Just as before when she walked away from Tate, she felt like she had made another mistake. Was that what she was going to do for the rest of her life? Make mistake after mistake? And never learn from them?

When her phone rang again and it was Piper, Audrey decided she should answer. Piper could be dying or something.

“About time!” Piper yelled into the phone causing Audrey to cringe. She didn’t feel like talking to anyone or joking or being happy. She wanted to drown in her sorrows, and hate herself for hurting Tate.

She was a stupid bitch.

“Hey, I’m sleeping, are you alive?” Audrey asked, trying to rush off the phone.

“Yes, and boy am I glad I am. I’m sorry buddy, but you’re gonna need to get up. I have amazing, sexy, news.”

Audrey groaned, rolling over to cuddle against the pillow Tate had slept on, “What’s up?”

“I slept with Erik.”

“What?”

“Yeah, and oh my goodness, Audrey, it was fantastic, amazing, oh my God! I can still feel him on top of me!” Piper gushed and Audrey could imagine her doing twirls around her living room like a child.

“You’re kidding,” Audrey said shocked.

“Not at all. You would have been so proud, I told him I had been lusting over him for the past year and he said he hadn’t noticed but he was glad he had now, and the next thing I know we are almost having sex in the taxi.”

“Wow.”

“I know right!? It was so freaking awesome, A, so good. I’ve never felt like that, he awakened all kinds of dirty things inside me and Lord! I can’t wait for him to come home at the end of the week.”

“I’m so happy for you, Pipe,” Audrey said, tears gathering in her eyes.

“I just did it you know? I gotta make myself happy, I can’t be scared. I have to try, right? He’s gorgeous and sweet, and Lord, he makes me feel good. He made me so happy last night, A. So freaking happy.” Audrey could only nod as she held in a sob while Piper went on, “I can’t wait to see where this goes.”

Even though Audrey would rather have hung up the phone and thrown it out the window, she knew she had to be there for her friend. She had to put on her big girl panties, and be supportive. Even if she felt like her world was falling apart.

“It’s going to be great, you’re amazing, Pipe, he’ll fall head over heels for you in a week.”

Piper giggled, “Man, a girl can dream, huh?”

“Sure can,” Audrey agreed.

“I just feel so good, I feel like I’m gonna cry, I’m so happy.”

Audrey smiled, wiping away stray tear. She wanted to be happy like that, but like Tate said, she wouldn’t let herself be happy. “Then cry girl, I’ll call you later and we can gush some more. I’m sorry but I am dead tired.”

“Oh girl you’re fine! I think I might try to go to sleep too. Erik kept me up all night long,” she said with a girly giggle, “Not that I mind!”

Audrey faked a giggle before saying, “I bet you don’t, I’ll holler at you later, bye,” Audrey said and when Piper said bye, she hung up.

Covering her face with her pillow, Audrey let out a loud frustrated cry. What the hell had she done!? She missed Tate, so much and it had only been a few hours since he left. She wanted to call him, tell him he was right and that she was sorry but she knew in her heart that even though he said he didn’t care about her not being able to have children, she knew he would. Maybe not right now, but later he would. When they had their house and white picket fence, with four dogs, he would look at her and decide that she wasn’t enough anymore. Maybe she was overreacting and putting herself through pain that wasn’t needed, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she may be right.

Rubbing her nose against his pillow, she took a deep breath, taking in his scent just as her phone rang. Bringing it up so she could see it, a picture of her and Lucas stared back at her. Why was he calling her? Did something happen to Tate? Or Fallon? Aiden!? Ignoring the fact that she thought of Tate before her sister and nephew, Audrey hit the answer button and said, “Hello?” She hoped to God, that Lucas couldn’t tell she had been crying. She really didn’t want to explain that too him.

“Hey you,” he said in his low voice. “Just checking in on you.”

Oh, Thank God, Audrey thought, letting out the whoosh of air she was holding.

“Oh, I’m good, everything okay with you?”

“No, actually, I had a rough morning and it concerns you.”

Audrey sat up, confused, “How so?”

“What’s going on with Tate and you?”

Audrey paused, “What do you mean?”

“I mean what I said. I let this shit with Levi go because honestly, Levi isn’t the person I want in my life anymore and I hoped that you guys would be over quick so I could cut ties with him, but unfortunately it went on longer than I thought, but that is beside the point. The point is, I care for Tate, a lot. He is a very close friend, so whatever is going on between you guys, I need you to make sure it’s worth it.”

Audrey didn’t know what to say, so she didn’t say anything. Lucas let out a long breath and then asked, “But if you can tell me that you are or could be nothing without him, that you can’t walk this earth without him and that you are totally devoted to him, then shit, AA, I’ll let you be. Because I know damn well it wasn’t that way with Levi, but with Tate, it could be different and I know that.”