Chapter 14

This week has been the best in the whole of existence. I got to basically live with the guy of my dreams, have a fuck load of orgasms, and be a part of a really cool family.

Shame it's all going to end.

I love my teammates, but if the choice is sleeping with Gio at his parents or the football house where it smells like stale sweat and is too loud, of course, Gio always wins.

I haven't brought up the fact that I am fine now. Doc and Coach said I can resume training on Monday, so there really isn't any reason to stay.

Except that I am terrified this thing with Gio is going to end if he doesn't have a reason to see me every day. Maybe if I show him that I am the best boyfriend ever at this party tonight, he will keep me.

"What are you thinking about?" Ryder asks, throwing himself onto the sofa next to me.

Perry demanded we all be at the cheer house to get ready for this dance.

"Whether I'm going to look like an idiot trying to dance," I tell him.

It might not have been the exact thing I was going to say but it's been on my mind. I'm a linebacker for fucksake. I'm going to look like a bear that stepped on a bee lumbering around out there on the dancefloor, especially as most other people will be cheerleaders. It's not like it's even at a club where it's so dark and there is mostly grinding. I can do grinding in my sleep.

Just ask Gio.

"Mood."

I roll my eyes at him. "Thanks, that's super helpful."

"Shit, my bad. I thought you wanted commiseration rather than encouragement," He sits up straight and clears his throat. "TUCKER! TUCKER! YOU'RE THE MAN! YOU CAN DANCE LIKE NO ONE CAN! GO TEAM! WOO!"

"I hate you so much," I say into my hands knowing that he has just summoned several cheerleaders.

"That was good! Maybe I should try out?"

"Dude, you need to be really flexible to be a cheerleader," Perry says

Ryder snorts. "I know. You should see the positions Lexi can get himself into."

"Why are you talking about sex with my brother?"

"Because it's my favorite thing ever."

"Who was chanting about Tucker?" Gio says as he enters the room with Luke who is wearing a really cute corset.

"Me. He's going to kill it on the dance floor."

"I'll definitely be killing something, you shithead."

Gio, plonks himself onto my lap and I freeze for a second before winding my arms around his waist. Him showing me affection in front of everyone fans the flames of hope in my chest.

"If you're worried about dancing we can stick to slow ones and do some excellent swaying. Or I could use your body as a pole and channel my inner stripper?" He smirks at me.

"Yes," I say immediately. "I want them both." I didn't need to say anything. He can feel how hard my dick is at his words.

"See, my encouragement helped," Ryder says, smugness radiating off of him. "You would have just moped if I didn't say anything. I am a great fucking wingman."

"Maybe you can help me?" Luke says hopefully.

Ryder looks at Luke in fear. "I'm sorry dude, but I think Perry would kill me if I set you up with anyone I knew."

"What? Why?"

"Because he only knows shitheads and fuck boys," Perry says with a sniff.

"I'm not gonna deny it," Ryder nods in agreement. "The only good, single guy I know has a massive crush on my uncle and I'm not putting you in the middle of that."

"Ugh, yeah, no thanks," Luke says before turning to me. "I keep meaning to ask, what does the football team do with old footballs? I have a friend in my art class who needs one for a project he's doing."

"Uh, I don't know. I'll ask the team manager next week and text you."

"Thanks, man."

Gio looks at me with a soft smile. "Thanks for helping him out," he murmurs quietly as the others carry on the conversation.

"I will always help out if I can, sweetheart." For the second time this evening, I freeze as the endearment slips out.

Gio's only acknowledgment is his eyes softening.

I will take it.

I'll take anything he gives me.

"Are there usually this many dance battles?" I ask Gio as he slow dances with me in the middle of the dance floor. "It never crossed my mind that someone would break dance to Lewis Capaldi."

Gio snorts. "Cheerleaders love to show everyone what they've got. That is a dance circle though, not a dance battle."

I have no clue how they are different things.

"You look gorgeous by the way. I don't know if I mentioned that."

Gio snorts. "Just one or two thousand times."

There are no lies though. He's wearing a form-fitting, navy suit, with a cream shirt that has a cream floral pattern, and a plum tie. I'm wearing a plum suit with a similar cream shirt and a navy tie. Gio's mom, Guila, surprised us with them this morning over breakfast. She phoned Perry and made him take a billion photos of the two of us in a variety of locations. I'm ninety percent certain she wants to use these as our engagement photos.

"You look good yourself," he shouts in my ear as the song changes to "Hollaback" by Gwen Stefani. Before he can say anything else, Nate and Bradley come waltzing over. Literally waltzing.

"Dudes, have you seen Coach Phillips?" Bradley says, nodding in the direction of the refreshment table. She's looking at another lady with a murderous gleam in her eyes. "She's eye fucking Coach Smith."

"What? No, that is the look of hate not lust." Gio splutters out.

A cloud of emotions crosses Nate"s face. "They can be the same thing. I mean from what I've heard. Sammie and Liz are always talking about enemies to lovers being great smut."

I swear everyone on this cheerleading team has got a secret love life issue.

"Did you see me in that dance circle just now? If I had a hymen, it would've just broken." Luke says, appearing at Gio's side.

Okay, so maybe not everyone's love life issue is a secret.

"Everyone is probably going to be here for another hour or two. Wanna duck out early and come back to the cheer house with me?" Gio whispers into my ear as Bradley starts explaining to Luke that he thinks the coaches are in love.

It could be the final play in the Super Bowl and I would not have moved as fast as I did right now.

Grabbing Gio's hand, I pull him through the throngs of people and head to the parking lot. "Bye guys," I shout over my shoulder.

I do not want to waste a second.