Page 46 of The Penalty Shot (Totally Pucked 5)

Her father looks around the apartment, a sneer on his lips, with his hands shoved deep in his pockets before taking a seat on the worn sofa.

“So, is this the new stranger that you’ve moved in with your child?” Her mother says, dragging her manicured finger along the foyer table as if she’s looking for dust. She scrunches her nose when she glances down at it.

Part of me believes I should give Auden space to handle this, but the other part of me, the protective beast, wants to throw them both out on their asses. I can’t leave her alone; she’s still white as a sheet.

“Mama, Daddy, this is Asher. He was my neighbor, and he’s now my roommate.”

Against my better judgment, I hold my hand out for him to shake, and he glances down at it like he’d rather swallow glass. Her father finally flicks his eyes at me and nods, but doesn’t offer his hand, and that’s when I decide…Fuck him. You call yourself a man, and you can’t even shake my hand.

Not that I ever thought this motherfucker was a man after he kicked out his teenage daughter and left her on the fucking street with a newborn. I’ll never forgive him for hurting her that way, and I’ll never forget it.

The dude is number one on my shitlist, and her mother is a close number two.

I drop my hand and walk over to Auden, standing close. If she needs me, I’ll be here for her to lean on.

“Charmed, I’m sure,” her mother says, still not meeting my eyes. Her gaze travels down my arms, at the ink, and then she finally looks at Auden. “We’re here to discuss your father’s upcoming campaign. I’m sure as you’ve probably seen, your father is going to be running for governor of Michigan.”

Can’t say I did, but, of course, they’d think that. Pretty sure Auden does whatever the fuck she can to avoid thinking of her parents at all, and after meeting them, I can’t say I blame her.

“I didn’t know that but congratulations, Daddy.”

Even with how they treat her, her words are sincere, and for a moment, I’m in awe of her and how, even though she’s been treated horribly, she still finds it in her heart to be kind. Earnest.

“So, I’m sure you know how imperative it is for a united front. We don't want the media getting word of your little…situation.”

“My son isnota situation, Mama. Please do not speak that way about him again.”

Her mother’s eyes roll and she lets out a frustrated huff. “Don’t be dramatic Auden. I’m not saying that he is thesituation. This campaign will be highly publicized and we won’t be able to hide your indiscretions from the press like we have in the past. I’m simply saying that instead of letting the media spin this in any negative light, maybe we should get ahead of it and give them the story they’ll be looking for- how the foundation of your father’s platform are family values. We need to get ahead of the issue and play it to our favor before someone else catches on. You know about how our grandson is the future of our family, blah blah.”

Wow, of all the things I expected this woman to say, that wasn’t it. The fucking balls on her. Bigger than any man I’ve ever met.

“We take the problem, and we fix it,” her father says, referring to Alex as a fucking problem. My blood boils. For a moment, I see red.

I’m not an impulsive guy. It truly takes a lot to anger me, especially to the point where I’m ready to act on that anger, but right now? Fuck this.

“Do not call him a problem.”

Auden whips her head to mine, and there are fresh tears in her eyes. Not only do they fucking show up here unannounced, but they belittle her and make her feel like shit while calling her son a problem. Oh, and want to use their own flesh and blood for their own personal gain, after kicking her out on her ass as a child.

Fuck him.

Fuck both of them.

“You can stay out of this; this has nothing to do with you. This is between my daughter and her parents.” Her father grunts, turning to face me while he points his fucking finger in my face like I’m a child.

“Asher.” She pleads with me, using only her eyes and the tears reflecting in them, so I take a deep breath and cross my arms over my chest.

“Mama, Daddy, I’m sor-r-y, but you can’t come into my home and disrespect me or Alex like this. Please do not speak about my son that way. If you continue to do so, then you have to leave.”

Her mother looks flabbergasted, like she can’t actually believe that Auden spoke to her this way. And hell, I’m proud.

That’s it, baby. Stand up to them. Don’t let them do this shit to you. Take your power back.

I stand back and watch silently as the three of them face off.

“You’re being combative, Auden. You need to get onboard and cooperate with what we need from you. Why can’t you, for once, think of your family and do the right thing?”

Auden’s jaw drops, and I see her small hands fist at her side as anger courses through her. “My family? Oh, you mean the two of you? Mama, you can’t possibly be this delusional?” Her mother gasps, but Auden doesn’t stop, she just continues, the words spewing from her mouth. “You abandoned me. When I needed you the most, you left me. You know what? I want you to leave. Pleas-se.” She points to the door with a shaking finger.

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