Page 85 of The Penalty Shot (Totally Pucked 5)

Alex nods, closing the paperback on his lap. He reaches out to pet Groot who nuzzles into his touch. Hell, I’m glad he’s here to comfort Alex. He’s exactly what Alex needs.

“Did your mom come by?”

“Yeah, for a second, she checked on me and told me she was sorry for the fight with those people and that she needed a little time in her room. But she was crying, Ash, and it made me soangry.”

I nod. “Makes me angry too, kid. I’m sorry that you had to listen to that. I know your mom didn’t want that, but they showed up here unannounced.”

“I know. I’m pretty smart for an eight-year-old.” His eyes drift down to Groot as he pets him. “I can’t believe that those are her parents. My…grandparents.”

My heart tugs. Fuck.

I’m not sure how to handle this… this kid just met his grandparents for the first time in this horrible fucking confrontation that left his mom crying. I don’t even know what to say that will help, but I know he needs to know he’s safe and that I’m here.

Walking over, I sit across from him and rest my forearms on my knees. “You are a smart kid, hell, sometimes I think you’re smarter than I am.”My lips tug up into a grin when he laughs.

He nods. “I wish they didn’t make my mom cry. It makes me angry, and sad. I—I just never want to see those people ever again.”

“I know kid. You have every right to feel that way.” I tell him. “I think that you’ve probably figured out that sometimes people’s best intentions can still hurt others, and sometimes people don’t have the best intentions to begin with. You’ll find a lot of those situations in life, but how you respond defines whoyouare. Their actions define them.”

Alex looks contemplative about what I’ve said, and I give him the space to process his feelings. I can’t imagine what he’s feeling right now.

When he looks back up at me, his expression is grim, “They don’t deserve me or my mom. I’m glad they’re gone.”

“I’m here for you kid, always. And I’m not going anywhere. Instead of just saying it, I’m going to let my actions speak for me. I think that’s what matters.” I pause, standing from the floor, “I want to go check on your mom, but if you need me, you know where to find me.”

Alex pushes his glasses up on his nose and nods. “Thanks, Asher. For…for being here and for not leaving us.”

“You got it, kid.”

I turn toward the door, and as my hand hits the knob, Alex calls my name.

“Hey, Asher?”

“Yeah?” Twisting to face him, our gazes lock and his eyes are watery, staring back at me, then suddenly, he’s slamming into me, his small arms circling my waist as he presses his head against my stomach.

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to us.”

He tightens his arms around my waist, and fuck…I feel my own eyes welling.

For a second, I can’t speak as emotion clogs my throat. I’m overwhelmed with happiness. Pride.

Clearing my throat, I hug him back. “You and your mom are the best thing to ever happen tome,Alex.”

By the time he lets go, my heart is in my stomach. Part of me can’t believe that I’ve gotten this lucky. Thatthey’remine. And the other part of me vows to never take it for granted.

Even though I hated to, I spent the night in my old room, a wall separating Auden and me.

When I tried the door last night, it was locked and I could hear her muffled crying. I knocked, and tried to talk to her through the door, but she didn’t answer. I feel like she’s pushing me away because she’s shutting down, and I just want to go to her and tell her it’s going to be okay. I fucking hated not being able to hold her. I laid awake for the rest of the night, staring at the ceiling for hours, because sleep never came. I couldn’t, not when I knew Auden was hurting.

I gave up when the sun began to rise, opting for a pot of black coffee, rather than wasting any more time staring at a water spot on the ceiling. When I walk into the kitchen, I find Auden already at the kitchen table, her hands wrapped around a mug of coffee.

Her eyes lock with mine, and her lower lip trembles slightly, hitting me directly in the chest.

“Baby,” I whisper, walking over and pulling her into my arms. She sinks into my embrace, grasping at my shirt as she cries. Her shoulders shake as I hold her to me.

“I’m ss-so sorry, Asher,” she cries. Her voice tight with emotion that bleeds out into her words.

I pull back, taking her chin between my fingers as I shake my head, “You have nothing to apologize for, Auden, not a damn thing. I will always respect when you ask for space.”

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