Not his best look.
When Elli Adler turned the corner, he didn’t know if it was he or Shelli, who squealed in delight. Elli’s face broke out in a large grin as she looked from her beautiful baby girls to Tate.
“Why do you have Shelli? Where’s Audrey?”
Tate moved his head towards the door, “In there, she-”
“Oh no! Did one of the kids puke on her!?”
“No, but could you-”
Before Tate could even finish his sentence, Elli entered the bathroom leaving Tate with Shelli and Posey. He glanced down at Posey just in time to see her puke all over his cardigan.
Wonderful.
“Ew! Baby Posey icky on you!” Shelli giggled.
Even with ‘icky’ all over him, Tate couldn’t help but laugh.
***
“Audrey?”
Audrey glanced up from the sink when she heard knocking on the door. She recognized the voice as belonging to Elli, so she quickly splashed water on her face, hoping to wipe away any sign of tears. With another knock at the door, Audrey took in a shuddered breath.
“Yeah?”
“Hey, are you okay? Did the kids get you? Little spewers! I gotta change 15 times a day!” Elli laughed. Audrey unlocked the door, so that Elli could come in.
With a smile, Audrey said, “You don’t know how lucky you are, spewers and all.”
With one look in Elli’s eyes, Audrey knew her ploy to wipe away the tears didn’t work. Taking Audrey’s hands, Elli said, “What wrong?”
Audrey shook her head, begging her tears not to fall.
“I know something is wrong, what is it?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Audrey, let me be your Fallon. Tell me what’s wrong, let me help you.”
Elli was such a good person, so caring and loving. How could Audrey not want to open up to her and spill all her drama to her? Shrugging her shoulders, she said, “I’m so tired of caring so much about someone who doesn’t care about me.”
Elli looked confused as she said, “Ok, what happened to make you feel that way?”
“My ex. He always told me I’m fat, but the girl he just showed up with at your party is twice my size.”
Elli grimaced as she looked away, “Yeah that sucks.”
“Basically,” Audrey said choking back the tears, “what made her better? I was so good to him. It just isn’t fair.”
When Elli looked up into Audrey’s eyes with compassion, Audrey allowed a tear to fall. Elli asked, “Saying that you are better than that, and that you don’t deserve that would be pointless huh?”
Audrey nodded.
“Yeah, I figured it would be.”
They stood for a moment, no one saying anything. Audrey felt more tears falling down her face and she became so disgusted with herself that she wanted to find a hole and hide in it for the rest of her life. Not only was she upset about Levi bringing Janet to the party, she hated how much she let him affect her. Like Elli said, she didn’t deserve this. So why did she let it bother her?
Why couldn’t she have it like Elli? That perfect man who wants you no matter what?
“How’d you do it?” Audrey whispered. She didn’t even know what she said was audible until Elli looked up and smiled.
“Do what?”
Audrey shrugged her shoulders, tears running down her cheeks, “Get so lucky to find such a fantastic man.”
Elli smiled remained as a dreamy look came over her face. “I didn’t find Shea, he found me,” she declared. She brought Audrey to the couch, sitting down before she continued. “I used to crush over his sexy captain butt for years, then all of a sudden he was crushing on me and I don’t know why.”
“Because you’re amazing,” Audrey supplied.
Elli nodded, “I have come to realize and accept that now, but I didn’t back then. It drove him insane, hell, it almost drove us apart.”
“I couldn’t imagine y’all not together.”
“Me neither, but Audrey you gotta believe that you are good enough for Prince Charming to sweep you way.”
“I do believe it,” Audrey said, “I just can’t find him.”
“I don’t think you do believe that you are worthy. I think you are settling for less than you deserve and need to wait for the grand prize. Stop messing with these idiots and find a man who will love you for the amazing girl you are.”
Audrey nodded, “I’m trying.”
Elli smiled, “Then he’ll come, and when he does, you’ll wonder how you went on without him.” She looked down at her growing belly before looking back up at Audrey, “Shea is the best thing that ever happened to me. His love has made me the strong confident woman who is in front of you. Not only does he love me but also my rapidly growing waist line. He is the best father imaginable. I knew he would be with just one glimpse of him with his niece and nephew.”
With those words, Tate came to mind. Audrey wanted to shake the thought away but it didn’t go anywhere. Pictures of Tate playing with Aiden and then holding Posey played front and center in Audrey’s mind. He would be the best father ever.
To someone else’s kids.
“Your person is out there Audrey, don’t give up and don’t settle for crap,” Elli said bringing Audrey’s attention back to her.
Audrey slowly nodded, knowing that Elli was right.
“Now come on, Tate is holding my babies and we have a party to get too.”