Page 72 of Full Body Hit: Part 2
Chase took a breath. “So…remember how Auston knew about the stuff that happened with my mom and my scent-blindness and stuff? Well…he knew because Auston is Aunix.”
Sammy immediately choked on the food in his mouth, flapping his hand in front of his face. Chase startled, slapping him on the back. “Oh, my God. Do you need water?”
Sammy waved him away, hacking half a lung out, apparently, and finally accepting the water. “What?” he croaked.
So Chase started from the beginning, reminding Sammy about how nice Aunix was, how supportive and kind. He pointed out that Auston had shown that side of himself, too, in the past few weeks since finding out the truth.
“And I get now why he was such an ass to me before,” Chase explained.
Sammy’s mouth was in a flat line. “Can’t wait to hearthis.”
Chase had to say this the right way to make Sammy understand—to make him stop hating Auston so much. “It’s not my place to share everything, but Auston had a kind of…really shitty relationship in the past that involved someone who hid their scent. He thought my fake pheromones was me being deceptive, and it just triggered some stuff in him that had him lashing out.”
“Oh, well, if he wastriggered, I guess he can do whatever he wants.”
“It’s not—this was serious stuff. And it’s not like he’s okay with what he did. It’s not just that he’s apologised…he’s been so good to me, Sammy, I promise you.”
“Good how, exactly?”
“He just…every time I do that thing you hate where I say something mean about myself? He never lets me get away with it. He always points out the good stuff in me, and treats me like…I don’t know. Like what I say matters? What I do matters?”
“Well, that’s becauseyoumatter, you idiot.”
Chase laughed. “Well…I’m getting that. And he’s also had moments where I take care ofhim, so it’s not just like he’s ‘Daddy’ all the time.”
“Oh, my God.” Sammy covered his face. “I’d forgotten about the Daddy thing. You call AustonDaddy.”
Chase felt himself flush to the roots of his hair. “It’s…shut up!”
Sammy giggled. “Holy shit. Nah, man, I love it for you. Truly.” The amusement drained away from his face, expression sobering. “Look. I can’t say he’s my favourite person in the world, but I trustyou.Like—obviously I’m going to cut his balls off if he hurts you. But if you trust him, if he makes you happy…”
“Hedoes. He really, really does.”
“Okay. But…if you ever get even the slightest gut feeling about him starting to be an ass again, can you tell me? I swear I won’t make a big deal about it or, like, tell you to break up with him the first time he messes up. I just…”
Chase’s whole chest tightened at the concern and love in Sammy’s voice. “I will. Promise.”
Sammy held his pinkie out and Chase linked it with his. When they broke apart, Sammy was smiling wryly. “You’re happy, then? For real?”
“Yeah. I think…I really am.”
***
Chase went to Auston’s after Sammy left, and Auston opened the door with a smile.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hi, Daddy,” Chase replied, a shiver going through him at the sharp hook of Auston’s happiness, the way his eyes sparked at the name.
Auston got him a glass of water, something he always did the instant Chase arrived, and they settled on the couch, Chase cuddling in close as Auston wrapped his arm around him.
Auston gave him a squeeze. “It go okay? Not exactly my biggest fan, that one.”
“Yeah, it went fine. He just worries, you know? But I told him I was fine. Better than fine.”
Auston hummed. “He has a point. I never should have treated you like that, so.”
Chase wiggled until he could meet Auston eyes. “We’re not the first two teammates to not get along, Daddy. It wasn’t that bad.”
