Page 33 of The Penalty Shot (Totally Pucked 5)

“Hi beautiful,” he says as he strides over to me and plants a kiss on my lips before dropping his duffle bag in the hallway.

“Hi. How was your trip?”

“Good. I missed the guys, and it was good to catch up and see everyone. Feels weird that we all used to live together, and now we’re all off doing different shit.”

Alex walks into the kitchen, backpack in tow. “Asher!”

Asher grins and offers him his fist, and they do their manshake, as it’s now been dubbed. “My dude. Your mom told you about today?”

He nods excitedly. “I can’t wait, I just looked up the artist, and he’s awesome. I’m excited. Can we go now?”

I glance down at my watch and see if we leave now, we’ll only be a few minutes early. We can walk around the other shops while we wait.

“Asher? Are you okay with leaving now?”

“Hell yeah, I’ll change and be right back.” Alex follows Asher into the hallway, and as I watch them go, a pang hits me directly in the chest. It feels so easy with Asher, to have him in our lives, doing things together. I’m trying desperately to push those feelings away and focus on the fact that he’s the perfect roommate. He picks up after himself, helps me cook dinner, and loves to hang out with Alex.

Roommates hang out, and that’s what we’re doing.

Just hanging out.

Or at least that’s what I keep trying to convince myself.

Chapter Twelve

Asher

When I heardthat JC Riviera was going to be doing an exhibit downtown, I knew I had to bring Alex. He’s such a talented kid, and he reminds me so much of myself when I was his age. I loved to read comics and watch the oldStar Warsmovies. Hell, I even had a damn bug collection, but I won’t be admitting that fact to anyone.

I love watching his eyes light up with inspiration from the things around him. It’s amazing.

All I wanted to do was help him continue his love for the arts. Plus, I had a couple days free of preseason practice, so I figured it would be the perfect time to spend time with both him and Auden.

“Nice shirt,” I say nodding to the vintage Marvel shirt he’s wearing. “Your mom told me you’re still having trouble with those punks again. That true?”

I wasn’t going to bring it up to him, but Auden told me she’s worried and he told her that he trusts me. That I’m one of his only friends. That shit hit me right in the chest.

We’re walking side by side after exiting the metro. Auden’s walking ahead, talking on the phone to MJ, so this is the perfect opportunity to bring it up.

His hands are shoved in his pockets as he walks, his eyes cast down at the ground. “They’re just assholes.”

I grin. “Hell yeah, they are. I’m sorry they’re still giving you trouble, but I am glad that you told your mom. You know you can always come to me, right?”

He nods. “They keep saying I’m poor, and I should go back to public school.”

My fists clench at my side, but I keep my cool and bite my tongue. Telling him to beat the shit out of the kids won’t help.

But…It does give me an idea.

“Hey, I was thinking…could I pick you up from school soon? Maybe when your mom is working, so you don’t have to take the bus?”

“You’d do that?”

“Of course. Only if you’re cool with it.”

Nodding enthusiastically, he gives me the first genuine smile of the day. “Yeah, sounds cool to me. Look, there it is!”

Up ahead is the Chicago Truborn. The art gallery that’s showing JC’s exhibit. It’s tucked into a shopping center, featuring large windows that open into the gallery.

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