Chapter 25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

SASHA

The entire week flew by, and before I know it, I'm back in the mascot costume cheering on the GSU soccer team. Since this is a home game, I have a few more of the cheer squad with me tonight and am able to perform more than I am at away games, which is always a great time. Although I have stumbled a few times tonight when I look too closely at the crowd. I keep imagining that Lux is there even though I know he isn't. Thankfully, no one has mentioned my mishaps.

This game has been a lot closer than the other ones since their major loss and I'm pretty sure the entire crowd is biting their nails hoping the team pulls off another win.

"What is up with them tonight?" Rebecca whispers.

"I might actually have something to do with that," Hailey replies, sounding nervous.

"What the hell did you do?" Rebecca whisper shouts.

"Nothing," Hailey responds, holding her hands up. "BooBoo asked me out before the game, and I told him I needed time to think about it."

"Shit," I say, making sure to keep my voice low so no one hears me.

"What do you need to think about?" Rebecca asks. "He's hot, and you talk about him all the time. Just go over there and tell him yes already."

Hailey bites her nail while staring at BooBoo on the field, who misses another pass. He curses and looks beyond pissed off, but he keeps trying, which I guess is a good thing.

For some reason, the ref blows his whistle, and Coach shouts for a line-up switch.

"The reason I told him I'd think about it is because I actually like him. Which means if we date and for some reason we break up, then I'm guaranteed to be left with a broken heart," Hailey tells us while keeping her eyes on BooBoo.

We should probably be getting the crowd amped up, but I'm pretty sure this conversation is more important right now.

"Giiirrlllll," Rebecca draws out the word. "You can't live your life worrying about a future heartbreak that might not even happen. Live for the now. You like the boy, and he obviously likes you too, so fucking say yes already."

Hailey huffs out a breath but marches her way over to BooBoo and gives his shoulder a shake.

We're too far away to hear what they are saying, but judging by how bright BooBoo is smiling, I'm pretty sure Hailey just made his night. They exchange a few more words, and Hailey kisses his cheek before making her way back to us.

"Hopefully, he can play better now that he's not worried that you were about to turn him down," Rebecca says, but Hailey just rolls her eyes, unable to get rid of the big ass smile on her lips.

"Enough talking; let's get the crowd going," she says and calls for the other cheerleaders to join us.

As soon as Hailey agreed to go out with BooBoo, it was like a fire was lit under his ass, and he played the best I've seen him play all season. Which allowed GSU to walk away with a winning score of five-three.

"You did so good," I tell Rio once we've both changed and had a quick shower.

"Thanks, babe, but I'll admit I was a little nervous we were gonna lose for a bit there."

"So was I. We're pretty sure BooBoo was getting lost in his head because he asked Hailey out, and she told him she needed to think about it."

Rio's brows shoot up and it's like a light bulb goes off in his head. "That makes a lot of sense because after she talked to him was when everything turned around. So, she agreed to go out with him?"

"Yup," I reply with a big grin. "I think they are going to make the cutest couple."

"Not as cute as us, though," he says, squeezing my hand and beaming at me like a lovesick fool. Which I have to admit is my new favorite look on him. He literally looks at me like I hung the stars, and it causes butterflies to erupt in my stomach every time.

As we walk to his car, I force myself not to look around, which is getting easier as each day passes. It's been two weeks since the video went viral, and there have been no signs of Lux, which is what the logical side of my brain has been predicting all along. But that still isn't enough to completely wash my anxiety away.

"Are you ready to have your ass kicked at Mario Kart?" I ask Rio as he drives us to his apartment.

Monster and Bronny are joining us for our video game night tonight, and I even convinced Max to come along. It's going to be great to spend a night with all of our friends.

I've been able to tell a simplified version of my story to all of our friends now, and the way they have rallied around me has left me blown away. I knew I wasn't alone anymore, but they've really shown me just how much I mean to them. They've made sure I'm never left alone if I don't want to be and are always a phone call away if I'm panicking. And they've never once made me feel like I'm stupid for feeling the way I feel. They are really the best people a guy could ask for.