Page 76 of The Penalty Shot (Totally Pucked 5)

“Hey, kiddo, can we talk to you for a second?”

Alex glances back at us, and furrows his brow. “Is something going on?”

“Come sit,” I say, gesturing to the seat next to Asher. “Just wanted to talk to you about something.”

He looks even more confused, but walks over and takes a seat at the kitchen table.

I can’t help but glance at Asher, who nods his head, offering me a small smile.

“So, uh…you know it’s just been you and me for a long time, kiddo. Well, it’salwaysjust been us. And it’s how I’ve always wanted it. You’re the most important thing to me Alex, no matter what. I just…” Pausing, I hold Alex’s eyes as he nods. “What would you think if suddenly it wasn’t just you and me anymore, and that-t…” I trail off, glancing at Asher, before I tamp down my nerves and look back to Alex. “What if Asher was a permanent part of our lives, as my…boyfriend?”

There’s no rule book, no guide on how to be a single mother, and definitely nothing that would tell me how to handle this situation, so I’m holding my breath and hoping for the best.

“So, you and Asher are boyfriend and girlfriend?” he asks, pushing his glasses up farther on his nose, glancing back and forth between the two of us.

“Yes. I really care about him, Alex, and I know that you really like him too. You're a priority to both of us, so we both just wanted to sit you down and discuss this with you. Nothing will change between us. I’m your mama first, always, but Asher wants to be here for you too.”

Alex nods, staying silent for a moment, before he shrugs and says, “that would be cool.”

My heart pounds in rhythm with my breathing. Oh God.

“Really?”

“Yeah, Ash is my best friend, and if he makes you happy, Mom, then that’s all that matters to me.” He smiles as he pushes his glasses up one more time.

My sweet, wise boy. There are moments that have happened in my life, where I’ve questioned everything around me. Whether I was making the right choices, whether the decisions that I made were the best for my son and me. Whether taking the road less traveled would lead us to where we needed to be.

And right now…I feel like it all led us here. To Asher. Even when I questioned it, even when it was hard.

“He makes me very happy, baby, and all I want is for you to be happy too.”

My gaze shifts to Asher, and I see happiness shining in his eyes, the same as mine.

I’m fighting back tears as we speak, because my heart is bursting with emotion. I reach over and grab Alex’s hand, squeezing it in mine while Asher looks at the two of us with so much love that I want to cry.

It’s palpable. For the first time in my life, I feel love the way I always should’ve known it.

“Since you two are dating now,” he scrunches his nose like the thought is gross, “does that mean you’ll share a room?”

Panic seizes my throat. Crap. “Uh…well, I think so, would that…Bother you?

He turns to Asher. “No, I was just thinking we could get an Xbox and a huge tv in Asher’s old room and make it our man cave.”

A laugh bubbles out of me as my nerves recede. God, I am not good at conversations like these.

“If your mom’s cool with it, that would be cool with me,” Asher adds.

“How about we make decisions like that later?” I say on a laugh. “This is all very new, for all of us.”

Alex nods. “Okay.”

“Hey, Aud, could I talk to Alex alone for a minute?” Asher says.

“Of course. I’m going to go fold some laundry.” I rise from the chair and walk over to Alex, wrapping my arms tightly around him, bringing my lips to the top of his head. “I love you, kiddo. Always.”

“Love you too, Mom.”

ASHER

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