“Was the cupcake good?”

He chuckled against her as she started to giggle. Man, he loved her, and he knew he would for the rest of his life.

“Baby, that was the best damn cupcake I have ever tasted. You need to make more.”

“Will they lead to counter sex again?”

With a grin, Tate nodded against her back, “Absolutely.”

***

A couple days later, Audrey stood in the middle of the crowded bar, looking for Piper. She had disappeared to the bathroom again, leaving Audrey to be hit on by every single male in the bar. It figured, before she couldn’t get a guy to look at her twice but now that she was completely and utterly in love with Tate, everyone wanted a piece of her. Maybe it was the dress. It was pretty fantastic, a pretty dark green, with a bust that dipped down showing off her impressive full breast before it turned into a puffy tutu skirt. Pairing it with black Manolo Blahnik stiletto heels and black tights, she had to admit, she was pretty hot. Her hair was up in a high bun, and her makeup was dark and drastic, so maybe that was the reason the guys were hitting on her. She only wished that it was her guy instead of them.

Audrey missed Tate so much and hated that he wasn’t there, but he had promised he would call her a few minutes before the New Year began, so they could at least be on the phone together when the clock struck twelve. Moving into a seat, she brought out her phone to text Tate.

I miss you.

When he didn’t answer back, she frowned. Surely he didn’t fall asleep, that would just suck, she thought as she put her phone down in her lap. When Piper came into view, Audrey smiled. Her best friend was decked out for the evening, and Audrey was glad that Piper had invited her out with her. She wore a gold open-back, sparkly mini dress that came to the very top of her thighs. Her legs looked like they went for days when she paired them with Audrey’s gold Jimmy Choo peep toe pumps. Her hair was down in waves and with her makeup done in gold tones. She looked gorgeous and she was turning heads left and right, but for some reason, Piper didn’t want anything to do with anyone but Audrey.

“Gosh, this place is packed,” she complained as she scooted into the seat beside hers.

“Well yeah, it is New Years,” Audrey explained as she looked around the packed bar. Looking back at her gorgeous date for the evening, she asked, “So how have you been?”

She hadn’t seen Piper much lately. She had been working, and taking care of Allison. It wasn’t as if Audrey had much time for her either. Between Tate and looking at places for the cupcakery, Audrey hardly had time for anything else. It was weird because she used to have all the time in the world, but now it was different.

“Okay, you know, busy,” Piper said, with a shrug of her shoulders.

“Well that sucks, I’ve been busy too.”

“Yeah, I know, I bet you are excited though, I am so proud of you for quitting Rocky Top and doing something that means something to you,” Piper said with a warm smile.

“Thanks,” she said with a nod, “I’m glad I did, I’m so ready to get Audrey Jane’s up and running, you know?”

“I bet it’s going to be epic! I just know it.”

Audrey grinned widely as Piper took a sip of her water, “Are you sure you don’t want to drink with me? I can get us a cab, no big deal.”

Piper shook her head quickly, as she said, “Nah, I’m good. I haven’t been up to drinking lately. My stomach hasn’t been right. I think I caught that stomach bug that’s going around. Allison had it last week.”

“Oh, that sucks.”

“Yeah, I’ve been queasy, but there was no way I was missing New Years with my girl.”

Audrey smiled, “I’m glad you convinced me to come out, I was gonna sit at home and be depressed ‘cause my boyfriend wasn’t here.”

Piper giggled, “No moping, my dear friend.”

“Nope! Only a good time!”

The two women clanked their glasses together and while Audrey downed her margarita, Piper sipped her water. The rest of the night, the women danced and drank as they enjoyed the night out. When it was close to twelve, they made their way down Broadway until they were in a good place to watch Nashville’s version of the ball drop. It was a music note, and at the stroke of midnight, it fell onto a guitar. Then the river would be lit up with fireworks as everyone sang and kissed their date for the night, or maybe a random stranger. It still bothered Audrey that Tate wasn’t there, but it would be okay. He promised he would call. That’s all she could hope for.

Audrey knew Tate was going to be calling soon, she hoped, so she held her phone in her hand, waiting for a call or text. She hadn’t heard his voice all day, only through texts had they been able to talk. He had a busy day in Chicago, and it sucked that she hadn’t gotten the chance to talk to him. Looking over at Piper, she found her waving her arms in the air like a crazy person.

“What the hell are you doing?” Audrey asked, laughing.

Piper giggled, “My arms are freezing!”

Audrey laughed, nodding as she moved her hands up and down her arms, “I know right? Sheesh.”

Piper nodded, moving closer, probably for warmth. Audrey looked back over at her and said, “So have you been talking to anyone?”

Piper shook her head, “Nope.”

“Why not?”

“Still caught up on Erik,” she said simply and as if it was already known. She smiled as she shrugged her shoulders, “But don’t worry, my New Year’s resolution is to change that, to find someone who wants me.”