Chapter 5

My phone vibrates like it wants me to stick it up my ass. I look at the screen, not surprised to see a shit ton of notifications from the Cheer Queers group chat.

Cheer Queers

Bradley: There's a party at the football house tonight. Win or lose

Perry: Why would they want to party if they lose?

Bradley: Maybe they want to dance it out. You can't be sad when you're dancing.

Bradley: Plus dancing is more likely to attract a mate.

Bradley: Orgasms are happy!!!!!!

Hudson: My last orgasm was sad. Never knocking one out watching Titanic ever again.

Wyatt: I know you think Kate Winslet is hot but maybe don't jerk off when the boat is sinking.

Perry: Orgasms with other people, and when you aren't watching a movie based on one of the deadliest maritime disasters, are GENERALLY happy.

Luke: Can't relate.

Luke: I'm going to skip the party. My brothers want to have a video chat game night.

Lexi: Is it a regular party or a costume party?

Gio: Yes to the football party.

Nate: Why are you all messaging each other? We are literally all going to be in the same room together in about ten minutes.

I mute the chat for an hour and chuck my phone into my gear bag.

"No one is answering my question," Lexi pouts, staring down at his phone as we make our way to the football stadium.

"If you want to wear a skirt, do it. You are always so happy wearing feminine clothing, and your legs are hot." I tell him truthfully.

I don't even know why I said I would go to the party. There is no way I'm going to hookup with anyone there. Even though I know it doesn't mean anything, with the amount of flirting Tucker has done, it would be rude to get off with someone else in his own house. That is definitely the reason. One hundred percent. Absolutely nothing to do with having a crush on him.

I'm 20 years old. I'm pretty sure you stop getting crushes the day you get your high school diploma.

So, I don't have a crush on Tucker.

I just can't stop thinking about the stupidly cute smile he does when I first see him. It makes his blue eyes shimmer.

Or the way he celebrates all of his teammates" achievements even if he's having a crappy game.

Or the way he painted his dick outline on the boxer briefs. They were so fucking tight and practically see-through. I swear I saw a vein, and then he actually painted it on.

That was both my best and worst idea. It was torture for me.

At least it made Tucker happy. That fucker Henry really needs to leave him alone. And I am definitely saying that as a friend to Tucker, and in no way because I feel possessive or claimy. Nope. Not at all.

"Gio, are you ignoring me on purpose, or are you thinking things?" Lexi looks a me with a slight smirk. He looks like he is about two seconds away from asking me what happened with Tucker yesterday.

Honestly, I wish I knew. I just couldn't stand him getting hurt. I suppose I could have asked Tucker to join me and Lexi instead of stealing him way for myself. I shouldn't be this involved in the dude.

Rebound. He just wants a rebound. I need to remember that.

"You should definitely wear a skirt. Your legs are amazing," I tell him, not expecting him to break out laughing. I watch fucking confused as he tries drying his eyes."Seriously tears? I wasn't even being funny."

"I know. You already told me about my hot legs like five minutes ago. Tucker really has got all inside your head hasn't he?" He looks at me knowingly.

Fucker.

"I-I don't want to date someone who's rebounding. Been there, done that, got railroaded. Twice." I straighten my backpack, not looking at Lexi. I just know he's got his sympathetic eyes on.

"Tucker isn't going to hurt you."

"Intentionally."

"Gio-"

"Lexi, man, I love you, but I can't do this now. Not when I'm about to spend the next three hours watching him in tight pants and then three more hours being all funny and charming."

He grabs my arm and pulls me to a stop. "I'll say one last thing, and then I'll be quiet about it for the rest of the night." I raise an eyebrow at him. "I swear on the life of Prue Halliwell."

"Didn't she die in the third season?"

He ignores me. "Tucker is a good guy and so are you. You both deserve to have someone who cares about you. You can be that for each other."

I nod, and Lexi starts walking again. He doesn't say anything else about Tucker and just talks about the choreo for the Christmas cheer party coming up in a few weeks. I'm thankful he's keeping it superficial.

I need to not think about Tucker anymore.

The thought has barely entered my brain when the man himself gets out of his Honda Civic ahead of us. He looks calm and confident. Like he knows he is going to dominate the game today. He probably will. There is no way that man is not heading to the NFL. He was born for it. He works fucking hard, but still, the raw talent he has is fucking breathtaking.

Just like him.

No.

Bad brain. No Tucker thinking thoughts.

Am I seriously telling my brain off? I am ridiculous.

I know the moment Lexi sees Tucker because his gaze snaps to mine. "You swore on Prue's life."

His hand flies to his neck like he's clutching his nonexistent pearls."I didn't say anything!"

"Yet," I sing-song back at him. "Come on, we need to hurry up and get changed. I need to borrow some of Luke's body glitter."

I need to channel my inner Zac Efron and get my head in the game.

We are up 37-9 and there are 28 seconds left of the final quarter. I swear I have been hard the entire time the defensive line has been on the field. Cheering has been a fucking nightmare. I put on my best sports jock to try and hide my physical reaction to Tucker, but I'm not sure it's working. Thank fuck we have pom poms for this routine.

I doubt many queer guys are unaffected by the tight pants football players wear. They showcase their sexy bubble butts to perfection. Of course, I daydream of sliding my cock inside as Tucker moans my name.

Shit.

Not Tucker. As a random player moans my name. Random.

Ran. Dom

"You're thinking about-"

"Shut up," I mumble at Perry, not even bothering to take my eyes off Tucker. He snorts like an adorable little micro pig, making me smile.

"Head out of the clouds, Gio. We've got a crowd to chant to."

He's right. I tear my eyes away as they line up another play and turn to the crowd. Being this far up on points at this stage of the game doesn't mean we relax. Fuck no. Sometimes, we might try out some new cheers, but whatever we choose to do, we always go hard.

We spread out in front of the lines and get into formation. As we start clapping our hands and thighs, the crowd starts clapping along in time with us. I love this. Getting the crowd worked up and excited with our cheers and routines energizes me. It's a heady feeling. Cheerleading might not be my whole future like Lexi, but I know I want to do something where I get to inspire people like this.

A few moments later and we start cheering in perfect unison.

"DEFENCE PUSH THEM BACK!"

"DEFENCE GIVE NO SLACK!"

"DEFENCE GET THAT BALL!"

"DEFENCE MAKE THEM STALL!"

We repeat this a few times, and on the last one I end with a backflip like always.

"WOO!" I scream back at the crowd. Their eyes are all on the game, which must have started back up as we finished our cheer.

I turn around to see what's happening and hear my name being screamed by someone somewhere. It doesn't really register because all I can see is the massive St. Albans player about to collide with me.

I don't move.

I don't scream.

I just freeze.

Waiting for the hit that never comes.