Page 130 of Full Body Hit, Part 1

“Yeah. You’re right. I think it’s good that you’re letting go a little and just enjoying the process of something instead of obsessing about the goal. But…try not to play it too safe, okay?”

Auston frowned. “When do I ever play things safe?”

Ariana snorted. “Are you kidding? When it comes to emotions—all the fucking time. I know you fall hard if you like someone, but it’s been a long time since that happened, Aus. And this whole ‘keeping it online’ thing, it’s you playing it safe again.”

“I don’t see what’s wrong with—”

“No, no, wait. I’m not saying it’s wrong. I’m just saying…be, like, aware of what you’re doing. Of the fact that you are playing it safe, and that there’s gonna come a time you’re gonna have to take a leap, yeah?”

Auston let that ferment in his brain. Part of him was desperate to see Charlie…but there was a slice of him that feared it would all fall apart once he did. “Yeah. Okay.”

Ariana smiled.

Auston grunted. “Thanks.”

“And you gotta introduce me after you guys meet. Like, seriously, Auston.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’ll be the first person I call.”

Ariana pointed at him. “And don’t you fucking forget it.”

The rest of the day was calm. They ended up going out to eat and then his dad returned to the apartment with the kids while Auston’s mom, sister, and he went to a jazz bar, Auston gripping his phone all the while, making sure he’d feel it if it started buzzing.

Charlie called deep into the night, after Auston got home and everybody had retreated to their rooms.

Charlie

Hey sorry it’s so late do you wanna still talk its ok if not

Aunix

For sure

Charlie

Ok give me like three minutes

Auston lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling until his phone rang.

“Hey, baby.”

“Hey, Daddy,” Charlie said, sounding tired but not in that nice, sleepy way he got most nights. This was worn thin, threads loose and unravelling.

“Good to hear your voice.”

There was a little amused huff. “Same here. God, it’s been, like…the longest day.”

Auston’s heart hurt. “What did you get up to?”

“We went to the doctors to, um…you know. Make sure the medication is still working and stuff. And then we went through some…uh, it’s like…well, my mom knows a lot about my line of work so we looked through some of my past mistakes and stuff and talked through them. It was definitely helpful. Or, like, I should’ve been more receptive to it, I’ve just been a little tired.”

Jesus fucking Christ, that sounded horrible. “That sounds tough. I think if my parents made me talk about work during my time off, I’d be tired too.”

“It’s fine. She means well. I just need to get some sleep and I’ll be ready for more tomorrow.”

What the fuck? “Oh, you’re gonna do more?”

“Um, yeah. On short visits we do it every day. It’s better in summer, though.”