Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

SASHA

"You're the best mascot ever," Thomas, the little boy who was so eager to meet me, says with a toothy grin. "Can you do another backflip for me?"

"Thomas, Kerrington isn't a show pony," his father reminds the child, but I wave him off and step back to show off my moves, which has the boy smiling brightly and laughing with pure joy.

"Unfortunately, that's all the time we have tonight, but hopefully, you can come to more games in the future," Hailey tells the boy when I'm done.

He nods quickly like a little bobblehead. "My dad is the soccer fan, but Kerrington is the reason I come. I've never seen a mascot move like he does."

"Thomas wasn't looking forward to this weekend since he thinks his grandparent's house is boring, but when I told him we could come to this game his entire attitude changed. I'm just glad you were here. I know the mascots aren't always at away games."

"Kerrington will be at every GSU soccer game this season," Hailey informs them, and the boy's face lights up.

"Looks like I'll need to buy more tickets," the father says while smiling at his son.

I give Thomas another high-five before letting Hailey guide me to our change area.

"You need to slow down on the field after the games," Hailey says as she helps me take the koala head off.

"Why?" I question with a raised brow. "Do you struggle to keep up?"

She rolls her eyes at my playfulness. "How you move as fast as you do in that fucking thing, I will never understand. But what I was really trying to get at with my statement is if you run off on me like that, there is a higher chance you'll fall and get hurt. I know you can't see much in that thing which is why you have a handler in the first place. The last thing we want is for you to get injured and not be able to perform. You know how superstitious the team is. If you're down and out so will the team be."

I sigh, but it's hard to fight logic like that.

"Fine, I'll slow down or at least give you a run-down of my plan before bolting onto the pitch," I assure her.

She smiles and nods. "That's all I ask. I know the fans love seeing your energy, but I'm serious when I say it would be the end of the world if you get injured. GSU wants the championship win this year, and that won't be possible if the team loses their good luck charm."

"I've never understood how superstitious athletes can be," I mumble as I open a water bottle and guzzle down the contents, remembering Gabriel telling me about how Chase only washes his socks on the first of the month.

"It's exhausting sometimes," Hailey says. "I've seen the dumbest shit happen all over a stupid superstition. Sometimes I also think people make shit up just so they'll be treated special."

"Like what?" I ask as she helps me out of the rest of the costume.

"One player for the football team last year told everyone he had to have sex the night before a game," she explains, and I gasp at the audacity of the man. She giggles before continuing. "The thing is, even though I thought he was lying, there was a game that apparently he didn't get laid before, and they lost so badly it almost hurt."

"Damn," I whisper before Hailey darts behind a curtained off area to get changed.

Since it's just the two of us, I stay where I am and work quickly to get out of my sweaty clothes and change into clean dry ones. I'll shower at the hotel later tonight since our room doesn't have showers.

"Are you decent?" Hailey asks before coming out from behind the curtain.

"My junks covered," I call out, and she giggles before joining me in the open space.

"I'm glad I got assigned to be your main handler," she tells me with a big grin. "You're a lot more fun than the others on the mascot team."

"I've barely met them," I tell her as I pull my shirt on and gather up my belongings. "I've been busy focusing on my training with Evangeline and have only met each of them once. Now that I'm dedicated to the soccer team, I probably won't see them at all."

I know that if I was switching off, I'd have to meet with the mascot team to give them a brief breakdown of what went down, but since I won't be doing that, I can skip that step.

"Well, between you and me, you're the best," she tells me with a wink.

I chuckle and shake my head. "You don't need to butter me up I already love you," I tell her then tilt my head toward the bags for the mascot costume. "Think we can convince some of the players to help us carry Kerrington?"

"I bet Rio would be on board," she says with a knowing smirk. "I saw you two talking on the bus and looking all cozy together. And then after the game, he couldn't take his eyes off of you."

I press my lips together, but I can't contain the grin that's wanting to spread across my lips. "He maybe sort of asked me out," I tell her, feeling like a teenager again.

Hailey squeals, but it's quickly cut off by a knock on the door.

"Did you guys need help?" Rio calls out through the door.

"Did we summon him somehow?" Hailey whispers before letting him and BooBoo in. "We were just talking about needing some muscle to move this stupid costume," she says, batting her eyes at BooBoo, who blushes instantly.

"Well, good thing we decided to stop by," he tells her with a charming grin.

Rio winks at me but doesn't say anything. Instead, he just helps me pack up the costume then him and BooBoo carry the bags out.

"If I knew dating a soccer player would get me out of carrying that heavy thing, I would have tried to do it sooner," I joke as we walk down the hall to the bus.

"I'm also happy I get to cash in on the soccer boyfriend perks," Hailey voices.

"Want your own soccer boyfriend?" BooBoo asks.

"I don't know, I think all the good-looking players are taken now," she says with a pout.

"I'm single," he tells her, completely missing the joke she just made.

"I stand by the statement I just said," Hailey says with a sassy tone and winks at him before climbing onto the bus.

BooBoo stands there for a moment with his jaw damn near on the floor. "Did she just call me ugly?"

I laugh and shrug. "Maybe she's playing hard to get?"

BooBoo presses his lips together and nods before placing his part of the mascot costume beneath the bus. "Well, it's a good thing I like a challenge," he grumbles before following Hailey on board.

"Those two would make a cute couple," I tell Rio as he puts the bags he was carrying beneath the bus.

"Hailey would be good for him. BooBoo needs a woman who will put him in his place," he replies as we take the steps into the bus and find two open seats. "Are you rooming with Hailey tonight?"

I nod. "Evangeline made sure it was okay with the both of us, but since I'm gay, Hailey said she didn't have any concerns that I would come on to her."

Rio laughs. "She makes a solid point."

"Why are you asking? Would you like to come over and visit?" I check.

"Yeah. I was kind of hoping that I earned a victory kiss. I'm still kicking myself in the ass for not following through last weekend."

My heart beats a little faster at his confession, and my body heats with desire. "Is BooBoo your roommate? Maybe we can convince Hailey to hang out with him for a little bit."

Rio bites his lower lip and nods. "I like that idea."

Holy shit. If things go according to plan, I'm going to be alone with Rio, which has happened many times in the past, but tonight will be different. It will be the first time we're alone together since we've decided to try things. I can't wait to kiss him and see where the night takes us. To some, it might be fast and feel like we're skipping steps like not actually going on a first date, but it doesn't feel rushed to me. Maybe it's because we've been friends for so long.

"BooBoo invited me to his room to play video games with him," Hailey tells me when we get to the hotel room. "So, you'll have our room all to yourself until curfew." She winks at me, and I instantly pull her into my arms for a bear hug.

"You are the best friend a boy could ask for," I whisper into her ear.

"I know," she sing-songs. "Now be a dear and take my bag to our room," she tells me before handing over her rolling bag.

"If this is the price I have to pay to spend some time alone with a guy I like, then I'll gladly pay it," I say as the boys join us.

"I hear Hailey and BooBoo are going to hang out for a bit," Rio tells me with excitement in his eyes when he stares at me.

"Meet me at my room in fifteen minutes," I reply as we get on the elevator.

"Why can't I come now?" he asks, tilting his head to the side.

"Because I need to shower," I tell him. "Our change area didn't have one, and I need to wash this sweat off me."

"I can appreciate that," he replies with a dip of his chin. "But I'll be knocking on your door in exactly fifteen minutes. I'm really looking forward to that celebratory kiss."

"Aww, they are too cute together," Hailey coos, leaning into BooBoo a little.

"Can I get a celebratory kiss too?" he asks her, but she only rolls her eyes.

"You have to do more than win a soccer game to earn a kiss from me."

"Can't blame a guy for asking," he mutters.

The elevator opens and I turn to the left as the rest of them turn to the right. I give them a wave before disappearing into my hotel room.

My heart is racing as anticipation for what's about to happen ripples through my body.

I'm finally going to kiss Rio.