Chapter 189: Asher
Anna is telling this story about some old lady at the grocery store and I can’t stop watching Penny out of the corner of my eye
She’s glowing
Maybe it’s the soft lighting in this place, maybe it’s the second glass of wine and the beer she definitely wasn’t prepared for, but she’s necbed, zhroma eyes sparkling. And I’m just sitting here, completely wrecked by her.
Anna leans forward on her elbows, voice animated.
“So there I am,” she says, “standing in front of the produce section, and this sweet old woman–maybe eighty pounds soaking wet–grabs a cucumber and says, ‘Oh, the zucchinis look so fresh today!“”
Rooster is already grinning. “Uh–oh.”
Anna raises a finger. “I tried, okay? I said, ‘Ma’am, that’s a cucumber.‘ Very polite. Very kind. She smiles at me and says, ‘No, no dear, I know my zucchini.
Penny bursts out laughing, covering her mouth.
Anna keeps going. “Now I could’ve let it go. But no. I thought–what if she’s making zucchini bread or something? This is a disaster waiting to happen. So I go: ‘I swear to you, that’s a cucumber.“”
“I would’ve paid to see this,” I say, chuckling.
“She would not budge!” Anna throws her hands up. “Starts arguing. Tells me I clearly don’t cook much.”
Rooster is laughing so hard he almost spills his beer. Penny is giggling helplessly beside me, swaying a little, that damn perfect smile lighting up her whole face.
I rest my arm on the back of her chair. I don’t care who sees. I want her close.
“She walks away with it,” Anna finishes dramatically. “Clutching the cucumber like she won a prize. I couldn’t stop her. Somewhere right now, there’s a confused old lady trying to sauté cucumber slices.”
Rooster wipes his eyes. “You’re dangerous.”
Anna shrugs. “Someone has to stand up for produce.”
I glance at Penny. She’s leaning into me now, tipsy and light, her fingers idly tracing my arm without even realizing it.
I want to drag her out of here so bad. But she looks too happy. I’m not taking that away.
She catches me watching and whispers, “You’re gonna have to carry me home.”
I smirk. “Deal.”
She giggles again, takes another swig of beer.
That’s when they walk in.
Three guys. Drunk. Loud. The type who think they’re funny because their friends laugh too hard at every dumb thing they say.
I clock them the second they stumble past us.
Then one of them spots Rooster’s arm. The bandage. And the burn scars that climb up toward his shoulder.
“Holy shit,” the guy says way too loud. “You lose a fight or what, man? That’s gross.”
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Chapter 189. Asher
The air shifts
Rooster stiffens Anna glater. Jenny straightens, blinking. I feel her whole body tense next to mine.
I’m about to stand
But she beats nie to it.
She’s up, swaying slightly, eyes blazing.
“Hey!” she says. “Why don’t you shut the hell up?”
I blink.
She’s so small. So furious. All five–foot–three of her, standing there in her black dress like an angry little ballerina ready to take them all down.
Rooster and Anna are grinning wide now. Even I feel a laugh threatening to break through. She’s adorable. Ridiculous. And a little terrifying.
The tallest guy looks confused. “What?”
“You heard me!” Penny plants her hands on her hips. “You think you’re funny? Picking on someone who’s been through more shit than you’ll ever understand? You’re a dick.”
Rooster snorts. “Go get ‘em, Penny.”
One of the guys leans toward her. “Look, sweetheart, it’s just a joke-”
“Don’t call me sweetheart,” she snaps.
Goddamn, I love her.
Then–one of them pushes her.
It’s not hard. Not violent. More like shoving her back a step, trying to get her to sit down.
But that’s it.
I’m up before I know it, Rooster too. We move in at the same time, cutting between her and the guys.
“Hey!” Anna’s voice rings out. “Penny, you okay?”
Penny is fuming behind us, still trying to charge forward. “Asshole!” she yells. “Say it again! SAY IT!”
I almost laugh, but I’m not in the mood anymore.
They pushed her.
Rooster and I stare them down. They’re big, yeah–but drunk, sloppy. They have no idea what they’re up against.
“For your own safety,” I say, voice low, calm, deadly “walk away.”
They hesitate.
Then the idiot on the right reaches toward Rooster’s arm again.
“You lose this fighting or
I move.
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Chapter 189: Asher
In one second flat, I’ve got his wrist twisted behind his back, his feer stemmed against the bat
“No one ever teach you to keep your hands to yourself? I get in his eat.
Behind me, Penny is still spitting fire. “YEAH, ASSHOLE”
God, she’s so fucking cute when she’s angry. It’s almost distracting.
I release the guy, shoving him back toward his friends.
“That was your warning.” I say, stepping forward, shoulders squared. “You really want to find out what happens next?”
They glare. Wobble. But I see the fear now. They know.
Except the biggest one is still too stupid to back down.
He lunges.
Rooster moves first, side–stepping and jabbing him hard in the ribs with his good arm. The guy doubles over.
The second one tries to swing at me. Sloppy. I duck, hook his ankle, sweep him to the floor in one clean motion.
“Two down,” Rooster mutters.
The third guy backs up fast, grabbing his friends by the sleeves.
“We’re done!” he says quickly. “We’re leaving!”
“Smart,” I say. “Go.”
They scramble, practically falling over each other on the way out.
I turn, finally able to look at Penny.
She’s standing there, chest heaving, cheeks flushed, glaring daggers after them.
I reach for her.
“You okay?”
She glares up at me. “They’re jerks.”
I fight a smile. “Yeah. But you scared the shit out of them.”
Her eyes sparkle, still furious, still drunk.
Anna comes over, looping an arm through hers. “Come on, badass. Let’s get you some water.”
Penny huffs. “I’m fine.”
I bend close, brushing her hair behind her ear.
“You’re perfect,” I murmur. “But you’re gonna sit with me now.”
She pouts but lets me guide her back to her seat.
I slide in next to her, keeping one arm around her waist, anchoring her.
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Chapter 189: Asher
Rooster grins. “Man. You got yourself a Teisty one. *
I glance down at her, still scowling, still adorable.
“Yeah,” I say quietly. “And she’s all mine.”
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