Page 35 of Full Body Hit: Part 2
“Ms. Spalding. Nice to meet you.” Her voice was deceptively soft. Pleasant.
Auston was going to bet that wasn’t the tone she’d been using on Chase a moment ago.
He turned to Chase, smile plastered onto his face. “Didn’t we have dinner plans?”
Chase frowned. “Uhm…I don’t think so?”
“No, I’m pretty sure we did.”
“Oh. I’m really sorry, I didn’t remember—I’ll make it up to you. I gotta go, though.”
Ms. Spalding nodded at him. “Nice meeting you.”
Just like that, before Auston could think of another excuse, they were turning and walking away.
Dread was a sludge blocking his airways, coating his gut.
He knew Chase didn’t see it that way, but that woman was abusive. Chase washappylately. Confident.
She was going to fucking tear that apart.
He turned and rushed into the arena. He found Noah and Sammy right where he left them, still too distracted with each other to finish changing.
“Hey. I, uh—I need a favour.”
Sammy widened his eyes, bewildered, as Noah immediately replied, “Sure. What is it?”
“I know this is going to sound weird, but you need to go to Chase’s apartment.”
Sammy scoffed. “Wait a minute—what?”
“His mom is here. I don’t know how much he’s told you, but she’s…she’s not good.”
“He toldyou?” Sammy gaped.
“It’s complicated. Just, please—go to his apartment. Make an excuse about a…burst pipe or something, I don’t know. Stay with him. I don’t want him to be alone with her.”
Now it was Noah’s turn to look unsure, but Sammy was nodding slowly. “Okay.”
Relief almost made him double over. “Thank you. Can you text me? When you’re there? Tell me if he’s okay.”
Sammy searched his face.
Auston had no idea what he found there.
“Yeah. Okay.”
“Thank you,” Auston said again. It was all that was left in him.
CHAPTER SIX
CHASE
It was the shock of it that was making Chase so shaky. Having his mom show up without warning was a nice surprise—that she’d travelled all the way there and watched the game. He was grateful.
He didn’t know why his heart wouldn’t stop racing. Why he was fighting a flinch every time his mom raised an eyebrow at him as they approached Chase’s apartment door.
God, he didn’t want to go inside. He wished he could have gone with Auston. That he could pick up the phone and call Aunix, but for what?
