Where was she?

He had had a rough night partying with his old buddies. It was a good time, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Audrey. He had even texted her at the club to tell her he was sorry he wasn’t home. She was cute about it, and told him she expected something big today. Tate planned on delivering just that. In the fridge were a dozen fresh cut, pink chrysanthemums that he knew she would love. He was excited to give them to her, and he was even more excited to wrap her up in his arms.

But something didn’t feel right.

Where was she?

Messing around his on his phone, he brought up her number, and pressed it to call. It only rang twice when she answered.

“Hey.”

“Hey you,” he said smiling at the sound of her voice, “I’m very disappointed right now.”

“Why?” she asked without even a giggle.

Fuck, something was wrong.

“Well, I’m home, and you are not.”

“Oh, shit, what time is it? Crap, I’m turning onto our street, I’m almost there. I lost track of time,” she said flustered.

“Whoa, it’s okay. I was just joking with you.”

“Oh, well I’m home now,” she said just as the crunch of her tires on the gravel sounded her arrival. Standing up, he smiled as his eyes met hers.

“You are, and man, love, you are simply gorgeous.”

Audrey smiled and waved as she said, “Wow, really know how to make a girl blush, huh?”

“Get out of that car, now,” he said, hanging up the phone and making his way towards her. She met him half way, and he enveloped her in a tight fierce hug. Her arms wrapped around his middle as she buried her nose in his chest, holding him just as tight. Tate placed a kiss on top of her head, and then nuzzled his nose in her hair. They stood in each other’s arms for what seemed like hours when it was only minutes. He loved the feel of her and felt like she needed this.

She needed him.

“I want to kiss you, Audrey,” he whispered into her hair. “Look at me.” Glancing up at him, he saw her eyes were pooled with tears. “Whoa, what’s wrong?” Shaking her head, Audrey bit down on her lip as she looked down at his chest. “Audrey, love, tell me.”

“I saw Levi today.”

“What?” he asked as she moved out of his arms, leaving him feeling empty. He had a bad feeling growing in his chest and he had no clue what it was.

“I told him it was really over, he’s been texting and calling and stuff, but I told him to leave me alone.”

Tate nodded, “Good.”

“But he said some really awful things to me, and, Tate, I’m hurting because part of me believes him.”

“What did he say? I doubt it was true, he was probably trying to hurt you.”

“Well he succeeded,” she said sadly.

When they heard the crunch of gravel they both turned to see Piper pulling into the driveway. Turning back to look at Audrey, Tate said, “Tell me what you need me to do.”

She paused and then said, “I need you to be my friend.”

Tate felt like she had kicked him in the gut, “Your friend?”

“Hey!” Piper yelled as she made her way towards them, “Hey Tate,” she said, but Tate couldn’t speak, he stood there not able to catch a breath, because he was pretty sure a wall had come up between them again.

And like before, he ran dead into it.

~*~

Tate didn’t say a word to Audrey through dinner. He hadn’t even given her the flowers he bought. All he did was sit there and eat. It wasn’t like she was talking to him though, she just picked at her food basically ignoring everyone. Phillip and Piper were in a full conversation, with Erik adding in his part here and there. Tate noticed that Erik had been talking a lot more to Piper and if Audrey wasn’t in a pissy mood, he would have pointed that out.

Glancing over at Audrey, Tate hated how even though he was mad, and hurt, he couldn’t help but think she was gorgeous. Her hair was down along her shoulders, hiding the open back of her lace black dress. It was frilly and girly as hell, but man, she looked good in it. It came to her knees, and she wore lace black high heels that had diamond incrusted heels. Her makeup was soft this time, and she looked so damn vulnerable. Despite being upset, he just wanted to make everything better.

He just didn’t know how.

After dinner they all rode in Phillip’s big truck to Wanna Be’s nightclub. Audrey and Piper were stuck in the back with Tate, and Audrey was pressed to his side. He wanted to wrap his arm around her, tell her everything was okay, and that what asshat said wasn’t true. But instead he sat there, waiting for the night to be over. Once parked, everyone piled out of the truck, and headed inside. When Phillip stopped Tate, he held back as everyone walked pass them.

“Everything okay with you and Audrey?”

Tate nodded, “Fine,” he lied before moving away and heading to the bar. Glancing back to where Audrey and Piper sat talking, Tate downed a beer and ordered another one.

“You sure?” Phillip asked from beside him.

“She f**king friend zoned me again,” Tate said, pointing to Audrey with his beer, “And I want to kill the guy who is f**king with her.”

“Wow, I haven’t heard you cuss that much off the ice. You must be angry,” Phillip said, leaning beside Tate, drinking his own beer. “If you need help with the body, Erik and I got you.”

Tate nodded, “Thanks.”