The tears rolled down her cheeks and she knew the answer to each of those questions. Did it even matter though?

“It could be,” she answered sadly.

“So what is the problem?”

Audrey shook her head even though he couldn’t see her, “I don’t want to get hurt or hurt him.”

“Then don’t. Just do you, be happy. Live your life, Audrey. You’ve put yourself on hold for Fallon, and this is your chance. I know that I am being forward and hard on you but I believe that Tate is a good guy and I owe you for being there for Fallon when I wasn’t. You deserve to be happy and we both know Levi wasn’t that person to do that for you. But Tate could be.”

Lucas was completely right. She had to stop this, she had to do something for herself, worry about the future later. She had hid behind Fallon when she came home, help her live her life but never worried about herself. This was her chance, it was time to live life for Audrey and hope like hell that later it would work out. She had to put herself out there. She had to live in the now, just like Tate did.

“You’re right, Lucas.”

“I know am, now stop being difficult and call Tate off me.”

“Call him off?”

“Yeah, he ripped into me for not being a man! He said I don’t know how to take care of the women I love, now set that kid straight before I break his face. I take damn good care of Fallon and you.”

Audrey heart started being in overtime. Tate would move mountains for her, and she was pushing him away. She had to stop this madness.

“You do, my amazing brother-in-law.”

“Good, now do you want me to go after Levi for what he did to you? Apparently, Tate thinks I need to break his knee caps with a hockey stick.”

Audrey giggled, “No, we are done, honestly.”

“Thank God, Fallon will love that,” he chuckled, “Alright, so we are good?”

“We are great, Lucas, thank you.”

“Alright, AA, I do love you a lot, you know.”

Audrey’s grin grew as her heart expanded. Lucas really was the best brother-in-law in the world, “I love you, more.”

Hanging up her phone, Audrey couldn’t help but think Lucas knew what he was doing when he called. He as a very persistent man, and when he wanted something done, it usually happened. Thankfully it didn’t take long for Audrey to see reason, or maybe it was bound to happen anyway. She had laid in bed all morning, crying and missing Tate, so did Lucas’ phone call really matter that much? If he asked, she would say yes, but really, she didn’t think it had. She wasn’t a stupid girl, stubborn maybe, but not stupid. She wanted her Happily Ever After, and she had the chance to have it so she had to try. She had told him about her defective body and he still wanted her. Didn’t that mean something? Even if he didn’t understand now what it meant, she couldn’t risk her Happily Ever After if he was still willing to fight for them. If she dealt with the idiocy of Levi for eight months with the hope of something more, why wouldn’t she try with Tate?

Audrey looked over at the time and hated that she had waited so long to realize her mistake. She wanted to call Tate but she knew he was training with the goalie coaches. He had told her his whole schedule for the day when they laid in each other’s arms the night before. God, she missed his big, long, sexy strong arms and even though she knew he had a big day, she couldn’t let him go through it, thinking she didn’t want what he wanted to give her. Finding the phone number she needed and after pressing send, Audrey waiting until someone answered.

When they did, she said, “Yes, I need a ticket for the first flight out to Anaheim.”

Chapter 17

Audrey hadn’t even packed a bag. She threw a few necessities in her big Coach bag, and ran out the door, since her plane took off in an hour. After a long, anxiety filled four hour flight, and another twenty minute ride to the hotel where the Assassins were staying, Audrey finally stood in front of Tate’s door. She had been standing there for what seemed like hours, but she was sure it was only a couple of minutes. When she left Nashville, she was so confident that to come to Tate had been the right choice, but now, she was nervous and scared.

Her body was shaking with fear and her brain was telling her to run, and that it was okay to live in her condo with just her shoes and cupcakes. Who needed a man who made her toes curl and who got her to laugh out loud for no reason? Not her, no. Audrey only needed Fallon and Aiden, and now she had Lucas and Piper. Yes, they were all living life and being happy, but they would have time for her. They loved her.

As soon as she thought it, she knew that wasn’t right. She wanted her own life with someone important to her.

With Tate.

Reaching out, Audrey knocked on the door. When he didn’t answer, she did it again, and again. Until finally, she realized that he wasn’t there.

Shit.

Letting her forehead fall against the door, Audrey pulled her phone out and checked the time. He had said he would be there by now. Where was he? She was about to click on his number when a text suddenly popped up.

I would ask if it would creep you out if I were standing behind you watching you stand outside my door but the real question is why are you here?

As the air rushed from her lungs, Audrey turned quickly to find him watching her. He was leaning against the hall wall, his phone in one hand and a bag of food in the other. He was wearing his warm-up gear: a pair of shorts, and a thin tee. His hair was slicked back like he had just taken a shower. His eyes were sad. But they still electrified her and stirred all kinds of emotions deep inside her. She needed him. No more games, no more doubt, this was it. This was who she had been searching for. She was jumping in and not looking back. She was going to put her heart out there for him to take and she was going to trust him with it.