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"And what about when you moved to London to play junior hockey? What happened then?"
And so the interview continues. Scarlett asks questions, and I answer. I tell her about my destructive behaviour in London, underage drinking and partying, sleeping with Anna Munro and her daughter, and the myriad of other girls that hung around the arena looking to hook up with a hockey player.
"When the scandal about you and Anna Munro was revealed, you were eighteen. Did anyone ever question you about when the affair actually started?"
"I think some people wondered, but no, no one wanted to make a messy situation any messier," I say and think back to how livid my coach and the team's management were when the story was published. I think they just wanted to sweep everything under the rug and make it go away. I was leaving for Florida anyway, so they probably just wanted the shitstorm I created to go with me.
"And when did your relationship with Anna Munro begin?"
"Just before I turned sixteen."
“So, you were underage?"
"Yes."
"And who started that relationship? You or her?"
"Well, I was dating Anna's daughter at the time, but she didn't seem to care. She approached me, and I didn't exactly say no."
"Chase, are you aware that the legal age of consent in Canada is sixteen, and the relationship you just described is not only considered statutory rape, but also sexual exploitation?"
"I didn't at the time, but I do now."
Slowly but surely, the hard questions taper off and Scarlett leads us back to more comfortable territory. She asks about my time playing for the Toronto Northmen and how much I love it. She asks me about my leave of absence and how therapy has helped me work through the trauma from my childhood and adolescence. We discuss my involvement withThe Blue and White Bacheloretteand how that experience led me to this moment.
As the interview winds down, the questions get easier and easier. Tension starts to leave my shoulders, and my body finally starts to relax.
"When can Northmen fans expect to see you back on the ice?"
"I'm making my return after the break."
"Excellent. I am sure everyone will be thrilled to hear that. Even though the team has done well without you, I'm sure they will be happy to have your scoring touch back." Scarlett thanks me, telling me how brave I am for speaking my truth and how my honesty will go a long way towards helping other victims of sexual abuse and assault come forward. "I just have one question left for you, Chase. Why did you agree to participate inThe Blue and White Bachelorettethis season?" Scarlett asks with a knowing smile.
"Because I love Lily Valentine. Because I've always loved her, and I hope that one day I can be the man that deserves her."
25
Sexual Healing
Lily
Igrip Chase's hand tightly as the last words from his interview with Scarlett St. James-Kaur fill my ears, and the screen fades to black. Tears rim my eyes and fall down my cheeks as I just stare at the screen, and a commercial starts to play. We're sitting in my living room watching his story air for the first time on live television. I'm so fucking proud of him that I think I might explode with it.
"I love you too," I sniffle and throw my arms around him. I want to kiss him, but Chase and I haven't been physical since he started therapy, other than the experimental touching we've done with Dr. Brighton. We agreed to be friends until we were ready to move forward, and I'm hoping that's sooner rather than later.
"Me too! I love you guys." Riley jumps on the couch with us and wraps us in her arms like a lovefest sandwich. Count on Riley to cut the emotional tension with her ridiculousness.
The last seven weeks have been really fucking hard, but Riley's been super supportive. It's been an emotional rollercoaster and going home for Christmas was awkward and complicated. My parents knew Chase and I weren't together—while still kind of being together—and by some miracle, my mom was able to resist the urge to ask a million questions. But that might have been because she was too busy asking Holly when she should start buying baby gifts. At the time, my parents didn't know why Chase took a leave of absence from the team, but now that his story has aired, everyone knows. And I can only imagine that the proverbial shit will hit the fan now.
"So, are you two finally getting back together or what?" Riley asks as she wiggles her way between us and drapes one arm over each of our shoulders. "I want Mom and Dad back together!"
I roll my eyes. "We are taking things slow."
"Oh, come on, you're getting back together. I know it. You know it. He knows it. Everyone knows it."
"Oh yeah? And what about you and Ozzy. When are you guys officially getting together?" I retort.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
