Page 14 of The Penalty Shot (Totally Pucked 5)

I’m glad me being here didn’t disrupt anything. I run my hand through my hair, trying to fully wake up when Auden comes to stand in front of me, a steaming cup of coffee in hand. She’s fresh faced, and her hair is covering the marks on her neck. Good thing because just thinking about it makes me enraged, and it’s too fucking early.

“Thank you again for last night. I appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”

She hands me the hot coffee and smiles the first genuine smile I’ve seen since the night she brought over cookies. One that reaches her eyes.

“Stop apologizing for needing and accepting help, Auden, it’s nothing. I want you both to be safe, and not have to worry about that asshole ever again. I’m going to head back to the apartment in a bit then head to my workout, once we’re done, Hudson and I will pack up all his stuff.”

“Thank you.” Relief floods her face, and she glances at her watch. “I’ll leave you my key on the table. Crap, Alex, we’re going to be late, let’s go, bud. Do you have your science project?”

“Mhm,” he mumbles with a mouthful of cereal.

“Let’s go. Grab a bar for the ride. C’mon.”

I stand from her couch and stretch, trying to unkink all of the jammed-up muscles in my back. This workout is going to be fucking vicious with me being so cramped up. I don’t miss the way her eyes seem to drag over my chest and lower until she clears her throat and averts her gaze.

So fucking sweet and shy, my hands itch to dirty her up. Even just a little.

Once I’m back in my apartment, I make a quick smoothie and grab my work out bag then head to the arena. Just as I expected, practice is fucking grueling. I’m exhausted, pushing my body to the limit today, but I’d do anything to keep both of them safe, even if it means sacrificing sleep and comfort.

Hudson catches me as I’m headed out of the locker room after a much needed shower.

“Got your text late last night. What the hell happened?” he asks. He looks as tired as I feel today. There are dark bags under his eyes, and his shoulders are hunched.

“Rough night?”

“Yeah, something like that. Ready to get back into a routine, these sleepless nights and working on house shit has me exhausted.”

I nod. Together, we walk to my truck and I toss my bag in the back seat before turning back toward him. “Auden’s roommate assaulted her last night. Alex, her son, texted me when he realized what was happening, and I went over there then he fucking hit me, so I knocked him the fuck out.”

Hudson laughs. “No shit?”

“No shit. I spent the night on her tiny ass couch after they arrested his ass, and I told her today that we’d throw all his shit in boxes. I’m going to drop it off at the police station and have management change the locks.”

He sucks in a breath and transfers his practice bag to the other shoulder. “Damn, you’re swooping in and saving the day, huh?”

“Fuck yeah. I just…I can’t let her and Alex stay there and it not be safe. I’m not going to.”

“I get it. I wouldn’t either. I have lunch with my sister and parents later, but after, I’m all yours.”

“Thanks,” I open my truck door and slide inside, turning the key in the ignition, “I owe you one.”

“Drinks on you next time, top shelf shit,” he calls over his shoulder as he walks to his truck.

Before I pull out of the parking lot, my phone vibrates, and I glance down, seeingKILLERflash across the screen.

Killer: I spoke with the office and they’re going to change the locks and leave me a key. I’m headed home now… rough day. Thanks again for everything, Asher.

Me: Anytime, Killer. I mean it.

And I did. Auden could ask for anything and somehow I would make it happen, and I think that’s the first indication about how fucked I am.

Chapter Six

Auden

This might possibly bethe worst week of my life. I’m pretty sure I’ve cried all the tears that I can cry, and yet, every time I think that, another wave of them hits me full force, and I’m back to being a blubbering mess.

Simply put, I’mscrewed.

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