shrugged his shoulder, looking up at the ceiling, hoping this didn’t back fire on him, “Yeah, she is, but don’t tell Fallon.”

Lucas’ mouth dropped as he shook his head, “I won’t, but shit dude.”

“Good, I don’t want anything to come between us, she has already friend-zoned me,” Tate complained.

“Dude, that sucks.” Lucas said simply before picking up a board.

Tate stood there stunned, Lucas always had the answer, “No help huh?”

Lucas laughed, “Hell no, if you think I’m going to give you tips on picking up my little sister, you’ve obviously been hit too many times in the head with the puck.”

Tate couldn’t help but laugh, “So much for loyalty.”

“Oh I have loyalty, but it stops when it comes to Aiden, Fallon, and Audrey. Sorry bud, you’re on your own,” he said. He then started to bang a nail into the board before turning back to Tate, a wicked grin on his face, “But you hurt her, you die. You know that, right?”