“Oh yeah, totally a present gnome right here,” she laughed standing up with the present in hand, “What is it?”

“Not telling you. The whole point of presents is the surprise.”

Audrey waved her hand at him, shaking her head as she laid the present back down and took a quick inventory of how many presents she had.

Twelve.

With a grin, she stood and put her hands on her hips. It was the first Christmas she had a boyfriend, and also the first time someone other than her family had bought her gifts. Usually she bought herself stuff, so Christmas morning wouldn’t be boring and lonely. It was sad, but it used to make her happy. Audrey smiled, locking eyes with the man who made her see what true happiness was.

He was her happiness.

Things had been so great since Tate had opened up about his family. He seemed a little less guarded in general, and he had begun talking more freely about his family. She had learned so much about them, it honestly made Audrey feel she had learned more about Tate. Robert Odder was the best doll maker in Sweden; his dolls were detailed and beautiful. He also had an extreme love for hockey. He was the reason Tate played. Julie Odder was a homemaker. She won prizes for her candies and cakes. Tate had gone on for hours about her many baked goods and Audrey had actually looked up one of the recipes. She planned to make it for him Christmas morning.

Even though learning about his parents was great, learning about Matilda was amazing. She was such a beautiful, smart girl, and Audrey could tell that Tate loved her dearly. She competed all over the area, and was a damn good dancer. Tate had showed her a video of Matilda at one of her competitions and it blew Audrey away. She could dance, really dance. She was tall and lean like Tate, and her movement was so fluid, so free. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Audrey just wished she had the pleasure of meeting her before the accident. She was sure she would have loved Matilda, just as she loved Tate.

Yup, she had fallen head over heels in love with him.

She didn’t know when it happened but it had, and man, did it make Audrey feel on top of the world. Many opportunities had passed when she wished she had told him, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. What if he didn’t love her? So many times that scenario had happened; she would tell the guy that she loved him and the moment would be ruined when he would say, “I don’t love you”. It broke Audrey so many times. Tate meant too much to her to have that happen with him, so she wasn’t going to tell him. Not until he told her.

And for some reason, she felt like he never would.

It was the weirdest thing. One minute Audrey was sure he was going to say it, the next, she wasn’t so sure. He was the hardest person to read about some things, and with others, she knew him like she knew her favorite book. She hated how much she second guessed herself and wished for his reassurance, but what could she say?

Hey, you think you might be in love with me yet?

Tate had said he would tell her right away when he did fall in love with her, but Audrey being the most impatient person in the world, couldn’t wait. She wanted that moment when the words would leave his lips and left her up into the clouds. He was already in control of her heart and she was falling hard, fast. It wasn’t a simple want anymore, no, she needed him now. He meant the world to her. It was so new to feel so good, so in love. But this was for real. She knew that, felt that, and nothing could ever change her mind.

Audrey tiptoed to the bar, where Tate had a cup of coffee ready for her. She smiled a ‘thanks’ to him and sipped from her mug as Tate continued to eat. Moving into the seat beside him, Audrey sat down and thumbed through the newspaper that was on the counter in front of her.

“Are you ready for tonight?”

Audrey looked up, and nodded her head, “Yup, got everything laid out and I’m not going to hide the fact that I am very nervous.”

Tate rolled his eyes, “What do you have to be nervous about?”

She shrugged her shoulders, “Your whole team will be there, they are like your family.”

“They are my family.”

“Exactly, so I’m nervous.”

Tate chuckled, “Love, don’t worry about it. Everyone is really nice.”

Audrey nodded, even though her nerves were going crazy, “Okay.”

Tate stood up, going to the sink and dropping his bowl in it before coming over to Audrey. He wrapped his arms around her neck, kissing her temple. She let her head drop back so she could look up at him. He smiled and said, “I can’t wait to pick you up later and see how gorgeous you’ll be. Everyone at the party will be jealous of the girl I get to bring. So don’t be nervous anymore okay? I’ll see you later?”

Audrey nodded. “Can’t wait.”

Tate smiled and placed his lips to hers upside down. When they parted he smiled as she said, “Good bye, babe.”

“Bye,” she said as she watched him grab his bag and head out the door. He had practice to get to and Audrey needed to get to work. Finishing up her coffee, she made her way up stairs to get ready. She was only going for half the day since she had hair and nail appointments, so she was excited about that. After quickly getting ready in an outfit of dress slacks and an off-the-shoulder black sweater, Audrey swooped up and fastened her hair, while sliding into some black heels before running out the door.

Her work day couldn’t end quickly enough.

***

“How are things with Audrey?”

Tate looked up from the salad he was devouring to see that Lucas was looking at him, chewing on whatever he had just put in his mouth. They had decided to go to lunch at Maggiano's after practice and Tate was glad they had. With Tate dating Audrey, he hadn’t been out with his friends that much. Not that Lucas minded, but he knew that Erik and Phillip did. They gave him shit about it all the time. They just didn’t understand that Audrey was his world now.