Page 74 of Full Body Hit, Part 1

Auston had probably meant that it was cute Chase had finally gotten his first NHL goal, not that Chase was cute.

He shook his head.

He had to get his shit together.

***

Chase wasn’t narcissistic enough to think that there were forces paying special attention to him, but sometimes it truly felt like the universe was laughing at him.

Chase had been pumped for his next game. He’d proved he could score goals, that he could contribute to a win—there was nothing in his way now. He was going on a scoring frenzy like the NHL had never seen.

Or, that was the plan. The reality turned out to be a brutal 5-0 shutout against their division rivals, the Houston Grizzlies.

Chase’s mom had congratulated him after his first goal. Kind of. “See? Not that hard, huh? That’s the kind of stuff you should be doing. Stay around the goal, that’s where everything happens,” she’d said, so at least there had been some kind of acknowledgment of his success. Of his improvement.

That was not the case when she called after the shutout. She didn’t even wait for him to get home, his phone ringing as he waited for Sammy in the locker room.

He stared at his phone, bones so heavy he could just sink through the floor, deeper and deeper and deeper until he reached somewhere quiet and safe where no one could reach him.

He waved at Sammy, who had done press and was just out of the shower. “Have to get this,” he lifted his phone. “Wait for you outside.”

Sammy nodded.

Chase grabbed his stuff and trailed out, accepting the call.

He didn’t get far, hiding in a nearby nook, watching people walk past as he listened to his mom explain every single thing he could have done better.

Chase knew she was trying to help. She didn’t mean to be cruel or beat him up. Her intention was for him to become the best player he could be.

But he was just…exhausted.

He thought he’d become used to the disappointment, but the goal during the previous game had resuscitated his hope. Had made it grow, green and alive, only to be cut down again.

He was fucking useless. His mom saw it, and it was only a matter of time before everybody else did.

He startled as heavy footfalls passed him. His gaze whipped up, meeting Auston’s.

The look sliced him open. Pinned him to a board, splayed open, unable to move, to breathe.

His eyes burned with shame.

Auston could see it, too, how small Chase was. How pathetic.

He shrank against the wall, hoping the Alpha wouldn’t stop. He wouldn’t be able to take another disparaging remark—especially from him.

Auston slowed down for just a tick, but he didn’t halt, the noise of his steps disappearing eventually.

Chase let out a shaky breath. He just had to get through this conversation with his mom, and he could put himself back together.

***

Chase was absolutely exhausted by the time he got to his apartment. It’d been nice to hang out with Sammy and Noah briefly, grabbing a very late dinner, but now his apartment seemed even darker and lonelier.

He had to finally let Sammy help him decorate. He wasn’t sure why he was so reluctant.

There was a text waiting for him as he sat on the couch.

Aunix