Page 47 of Full Body Hit: Part 2
Chase laughed, a real one this time, tingling all over. “The day after we get back sounds good.” He finally moved away and looked up, taking Auston’s face in.
There, on those familiar planes, was the softest smile Chase had ever seen, eyes glowing and tender.
Chase’s heart thumped.
God, he wanted this so badly.
“I’ll pick you up at seven,” Auston said.
Chase nodded, his body lighter than it’d been in what felt like a long, long time.
***
He was all over the fucking place during practice the day of the date, exchanging ridiculous looks with Auston, who seemed utterly revived—joking with the guys, bumping them into the boards and slapping them hard on the back.
Chase was just as jittery, although he contained it a lot better. He managed to act semi-normal until he went home and stared down five hours of waiting for the date to begin.
He showered at home again and took an age to decide on an outfit, watching his phone obsessively, half scared Auston would text and cancel the whole thing.
Instead, there was a knock at exactly 6:58.
Chase had to stand in his hallway for a moment, reality a warped thing around him.
He had so many memories with an imaginary version of Auston.
Auston, The Idol. Auston, The Hockey Player.
And then there was Aunix. Chase hadn’t been fully aware of how bruised he’d been, how many tender spots he tried not to think about, avoiding them in a way thathurt.
Aunix’s kindness, his attention, his affection—it had helped Chase look at those bruises. Helped him take care of them instead of avoiding anything to do with his need for praise, his sensitivity to criticism.
There was the odd mix that was Auston, the teammate. A cold, cruel beginning suddenly transforming into the person Chase had always hoped he’d be—wise, patient, nurturing, dominant.
All of that—all those layers that made the complicated whole that was Auston—wantedhim. And Chase had an opportunity here to believe that want.
To do something with it.
He took a deep breath, bracing himself as he opened the door, and there Auston was, holding a fucking bouquet of flowers. Andnot some cheesy red roses, either—it was a beautiful array of orange and white blooms that smelt amazing.
“Wow. Oh, my God.” His hands were numb as he took the offering.
Auston’s cheeks were ruddy, and Chase’s heart went wild with electricity, pumping away.
“Thanks. These are so beautiful.” He walked towards the kitchen. “Shit, I don’t have a vase.”
“I actually brought one for you.”
Chase turned to see Auston lift a canvas bag that had been sitting by his feet.
A laugh bubbled up. It was just such anAunixthing to do, the idea of the person in his phone edging closer to the man in front of him. “Thanks. That’s…thanks.”
Auston hesitated before crossing the threshold into the apartment. Chase hadn’t really tidied up, not expecting to have Auston there. It wasn’t messy, but he couldn’t help but imagine it through the Alpha’s eyes—how the space was littered with his presents. The blanket thrown over the couch, the pillows tucked at the sides, the candle on the coffee table, the slippers discarded by the hallway.
Chase was wearing another sweater Auston had bought, his underwear, hissocks.
Auston helped him pull the vase out of the white box it was in.
Chase had no idea about these things, but the piece was beautiful. It was clear glass, tapering out and tucking into a neck and then flaring again, the collar uneven, as if the glass had bubbled.
