Page 82 of The Penalty Shot (Totally Pucked 5)

I mean I guess it is pretty serendipitous that his name is from some of our favorite movies…

“If you think Groot’s our guy, then let's do it.”

“Yes!” Alex punches the air and twists to face Emilie. “We’ll take him.”

Emilie herself looks excited at our choice, and her wide smile shows it. “I think he’s the best choice. I’m really going to miss having him around with us, but I know you guys are going to take great care of him.” She looks over at Groot and squats down in front of the cage, opening the handle. He immediately comes to her, and she hooks the leash to his plain black collar.

“Groot!” Alex says, wrapping his little arms around his neck. The dog immediately begins to lick his face in earnest, making him giggle.

I love that sound. His laugh. I’d do anything in the world for my family and it’s moments like this that make my heart fucking soar. The small moments of joy we find together.

“Alright, we just have a little bit of paperwork to go over, including his vet records and his microchip and then he’s all yours,” Emilie says to Auden and me.

Good luck trying to pull Alex away from his new dog.

“I’ll stay behind with Alex and Groot while you handle the paperwork,” I tell Auden, pressing my lips to her forehead.

“Okay, be right back.”

Once she and Emilie disappear down the hallway through the double doors, I take a seat in the plastic chair across from Groot’s kennel. When I do, he walks over and presses his cold nose against my hand, nudging it as if to tell me to pet him, which, of course, I do because he’s cute as hell.

My childhood dreams have been unlocked, and even though I’m calm and collected on the outside, I'm just as excited as Alex is.

“Think we made the right choice, kid?” I ask Alex.

He drops to his knees beside us, running his hands through Groot's fur, a gleeful smile on his lips. “I think he was the only choice, Ash. I didn’t even need to see another dog, because I could feel it. This is the one we needed.”

The kid is so wise for his age; it shocks me sometimes. To be so confident in his thoughts and feelings with so much left of the world to see. I think it’s a testament to what a great mother Auden is, and only proves that she raised an incredible kid.

One I’m lucky to know and love.

“I think so too. I think that sometimes life has a way of leading us exactly where we're meant to be, even if it’s not on the map. The beaten path.”

Alex nods. “He was meant to be a part of our family.”

Our family.

It’s the first time he’s ever referred to us as a family, and fuck, if I don’t feel my chest tighten. I didn't know how deeply those words would affect me. I never knew how badly I wanted a family, until Auden and Alex walked into my life.

I never knew this was the future I wanted, until now.

“Ready?” Auden strolls up, folder in hand, starling me from my thoughts.

“More than ever.”

Groot sleeps the entire ride back to our apartment, his head wedged on the arm rest between us while Auden petshis head and whispers something about him being the “goodest boy.” I grin the entire way home at her sudden use of baby talk, and because, instead of a family of three, we’re returning home as a family of four.

Alex bounds out of the car with Groot’s leash in hand, and Auden and I try to keep up as we go up to our apartment hand in hand. I’m so fucking happy. But when I see who’s standing at our door, the happiness I was just feeling fades.

Chapter Twenty Six

Auden

“Mama? Daddy?”I whisper, my chest seizing with anxiousness. Why are they here? I said everything that I had to say when I left her in that restaurant.

There’snothingelse to say. Now I want to move on with my life, and no longer let this hurt bring me down. I made it clear they weren’t to come here again. But I guess, as most things do when I speak, it went in one ear and out the other.

“Really, Auden?” my father seethes. His face is beet red as he tugs at the deep burgundy tie around his neck as if it’s too tight. “We’ve been out here for thirty minutes.”

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