Chapter 16

There is no fucking way I am spending another day without Gio as my boyfriend.

It's Monday and we had an afternoon practice that just finished. We always get two shorter practices on the Monday after a bye week. The cheer squad does as well except theirs finishes a little later. They also do their practice on the field sidelines, so I just spent forty-five minutes staring at Gio, watching him laugh with his teammates, and nail some awesome people catches. I really should know more cheerleading terms.

I have roughly thirty minutes to come up with a plan and desperate times call for desperate measures.

"Charlie, hurry up, I'm gonna need you," I shout across the locker room, earning a bunch of wolf whistles and catcalls. I bet the animal kingdom is a lot classier than this room of beasts.

"Sure thing, man," and he speeds up getting ready.

Two minutes later, we are dressed and out of the locker room. I practically run into Ryder hanging around the tunnels.

"What are you doing, man?" He opens his mouth. "Actually, I don't care, come with us. I need a private place to talk."

"How about the commentator box? It's soundproof, which is great for sex." Charlie says with a shrug.

Okay then…

"Lead the way, dude." I put a hand out for him to lead the way and after only getting lost twice, we end up in the commentator box.

"This is so cool," Ryder says, looking out over the stadium. "I can see Lexi."

There is nothing figurative about the hearts in his eyes. Maybe there is, but it's cute to see. Probably the same way I'm looking at Gio.

"Sit down the both of you. I need your help," Ryder immediately sits on the desk, and Charlie copies him. "You both better not break anything sitting there."

I take a seat opposite the two of them. Thankfully, they"re blocking my view of Gio otherwise I'd never be able to get this out.

"I am desperate and I need your help," I start. "I need to try and convince Gio that he's not a rebound and I want to be his boyfriend for real."

Ryder looks at me with a frown. "How are you so sure he isn't a rebound?" He crosses his arms. "I like you Tucker, but Gio has always been a great friend to Lexi. My loyalty is going to be to him, but if you are serious about him, then I will help you both get together."

I feel a wave of affection for Ryder.

"I'm not loyal to Gio, but I am loyal to you. And you are never happier than when you're with Gio," Charlie pauses for a second. "He is a little scary, but I think that suits you."

I snort. "Thank you. Both of you." My eyes meet Ryder's. "I'm not on the rebound. Henry and I dated for a few weeks, and honestly, what hurt most was not that he cheated but that I was cheated on. What about me wasn't worth keeping? Plus, what a fucking ego bruise. I was over that whole thing in less than two weeks. Gio doesn't see it like that, though. He is stuck on this idea that I don't want to keep him forever, and nothing could be further from the truth. I want to marry him, have adorable babies, go on family holidays to Italy, and try not to offend an entire nation when I order Pizza for us as we sit in a little restaurant in Rome."

I take a deep breath. "But I need him to see the future for us as well."

"Maybe, just start with the boyfriend bit. Build up to the marriage and babies and vacations abroad." Charlie says, looking at Ryder, who nods.

"Yeah, how about making him jealous? That worked for me and Lexi."

"Nope, no way. That'll just prove to him, in his mind, that I think he's interchangeable and he's really not. Either, I have Gio or I want no one. I'll be sad, lonely, and have two cats called Barbara and Cher."

"Dude, I think that's gayer than your coffee order." Ryder snorts.

"My coffee order isn't-ugh, forget it." They really aren't helping at all. "Words aren't working, neither is action. And we've had plenty of action. I think my options are either to keep doing this weird in-between thing with him or propose."

"You love him?" Ryder asks in awe.

Yes. I want to scream and shout how much I love Giovanni Russo. I don't, though. Instead I say, "The first time I say that out loud is going to be Gio himself."

"Holy shit-" Charlie starts to say before there is a pounding on the door.

"Tucker, let me in right now," a muffled voice shouts from the other side of the door. I open it, and Hudson and Wyatt burst through.

"How did you know I was here?"

"See that light?" Hudson points to a blinking green light in the far corner. "That light means you are broadcasting live.

Like we're in some kind of horror movie, Charlie, Ryder, and I all look out of the window to a sea of faces looking up at us.

"How much did you hear?" Ryder asks while I carry on scanning the crowd for the one face I really want to see.

"Everything."

I make eye contact with Lexi, who looks like he's about to cry. He just shakes his head.

My heart drops. Free falls straight into the stadium and shatters.

Gio left.

He doesn't want me.

Saying nothing, I turn and leave. I'm not even embarrassed by what I said. The only emotions taking up residence are sadness and heartbreak.

I lost Gio.