Page 66 of The Penalty Shot (Totally Pucked 5)

For the rest of the ride to the airport, Asher holds my hand tightly in his, resting them on my thigh. His thumb rubs reassuring circles, and slowly, my anxiousness eases.

Especially after I get a text from Alex with a photo of him grinning ear to ear with his classmates. He’s fine. Everything’s fine.

We pull into the airport parking lot, taking a spot in overnight parking. Asher grabs our bags from the back seat, before taking my hand again. Before walking through the airport, he pulls a ball cap out of his back pocket and puts it on his head, pulling it down over his face.

Sometimes I forget that he’s a professional athlete, and that he has fans all over the world. When it’s just us at home, it doesn’t feel that way. It’s just…us.

He offers me a quick wink and guides me inside. I haven’t been in Chicago O’Hare since I was a kid, visiting my aunt, and it seems to have tripled in size since then.

“Wow,” I breathe, taking in the skylights and tall ceilings as we enter the building, “I don’t remember it being so massive.”

We quickly go through security, well as quickly as going through security can be at a busy airport, and then Asher looks at me, my hand clasped tightly in his. “Our gate’s just right there.” He gestures toward a nearby gate. Once we reach it, he pulls our tickets out of his back pocket then hands me one.

My eyes scan the ticket and pause on the destination: New York City.

I whip my head up to glance at him. “We’re going toNew York?”

He nods. “We are. My second favorite place besides home.”

Squealing, I launch myself into his arms, throwing my arms around his neck. His laugh echoes around us as he picks me up, giving me a small spin.

“I take it this means you're happy?”

“I’ve always wanted to visit New York, but have never been able to. Asher…I can’t believe you planned all this and kept it a secret. Alex wouldn’t even budge when I tried to bribe him with his favorite ice cream.”

Then it dawns on me, Alex knows how much I love New York. We’ve always talked about the time when I would have enough money saved, so we could go on a spontaneous trip. My heart thrashes wildly in my chest.

“Did…did you talk to Alex about this?”

For a moment, he holds my stare, his arms tight around my back, and says nothing, simply breathes me in.

“Maybe.”

Tears prick behind my eyes before I can stop them. No one has ever done anything like this for me.Ever.Emotion clogs my throat, affecting my ability to get the words out.

“Thank you. I- I…This means so much to me. I can’t believe you did this Asher. I can’t wait to spend the weekend with you here.”

Asher leans forward and presses his lips against mine in a kiss that I feel all the way to my toes. His lips are gentle, yet demanding, and suddenly, it turns hungry.

“All I want is to make you happy, Auden. You and Alex both.”

“Now boarding flight B552 to JFK-New York City.” The loudspeaker booms, startling us both.

“Me and you. This weekend. Let me show you the city, the way it should be seen, Aud.”

I nod and follow behind him through our gate. Everything with Asher feels…easy. Like it should always be this way.

New York City from fifteen thousand feet above is truly indescribable. Asher gave me the window seat, and the entire two-and-a-half-hour flight, I was anxiously and excitedly glancing out of the window until the city below came into view. I could hardly sit still. My eyes flitted over the massive skyscrapers that lined the sky, and the hundreds of streets that I was itching to explore. I could see the Manhattan River, and when the Statue of Liberty came into view, I gasped out loud, causing Asher to laugh and pull me in for a kiss.

When we finally landed and were cleared to deboard, Asher grabbed our bags from above us and then took my hand, only letting go when we were finally through the airport.

“I can’t believe I’m in New York,” I say, glancing at Asher. He’s already staring at me with the corners of his lips lifted up. He pulls me against his side and kisses the top of my head.

“I ordered a car, and he should already be out here, so we can head to the hotel and put our stuff away.”

“Sounds perfect.”

I stay tucked against his side as he checks his phone, watching as everyone hurries along with their suitcases. My aunt always used to say that New York was full of people in a hurry to go nowhere, and I giggle when I think of that as I watch people hurry just to stand on the sidewalk.

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