Page 74 of The Penalty Shot (Totally Pucked 5)

Auden chose to explore the city for the day, and I’m so damn glad she did. We spent the day walking around hand in hand in Manhattan, as she excitedly took in the attractions and shops. Visited a vintage book store. Picked up a few comics for Alex. I’d give anything to keep her this happy, this carefree.

Any-fucking-thing.

Her smile is so bright, it hits me squarely in the chest. I made a few calls before we left, while she got dressed and curled her hair for what I have planned for this evening. I wanted our last night in New York to be memorable; therefore, I pulled out all the stops.

“This is us,” I say, gesturing to the blanket spread out on the ground with a woven wicker basket in the middle of Central Park. The sun will be setting soon, and we’ve got a front-row view.

“Oh Asher,” she breathes, covering her mouth, “a picnic? In Central Park?”

My fingers lace with hers, and I bring her hand to my lips and place a soft kiss against her delicate skin. “I wanted our last night to just be you and me.”

“This is the…most romantic thing I’ve ever seen.” She pulls my hands toward the blanket, and we take a seat on the soft fabric. The pale blue sundress she’s wearing makes her skin look even more porcelain, and my chest lurches.

I’m fucking nervous, but it doesn’t stop me, not from what I know I have to do. I have to be honest with her, even if it terrifies me.

Auden pulls out the various things inside the basket. There’s cheese, meats, crackers, and a bottle of wine with two glasses.

Taking the chilled bottle from her, I uncork it and pour two glasses, handing one to her.

“When you think of the future… what do you see?”

Her gaze meets mine, her brow furrowing adorably as she thinks about my question. She’s silent for a moment, her eyes searching mind then drifting to the Central Park view. “Happiness. I hope.” She drags her blue eyes back to mine, “I just want to be happy. I want to be a happier version of who I’ve been. I want to be kinder to myself and give myself more grace. I want Alex to follow his dreams without hesitation, and maybe one day I think I’d like to go to nursing school, and work with new mothers.”

Auden would be an incredible nurse. She’s patient, compassionate, attentive. Her heart is so big and she has so much love to give everyone.

“You’d be an amazing nurse, baby. Why don’t you enroll?”

She hesitates, opening her mouth to speak then promptly closing it, glancing down at the wine glass in her hands, “I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. I want to see how I could possibly make it work. What about you… what do you see when you think of the future?"

Easy.

“You and Alex.”

Her eyes widen, and I see her throat bob. I lean forward, grasping her chin in my fingers, our eyes locked. I need her eyes on mine to say what I have to say, “Auden, I’m in love with you.”

Her hand flies to her mouth, covering the gasp that flies from her lips. I can’t read her expression, but I also can’t stop. I have to be honest with her, and after this weekend, I can’t wait another fucking second to tell her how I feel. To hopefully make her mine. To make them both mine.

“Asher…” she says quietly, but I stop her.

“Please, baby, let me get this out. I have to.”

She nods, and I continue, “I know you might not be ready for this, and I hope you know me well enough by now to know that I will always respect your boundaries and never pressure you for anything. But, one thing I will never do is keep anything from you. That’s not who I am, and you deserve honesty. I know we said we would keep things casual, but the truth is that I can’t be casual with how I feel about you.”

I set the wine down and bring my other hand to her jaw, cradling her with both hands as I whisper the most important words I’ve ever said, “I’m in love with you, Auden. And even if you don’t feel the same, I have to tell you. I have to make sure you know that I am all in. I want you, I want this. I think maybe I’ve been in love with you since the moment I saw you. I’m not sure exactly when it was, I just know that a part of me has fallen in love with you every single second since that moment.”

While I speak, I see tears fall from her eyes, her hand muffling the sound of her quiet cries. Gently, I swipe the wetness from her cheeks and continue, “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, without question. But your real beauty is what’s in there.” I gesture toward her chest. “Your heart is pure. You are selfless and compassionate to everyone you meet. You’re true to who you are. You’re everything that I want, Auden. But more than that, I want you and Alex to be mine. I know that he’s the most important thing to you and I’m telling you, baby, I love you both with every piece of me. I will treat you with love and respect, and there will never be a moment where you have to doubt or question how I feel about you.”

I drop my forehead to hers, closing my eyes as I whisper,“I know it’s scary, baby, but I’m asking you to jump with me and trust me when I say that I will never hurt you and that I will love you and your son unconditionally.”

She sobs when I finish speaking, a strangled cry leaving her mouth as she pulls back and then launches herself at me, her arms flying around my neck. I laugh, as my back hits the blanket, and she’s on top of me, her lips hovering over mine.

It’s the boldest thing I think she’s ever done, and it makes my chest bloom with pride. That’s my fucking girl.

“I am afraid, Asher. But I’m more afraid of not loving you. I love you Asher Hart, and I wish I had realized it sooner.”

Fuck. Jesus. I’m so fucking happy to hear it, I could cry.

“We doing this, Killer? Are we going all in?”

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