Page 27 of Full Body Hit, Part 1 (Alpha Omega Hockey #5)

Chase turned to him, eyes wide. “Can we go in?” he asked.

“Uh, sure.”

Auston followed him inside, peering around suspiciously at the things littering the shelves and tables. They were all morbid, but maybe they had some sort of history relevant to New Orleans.

From the back of the room, hidden by bookshelves and a coat stand, a female voice sounded. “Let me know if I can help you.”

Auston wanted help with absolutely nothing except maybe getting out of there. He’d never liked creepy things. His sister was obsessed with true crime and horror films, and he couldn’t understand the appeal.

Even Halloween kind of freaked him out. It was fine when people dressed up as celebrities or book characters or whatever, but he hated all that gore stuff people used on their faces.

Mark, the absolute dick, knew this about him, and he and Chin-Sun always chose the most horrific costumes every year just to fuck with him.

So, no. He did not need help.

Chase, apparently, did.

“ Uhm …what are these?” He was pointing at something on the table.

The woman appeared, brown hair up in a messy bun, strands falling everywhere. She had a thick pair of glasses on, dimples in her cheeks showing as she looked at Chase.

“Oh, these are sheep knucklebones. They’re used in bone throwing…to tell your fortune. The Mongolians use these, but this one over here is a shoulder blade—you set it on fire, and the patterns left behind will tell your future.”

Auston frowned. What a load of bullshit.

Chase, however, made an oohing noise of interest. “I have a friend and…I think he’d like these. I’m not sure why.” He laughed as he said the last bit. “They’re very cool though.”

“I know someone who teaches this kind of fortune-telling, actually. I can give you her card if you want.”

“Oh, yes, please! And I’ll take these, if that’s okay.”

“Of course.”

Auston stood back and watched as they went over to the register, chatting the whole way through the transaction.

It set the mood for the rest of the morning.

Chase seemed buoyed by the interaction, because he came out of the shop smiling.

“For Sammy,” he explained, and his face was so soft, eyes half-moons as he grinned.

For a heartbeat, Auston was caught in how Chase looked in the light, fluffy brown hair catching the rays, big sweater hanging a little low on his shoulders.

Auston could see a sliver of collarbone peeking through.

Why the fuck was he even noticing that?

“Yeah,” he replied absently, turning away.

It was only two shops later that he remembered he was supposed to be filming, suddenly trapping him in the task of having to focus on Chase and everything he did.

The way he giggled over the things in the shops and asked questions to the employees.

How he was constantly making noises—oohing and aahing and mumbling and exclaiming as if he were full of something that was too big to contain, continuously spilling out.

He was constantly buying things, too, although never for himself. All their teammates had something by the end of it.

And then there were the moments Chase suggested they take selfies—per PR’s orders—and they had to put their heads close together, Chase’s bland scent barely noticeable, but the heat of him apparent in the cool day.

It was making Auston’s head spin.

He was glad when the first part of the tour was over and it was Chase’s turn to film. They went to Jackson Square, walking the stuck-gravelled path, manicured bushes lining the way.

Chase seemed as enthusiastic about the garden as he had been about the shops.

“Let’s check out that fountain,” he said and then filmed Auston looking at it awkwardly. “Let’s check out that thing,” he suggested, pointing at a tree sculpted like a horse, and off they went.

It was…less annoying than Auston would have guessed. Maybe even kind of fun.

And yet Chase still kept his scent wrapped up tight.

Auston tried to ignore that fact. What Chase did with his body, his scent, was none of his business, but it was making his heartbeat trip over itself, stomach squirming.

Chase wasn’t his ex. Chase had no reason to be hiding his scent to manipulate Auston.

But then, why was he?

A headache built between his eyebrows as the afternoon went on, jaw tight with tension. All the while, Chase was running around, shivering in the increasing cold, which was just adding to Auston’s annoyance.

“God, can’t you dress yourself?” Auston finally growled.

Chase stopped short. “Huh?”

“Just…here.” Auston took off his coat and thrust it towards Chase. He ran hot anyway.

Chase blinked at it and made no move to take it. “Huh?”

“You’re cold.”

Chase frowned. “I have a thermal layer below this.” He pulled the neck of his sweater down to show a low-necked shirt.

“Well, it’s obviously not helping.” Auston fanned out the jacket and draped it over Chase’s shoulders.

“ Hey . Quit it, I don’t need it.”

“You’re literally shaking. It’s fine.”

“I don’t want it.”

“Oh, my God.” Auston rolled his eyes and walked away.

Chase was hot on his heels. Something hit Auston’s head, draping over his face. He pulled it away, not surprised when it was his coat.

“What the…” He turned, but Chase was already running away.

What proceeded was perhaps not the most mature moment of Auston’s life.

He raced after Chase like a bull, head down and feet kicking up gravel. Chase squeaked when Auston got to him and covered him with the coat.

Auston took the opportunity to escape, but Chase managed to catch him quickly, speeding around a bush a second later.

“Damn,” Auston said. “How the fuck are you so fast?”

“Maybe you’re just slow,” Chase laughed.

Auston frowned. He was not losing this one.

He crouched low, hiding behind the greenery, scuttling sideways like a crab and pouncing on Chase when he reached him.

He crushed Chase to his chest, hot and panting, the whole bulk of him squirming against him.

“No,” Chase shouted, elbowing Auston in the gut and escaping.

Auston doubled over, huffing, but he couldn’t help but grin as Chase scampered away.

Auston wasn’t sure how long they went after each other like little kids, but they were both panting and flushed by the end of it.

Chase might have had the speed, but Auston had the stamina.

“Got you,” he wheezed, using the coat to nab Chase, winding it around him and pulling him close.

Chase squawked as he was yanked back and crashed into Auston’s chest. He wiggled, but Auston held him tight. “Stop fighting,” he gritted out.

Chase seemed exhausted enough to listen, slumping into Auston. “Urgh, fine .”

Auston grinned, more pleased with himself than he should be, but the expression slipped off his face as Chase twisted and looked up at him.

Fuck, they were close. He could feel the damp warmth of Chase’s breath, the solid line of his body, the way a flush climbed from the apple of his cheeks to his temples.

Auston needed to move his arms. Let Chase go. But he was frozen, caught in something he didn’t understand.

It was the sound of approaching steps that finally unstuck him.

He flinched away, letting go of the coat. Chase grabbed it, face even redder than before.

Auston scrubbed a hand through his hair.

What the fuck was that?

Chase put the coat on with jerky movements. It was too big on him, obviously, but there was something about seeing him in Auston’s clothes that…

No. Fuck that. There was literally no reason for his mind to be going there.

“Okay, let’s go to the building and get out of here,” Auston said, pointing at the park’s main landmark. His heart was still beating hard from running.

Chase nodded, trailing after him silently.

It was only when Auston got home after they were done that he realised Chase had never returned the coat.