Page 62 of Full Body Hit: Part 2
“Hey. Noah said he saw you, but I couldn’t find you anywhere.”
“Went for a quick rub-down. Overdid it at the gym.”
Chase frowned, but Auston stepped in before he could respond.
“You wanna go out tonight?”
It was fucking adorable how Chase would blush every single fucking time he asked, gaze skittering away. “Sure. Yeah,” he mumbled.
Auston grinned, the conversation with management finally laying down to rest instead of barking for attention in the hollow of his skull. A spark zipped up his spine, across his limbs—he wanted to treat Chase to a real fucking date tonight. Spoil him like he deserved.
A whistle rang across the ice as practice officially started, but Auston delayed Chase just a little longer. “Wear something nice, baby.”
Chase tripped on nothing. “Shit. Um, yeah, okay,” he stuttered.
Auston smiled.
CHAPTER TEN
AUSTON
When Auston got his first real NHL contract and began earning what, at the time, had seemed like a fucking ridiculous amount of money, he’d thought thatostentatiouswas the only marker of expense. Fancy dinners were held in large dining rooms covered in gold and white, the windows long and arched, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Everything came in small portions. There was dry ice and mousses and plates that weren’t plates at all but slabs of wood or stained glass or cups of different shapes and sizes.
He was paying for an experience that was more show than substance.
He hadn’t known the difference back then.
Now, when he went out to eat, he wanted some good fucking food. A lack of flair was a sign of quality—there didn’t have to be any add-ons if the main event was good enough. The dishes didn’t have to be simple, but they should be true to the ingredients and the culture the recipe was from.
Chemin à la Mer was bougie enough to be on the fifth floor of a Four Seasons Hotel, but it was known for its fantastic seafood and spectacular view of the Mississippi River.
“Wow,” Chase said as they stepped into the dining room. The vertically panelled walls were a rich green, leafy plants decorated the space, and deco chairs matched the walls. The entire outside wall was made of glass, showing off the bruised sky already turning a deeper blue as the sun sank towards the horizon.
“You like seafood, right?” Auston checked as the host led them to their table.
“Um, yeah. Oh, thank you,” Chase said as Auston took his chair out for him.
Auston sat across from him, feeling a shivery, dark sort of pleasure watching Chase inspect his surroundings in awe. He took the Omega in, the dark-blue slacks and flowy white blouse that wasalmostsee-through.
Auston wondered if Chase was wearing something pretty underneath, too.
“Wow, Auston. This is really nice.”
Auston smiled, eating him up with his gaze. “Glad you like it, baby.”
There was that blush again.Jesus. Auston really,reallyshould enjoy how innocent he appeared right then, how fucking red his lips were, lashes blinking slowly as he peered out the window.
The waiter dropped off some menus and Chase opened his carefully, as if he didn’t want to stain the thick card with his fingers.
Auston took a sip of his water to wet his dry mouth. “Let me know if you want to share anything.”
“Oh, yeah, okay. I love sharing food.”
I know that.Back when they were justCharlieandAunix, Chase had told him how much he loved the communal eating style. Auston could guess his stories had starred Sammy andNoah, although the two had been nameless for a while. Chase had said how fun it was to get a bunch of stuff and share—how nice it was to eat with other people.
Apparently, family dinners hadn’t really been a thing with his mom…probably because she was a frosty fucking bitch.
Auston didn’t share that observation, but he sure thought it real fucking hard.
