Gongshow

Audrey frowned, seeing she had a voicemail from Sam. She pressed one and waited for it to begin.

He took a deep breath. "I know I messed us all up." He began. "I know that you've moved on and I've lost my shot. And I can't explain how hard it is to have no one to run to because I can't run to you."

"I don't want you to think any of this was your fault. I shouldn't have tried to blame you for me being oblivious to your feelings, and to my own." He explained. "I'll totally understand if you don't even listen to this message. You don't owe me any of your time. I don't expect anything from you."

"I just want you to know that you're the best thing that's happened to me in the last three months. I didn't think I'd find someone I care about so much. I never imagined finding a girl that makes me so happy, that I feel so comfortable around." He sighed. "Maybe that's why I was so clueless. I always thought that you were nervous and clumsy and tripping over your words with the person you belong with. But that must be wrong because I've never felt more like myself with anyone but you. "

The message ended and Audrey was sobbing. She missed him more than anything. She threw her phone, then wiped her face. As she looked up, she caught her dad in the doorway. He heard the entire message. She had put it on speaker. He frowned before walking over to her. He pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry." She sobbed into his chest.

"For what, baby?" He stroked her hair.

"You told me not to fall for one of your players and I did. I fell really hard." She cried.

"Audrey, it's okay. I can see how much you care about him. And he really cares about you, whoever he is." Dustin spoke.

"Sam."

"Bennett?" She shook her head. "I thought Reinhart was an asshole? "

"Because he went out with another girl." She took a shaky breath. "But he's a really good guy and I really like him, dad."

“Okay, so what happened? He seems to like you too.” Dustin quizzed.

She took a deep breath. “Promise you won’t get mad?” He nodded. “Brendan was at the tournament and I guess Sam got upset because I never mentioned Brendan, but Brendan never came to mind. I didn’t even think it was important to tell Sam. So then he came over and watched the boys and Kenz while I did my essay, and he came up to check on me and I cried and he cuddled me so I guess I assumed he liked me.”

“Why would any of that make me mad?” He chuckled.

“Just wait.” She warned. “So the next day, I guess the guys were teasing him about me so he went on a date with another girl. I saw and got upset, obviously.”

“Yeah, obviously.” He mocked. She glared at him. “That’s why you didn’t wanna go to the team party.”

She nodded. “And then I spent that night trying to get at Jamie because I was convinced it would make Sam want me.”

“Jamie? My assistant coach, Jamie? Jamie Benn?” Dustin repeated.

“You said you wouldn’t get mad!” She yelled. He took a deep breath. “I guess Griffin got mad at Sam for what he did to me, but I still wasn’t feeling any better so I started seeing Nick to get back at Sam.”

“My captain?”

“Dad!” She yelped. “It was like a week long and his brother scared me off.”

“That was always James’s specialty.” He chuckled.

“But before that, I went over to talk to Sam and he still couldn’t grasp my feelings for him, so I got even more upset. Then I came home from going to Nick’s house to have dinner with his family, Sam was out front and he told me he likes me back and I got mad again because he seems to be convinced that I want Nathan, but Nathan wants me!”

“Nathan’s odd.” Dustin mentioned.

“Yeah.” Audrey nodded. “And then he left me that message and now I’m more confused and sad.”

“Go to grandma’s for the weekend. You can figure it out while you’re away from everything.” He hugged his daughter.

So off she went. Audrey took a bag for the weekend and drove to her old city to stay with her grandparents. Dustin’s heart hurt for his little girl. He had never seen her so upset about anything. She had lost plenty of people in the moves they had gone through, but never had she been as upset as she was when she heard the message from Sam.

Dustin was pulled by his thoughts by his dog barking like crazy. He heard another dog barking as well. Grubber and Mojo seemed to be arguing. He called for Grubber who completely ignored him. He sighed and walked over to his dog. He heard someone calling Grubber’s name. That’s when he realized that someone was taunting his dog. He poked his head over the fence.

Griffin and Sam were playing with their dog, while teasing his.

“Little Reinhart!” He called. Both jumped. “I need to talk to you about my daughter.”

“Good luck.” Griffin whispered to Sam before running inside with Mojo.

Sam walked over to the fence. He was scared.

“So, Audrey really likes you.” Dustin dove right in.

“I’m really sorry.” Sam frowned.

“I give you my blessing.” Dustin chimed.

“What?” Sam furrowed his brows. “I’m confu,”

“I just witnessed her crying over the voicemail you left her. It’s clear to me that you care about her and she cares about you, so you have my permission.” Dustin explained. “You’re a good kid, and I can keep my eye on you.”

“Thank you, so much.” Sam smiled. “Is she home right now? Could I come talk to her?”

Dustin shook his head. “She just left for the weekend. Talk to her after the game Monday.”

“I definitely will.” Sam nodded.

“Don’t make me or her regret this, Reinhart.” Dustin warned.

Notes