Chapter 20

I'm back, baby, and we are about to win this motherfucking game. We are so far up at this point I could just sit on the sidelines and let their offensive team run free, and they still wouldn't even half our total points.

My game is on fire.

The relief over my injury being hardly anything, plus being so fucking happy with Gio, has seriously pushed me into the stratosphere.

All the cheerleaders are amazing at what they do. They are definitely going to crush it at regionals in the new year. But having my boyfriend on the sidelines cheering his heart out for me personally is some next-level shit.

Gio talks about having caveman tendencies, and I guess I'm drinking the water, too, because I am totally feeling that. The temptation to just fuck him bare on the 50-yard line and cover him in my cum so everyone knows he belongs with me is stupidly strong.

It would be cool to have sex on the field. Not that I'll ever get that opportunity again. Coach shouted my ear off for ten minutes flat over the commentary box fiasco. He did finish by saying congratulations to me and Gio, so that was positive. I got the message though. No being in stadium spaces without permission.

"FLORA VISTA YOU'VE WON THIS!"

"FINISH THEM OFF, YOU WON'T MISS!"

My eyes stray to the chanting cheerleaders, and I catch Gio's eye. He winks at me before he gets into formation to throw Perry in a basket toss.

"Tucker, got your head in the game?" Charlie says, slapping my helmet. He may be a goofball off the field, but on it, he is all business.

"Fuck yes, let's do this." I bend my knees and get ready to stop the opposition. Seventeen seconds later, the whistle goes, and I'm banging on my chest like a fucking gorilla.

"Incoming," Charlie shouts at me, and for a split second, I worry that a disgruntled player from the away team is about to tackle me.

Turning around, I see the blur of my boyfriend in his green and white cheerleading outfit.

"You were a fucking beast out there," he says, jumping into my arms and taking my helmet off. Gio immediately starts planting kisses all over me.

"You helped," I tell him, kissing him back.

He shakes his head. "That was all you. Your determination and talent got you here. Not my magic cum."

I throw my head back and laugh. "I know I shouldn't tie my happiness to anyone else. But it's tied to you. Being with you is like injecting fire into my veins. You, our happiness. It makes me better in every sense."

Gio looks at me softly. "Yeah, I understand that."

I place his hand over my heart. "This beats for us."

I do the same with his."So does this, sweetheart."

We stand there looking into each other"s eyes for what feels like forever.

"Are you having a staring contest?" Wyatt says, breaking our spell. "Hudson sometimes has staring contests with me without telling me. Total cheat move. Anyway, see you at the football house later?"

"Yeah, see you there," Gio answers with a smile.

Wyatt runs off and jumps onto Hudson"s back making them both fall to the ground. Am I the only person who thinks there is something going on there?

An hour later, I am sitting on the sofa next to Ryder in the football house watching my boyfriend dance with Lexi.

"We have really hot boyfriends, dude," Ryder says. "I am itching to throw Lexi over my shoulder and find somewhere private to have sex."

"Thanks for the info."

I know what he means, though. I want to be snuggled away with Gio. We both know our guys need time with their friends. Fuck, we do too. A few weeks ago, I thought it was me and Lexi who were going to be close friends and Ryder was going to be the surly, scowly boyfriend who hated my guts.

I can see him becoming my bestie, though.

Weird.

"Wanting me as a bestie is not weird; it's actually the smartest thing you've ever said or done," Ryder says, punching through my musings.

"Shit, I said that out loud?"

"Don't give me that," he rolls his eyes at me. "You one hundred percent wanted me to know your thoughts. Now, it looks like our friendship is going to endure an immediate test seeing as our mutual ex is heading this way."

"What?" I ask, his words take a second to process and I whip my head to the right when I feel someone standing next to the sofa.

Henry.

He looks kind of sickly and a whole lot nervous. My eyes find Gio who has stopped dancing and looks like he is trying to stab Henry with his mind. I love how protective of me he is.

Has always been.

"Hi, Tucker, Ryder," he clears his throat. "I'm really sorry. For cheating on you, Tucker, and lying to you, Ryder. I heard the commentary box conversation, and I realized I'd never thought that deeply about how my actions impacted you. I did a lot of assuming, and because what we had wasn't serious for me, I thought that applied to you, too. My dad also heard about what happened, and I guess he decided that I was self-sabotaging, so I see a lot of therapy in my future." He puffs out a breath. "I'm glad you found someone that deserves you."

"Thanks, man, I wish you well," is my response. He gives me a timid smile and heads out. Gio is straddling my lap seconds after he left.

"What did he say? Are you okay?"

I can't resist pulling him in for a kiss.

"I am. He wanted to explain why he cheated and apologize. It was nice to hear, but I didn't need it. It also didn't upset me, so you can chill out."

That earns me one of my boyfriend"s smirks. "I am so very chill. But I"m feeling kind of caveman vibes right now, so let"s find a dark corner where I can blow you."

Gio wraps his legs around my waist as I stand up with more speed than either of us expected.

"Let's go back to yours. I don't want any jerk-off parties to break out because of us." I tell him reluctantly, putting him down.

"Fuck yes, let's go!" Ryder says, earning three very surprised looks.

"Babe, we are not joining them," Lexi says, having come over when Gio did.

"Ew, no." Ryder turns to me. "No offense."

"None taken," I smirk.

"If they're going, then so can we. Let's go to my place, though, because Kait says she and Josh were going to celebrate privately at yours." Him and Lexi both shudder.

We all say our goodbyes and head back to the cheer house. The moment Gio's door is shut, he is on me.