Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

RIO

Watching Sasha look over his shoulder constantly the past few days has my heart breaking for him. When he asked me if I would be okay with driving him around for a little while I said yes without hesitation. He claims that deep down he knows Lux won't come looking for him but being around others calms his anxiety. I would do anything to help the man who is already claiming a permanent place in my heart.

We've been dating for two weeks today, but it feels like months. We've fallen into an easy routine, and he's pretty much all I can think about when I'm not with him—well, him and soccer. Dating Sasha comes so naturally that it has me wondering if soul mates are a real thing. I've never felt so content in all of my life, and it's simply because I have this amazing man as my partner. He just makes everything a little bit better.

Everyone around me has noticed the subtle change, even Coach, who simply slapped me on the shoulder and told me happiness looks good on me.

"Are you excited to get away for a little bit?" I ask Sasha as the bus drives us for another away game.

He nods with a big smile. "I'm beyond excited. I already feel like I can breathe a little deeper. If Lux was looking for me, which he probably isn't, but if he was, he wouldn't have any idea that I'd be traveling with the soccer team. Only you guys and those in charge know that I'm the mascot."

I give his hand a squeeze and press my lips to his cheek. Fuck I hate that he is harboring so much anxiety about that stupid video going viral. I really wish I had connections to figure out what happened to that Lux guy so I could give Sasha peace of mind. I don't think this fear is going to go away until he knows that Lux isn't a threat. It took him half a year to stop worrying when he first moved here, and that was when Lux had no way of finding him. Heaven only knows how long it's going to take to calm his nerves this time. Although the last time Sasha was all alone, and now, he has a massive support system so maybe it won't be so bad.

In the meantime, all I can do is continue to be part of Sasha's support system, which I will do for as long as he is in my life.

The energy on the bus is electric after another fantastic win. Sasha really is our good luck charm.

"Three cheers for Kerrington," BooBoo shouts as we make our way to the hotel. "Hip-Hip."

"Hooray!" everyone cheers, causing Sasha to turn the brightest shade of pink.

"Hip-Hip," BooBoo calls out again.

"Hooray!" the team yells back louder.

"Hip-Hip," BooBoo says one last time, and the final hooray that follows is loud you can practically feel the words vibrating through your chest.

"You all might think I'm your good luck charm," Sasha says while kneeling on his chair so everyone can see him. "But your talent is the real reason you're bringing home those wins. Although I won't complain about getting to tag along for this amazing journey."

Everyone hoots and hollers in agreement when Sasha sits back down, and I lean over to steal a quick kiss.

"I'm really glad you're along for the journey," I whisper to him, making him blush even harder.

"I don't think I've ever blushed this much in my life," he tells me with a toothy grin.

"You just need to figure out how to take a compliment better. You're amazing, and everyone can see it. That's why we love having you at every game. Well, that and our stupid superstitions."

He chuckles and nods. "This team is amazing, so it's really no hardship at all to be with you guys for every game."

"BooBoo said if you wanted to sneak into our room tonight to cuddle that he wouldn't care. We're just not allowed to fuck," I tell him, and his eyes light up.

"Really?" he asks, and I nod. "Well, I'm not going to turn that down. You already know what an amazing cuddler you are. I'll let Hailey know so she can cover for me in case someone does room checks."

Sasha is practically vibrating with excitement as we pull up to the hotel.

"I'm going to clear things with Hailey. Text me once you have your room number, and I'll meet you there," he tells me as we get off the bus. Then he pecks my cheek and rushes off to find his friend.

"You still good with the plan?" I check with BooBoo as we wait for our room assignments and key cards.

He nods. "But I meant what I said. If you two start fucking, I'm going to pour ice water on you."

I laugh and hold my hands up. "No need to threaten such levels of violence."

It doesn't take long for us to get our key cards, and BooBoo and I head to our room to get settled.

"Are you hanging out with Hailey until curfew?" I check, and he shrugs.

"She said she had to call her grandpa. I guess it's his birthday, and now is the best time to get ahold of him. If she gets off before then, we might hang out."

"You guys sure seemed to be getting cozy on the bus," I note, making him blush.

"She's pretty awesome."

"Why haven't you asked her out yet?" I inquire.

"Because I'm pretty sure she'll shoot me down, and I haven't always been the best at handling rejection. I mean, I don't pull any bro shit and get mad at the girl, but I always end up feeling really down afterward. Especially when it's someone I'm really into, like Hailey."

I nod. "I get it. Being demi means I'm not sexually attracted to someone until I've developed a close relationship with them. And sometimes, when those feelings do show up, the other person has no interest in you that way at all, and it can sting like a bitch."

A knock on the door stops our conversation, and I instantly move to open it.

"Long time no see," Sasha says when I open the door.

"I know it's been ages ," I joke back.

"Are you sure you're cool with this?" he asks BooBoo, who nods.

"Absolutely, I still feel bad about that video going viral, so consider this my apology."

BooBoo doesn't know all the details about why Sasha has been on edge, but after a mini panic attack this morning when BooBoo tried to scare Sasha, I had to fill him in on the basics.

"It's not your fault. Nobody knows that I was hiding from someone. And it has been seven years, so in theory, that person shouldn't be a threat anymore."

"It still sucks that you had to be put in the spotlight without your permission," BooBoo mumbles.

"Shit happens," Sasha tells him with a shrug. "I promise I'm not mad at anyone. And I'm sure my anxiety will go down in the next couple of weeks once the smoke settles and we aren't as viral as we are now."

BooBoo nods, but having known him for as long as I have, I can tell he's still beating himself up, which I completely understand. I've also spent some time beating myself up over being the reason Sasha was in that video in the first place. But no one could have predicted how viral that video got, so there really isn't anyone to blame.

"Should we check out the TV guide and see if there's anything good on?" Sasha suggests, and both BooBoo and I nod.

Sasha grabs the remote then we both get comfortable on our bed while BooBoo settles in on his.

There's a channel playing back-to-back reruns of the office, so we turn it on and spend some time vegging and laughing as we relax.

A good laugh session is exactly what all of us needed.