“Good afternoon,” he said quietly, “I need to get to the arena, but I much rather stay in bed with you.”

“Mmm…don’t tease me with that possibility,” she said with a small smile, “Do you have to go now?”

“In a few.”

She nodded, snuggling closer to him, “What time is the game?”

“Seven.”

“Can I buy a ticket there, you think?”

Tate shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know, but I can check when I get there. I’ll text you when I know.”

“Awesome, I need to go shopping. I have no clothes; I got on the first plane I could get.”

Tate smiled, moving his nose against hers, “Why is that?”

Audrey smiled, “Because I didn’t want you to go all day thinking I didn’t want what you want. I do and I’m sorry for being stupid,” she paused, her smile dropping as she looked up into his eyes, “I am just so scared of the unknown. I don’t want to get hurt and,” she paused again, but before Tate could say anything she went on, “You’re the only one who knows I can’t have kids.”

Tate moved his forehead to hers, kissing her nose before saying, “I’m not going to hurt you, Audrey. I can’t promise it, but I am going to try my hardest not too. I just want to be with you, enjoy you, and be that person who you need. The kid thing, we’ll work out when we need too, but right now, let’s just be us. Be happy.”

Audrey nodded, “You so don’t act like a 21-year-old, you know that?”

Tate laughed, “I lived a crazy life through my teen years. I told you, I’m ready to be with that one person.”

Audrey didn’t smile as she said, “With some old chick who can’t give you kids?”

Tate shook his head, and said, “No, with a beautiful, amazing, sweet-hearted woman, who any child who needs a mom would love.”

Audrey’s eyes pooled with tears and she smiled, “Man, I made the right choice for once, huh?”

Tate chuckled, “Sure did, love. I need to go though.”

Audrey nodded, before he kissed her nose and hopped out of bed. After taking a quick shower, and gathering his things, he found Audrey gathering the clothes that he had the pleasure of taking off her. She shot him a shy smile before wrapping her naked body up in his arms. “Good luck tonight,” she said before pressing her lips to his.

“Thanks, I’ll meet you back here? Or do you want to go to dinner?”

Biting her lip, she said, “Why don’t we meet back here for dinner and maybe some dessert?”

Tate chuckled, “Might want to get us a room, Lucas won’t like us keeping him up all night.”

“Ek! Is this his room?” Audrey asked, horror covering her face as she held her clothes in the main spots Tate loved.

Tate laughed as he nodded, “Yeah, I have no clue where he is either.”

“Ek! I need to get my own room! What time are y’all leaving tomorrow morning?”

Tate glanced at the clock and shook his head, “Love, we will talk about that after the game, I need to go. Text me your room number okay?”

“Okay, good luck,” she said again with a smile.

“Thanks love, bye.”

~*~

Tate sat in his goalie pads, strapping on his body vest as everyone else sat putting on their own gear. Lucas sat beside him, lacing up his skates while Erik sat on his other side, strapping up his own body vest. Everyone was quiet and in the zone, preparing for their game against the Ducks. Tate was hoping for another shut out. He was already up by four and another one would be great, and good for momentum for the rest of the road trip. Knowing that Audrey was going to be there, in the same seat she was last time, made the game that much more promising.

He felt like he was going to win, so that meant he would.

Standing up, Tate jumped up and down, warming his body up. He was nice and loose, ready to play. Tate then reached for his jersey and threw it over his head, fixing his pads as he pulled it down. After doing a quick warm up on ice, they all came back to the locker room to mentally prepare. He was worried when he didn’t see Audrey, but he knew she would be there when the game started.

After a short speech from Coach Baxter, the boys started for the hall where they would go out on the ice. Standing in his spot, each player walked by him, smacking him in the leg pad before walking down the hall. When everyone had gone, Tate followed behind his captain. Shea glanced back at him and nodded, Tate did the same and then both men headed out on the ice.

Tate skated to the goal, his eyes on the seat behind him looking for Audrey, but she wasn’t there. After moving across the goal line, scratching the ice with his skates for a better grip, Tate dropped to his knees and then rose back up quickly. When he looked up, the guys were lining up for the National Anthem. Standing straight, Tate paid tribute to the flags before dropping his head and asking for strength and confidence to do what he knew best. Leaning against the goal, Tate started to sing in his head as everyone came towards him, tapping his leg pad again and wishing him good luck. As always, he didn’t answer. He sang. When he turned to finish his song, he saw Audrey, grinning at him, and her lips moving. It took only a second to realize that she was singing the same song. Pointing to him, she sang and he couldn’t help the grin that graced his face.

He was falling in love with her.

Well, that was quick, he thought turning to watch the faceoff.