Empty Net
Page 52

 Toni Aleo

  • Background:
  • Text Font:
  • Text Size:
  • Line Height:
  • Line Break Height:
  • Frame:
Her fingers had been there.
Audrey closed her eyes, willing herself to forget the image of him naked as Tate asked, “What’s this show about?”
Telling herself over and over again, ‘not to think about it’, Audrey opened her eyes to see that he was looking at her, his eyes and grin, playful. Audrey smiled, how could she not? He was just so cute, and sweet! Frosting lined his lips and crumbs were all over his shirt. Even with the desire to lick every morsel of frosting off his succulent lips, Audrey found a way to say, “It’s basically the best show ever.”
Tate nodded, “Is it? How is that?”
“Simple,” Audrey said, “You follow four sets of bidders at this storage auction through the mission of finding the perfect storage locker. It’s amazing, each bidder is hilarious and I just love it. You will too, I know it.”
Tate laughed, “How do you know?”
“I just do,” she said pushing into him with her shoulder. It wasn’t planned and once she did it, Audrey regretted it. Her whole body sizzled from that simple touch and with one look into his lust filled eyes; she could tell his had too. What the hell was wrong with her? There needed to be rules when it came to him.
One being, no touching!
“Let’s watch the show,” Audrey groaned, leaning back against the couch and munching on popcorn. Tate leaned back also, his hand reaching over into the bowl as they watched. Nothing was said, only giggles and the occasional, ‘No way’, when the bidders on the show would find something amazing. Audrey provided what she thought was fantastic commentary; Tate would laugh and joke around with her. It was so easy and stress free to hang out with him. They didn’t talk about anything important; they didn’t discuss the past, nothing. They just enjoyed each other’s company, and the show.
Four hours later, they were done with all the shows Audrey had saved, and she found herself right back in the lusting boat she was in before. Tate glanced over at her, and smiled.
“So you were right, I like that show.”
Audrey smiled, “Told you. It’s amazing. Tomorrow I’m watching Swamp People. Another favorite.”
“Swamp People?”
“Its fantastic. Alligators and bayou talking folks! It’s awesome. You gotta come over for that.”
Tate nodded, “I’ll be here.”
“Cool school,” she said tucking her knees under her chin.
Audrey watched as Tate took a long swig of his beer before he took in a deep breath. Looking over at her, he asked, “Tell me something.”
“Something?”
“Yeah, anything. I feel like we’ve just watched TV. I only know that you like reality TV, have a tendency to burn things and bake kick ass cupcakes. I know there is more to Audrey Parker.”
Audrey laughed, “There is.”
“Well, tell me something.”
Audrey went blank. Then she started laughing again, “You put me on the spot! You ask me something.”
Tate smiled, leaning his head against back of the couch while Audrey controlled her laughter. “What’s something no one knows about you?
Audrey put her finger to her lip, trying to think of what to tell him. The only thing no one knew was that she had the abortion, other than that, there wasn’t anything. “I don’t know. I’m really open.”
“There has to be something,” he said with a grin.
Audrey thought for another minute and then grinned, “Okay, it’s not something that no one knows but it’s a little weird and I always get weird looks when I do it.”
Tate sat up, his arms coming across his chest, “And that is?”
“I only eat green candy.”
Tate’s eyes got wide as if he was shocked about something. “What?”
“No really, I hate any other kind. Only green.”
“That’s so weird because I do the same thing,” Tate said with a laugh, “mine is orange though.”
“Not uh!” Audrey said with a snort.
Tate laughed, “Really.”
“That’s so funny,” Audrey said, still not able to stop laughing. Tate joined her, both holding their stomachs as they giggled and laughed. It was so easy to laugh with him, she liked that.
While Audrey still giggled, Tate said, “I like to sleep, a lot.”
Audrey looked over at him, confused, “Huh?”
“No one knows that, everyone thinks I’m always ready to go, but really, I could sleep for days.”
A smile tugged at Audrey’s lips, “Then why don’t you?”
“I don’t know. I try but sometimes it doesn’t work.”
“There’s pills for that.”
He chuckled, while he nodded, “Yeah. I don’t like pills.”
“Me neither,” Audrey agreed, “I also, love to sleep. I can be found at work passed out on my desk because I hate my job.”
“Still?” Tate asked.
Audrey nodded, “Still, I think I’ll always hate it.”
“Then quit.”
“Nah, my dad would flip and what would I do afterwards? I know customer service, it’s what I grew up doing,” Audrey said sadly, “I’ll probably be stuck there the rest of my life.”
Tate’s brow came together, “Why do something you don’t love?”
Audrey shrugged her shoulders, moving her hands up and down the silky fabric of her tights. “Cause my family loves it. Its kinda weird that I’m the only one who doesn’t love it, maybe I just need to wait it out, see if my love for it comes later.”