Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

SASHA

There's a giant smile on my face as I talk with Evangeline about everything I'm to expect on this adventure. Okay, it's technically not an adventure, but it feels like one to me. I've never been more excited to be trapped on a bus with a bunch of sweaty soccer players in my life. Wait, why does that sound like the makings of a porno? I give my head a shake at the completely random thought and continue my journey to the waiting team and my boss.

"Are you excited for your first away game?" Evangeline asks me, and I nod exuberantly.

"Beyond excited," I correct her. "I can't wait to put on a show even if I'll only be on the sidelines."

Apparently, when you're the mascot for the opposing team you don't get to be front and center like you do at home games. Which I'll admit is totally lame, but I'll still give my all from the small amount of space I'll be allotted.

"Even from the sidelines, you're going to kill it," Rebecca, one of the cheerleaders who will be by my side tonight, tells me with a wide grin.

"One hundred percent. You're a star and will shine wherever you are," Hailey, the other cheerleader coming on this trip, adds.

I smile brightly at both the girls, then flick my hand at them in an ‘ oh you' kind of motion. "Stop buttering me up like that, or my head will get too big to fit in the costume," I tease, earning a giggle from both of them.

"Oh, you love hearing how amazing you are," Hailey says, knowing me so well already.

I shrug. No point in denying it.

"Come on, let's go get our seats before the guys take all the good ones," Rebecca urges us, but I motion for them to go on.

"I'll be right there, but I'm going to talk to a friend first," I tell them as they make their way onto the bus. I walk toward Rio, who is chatting with a few of his teammates. Are you guys ready to win?" I ask them when I arrive.

"Always," one of the guys with shaggy dark brown hair and a killer smile says to me.

I narrow my brows at him and stare for a moment until he starts to squirm.

"Why is he looking at me like that?" the guy whispers to Rio.

"Because he's crazy," Rio replies with a shrug.

"I'm just trying to figure out if you're being cocky or confident," I tell the guy.

"Does it matter?" he questions with a pinched expression.

I scoff and roll my eyes. "Obviously. Confidence is attractive and admirable. Cockiness makes you a douche. Soooo…" I draw out the word. "Are you saying you're ready because you've trained your ass off and know you can handle whatever is thrown at you? Oooorrr, are you saying it because you think it makes you look tough?"

Rio presses his lips together, his eyes shining with the laughter he's holding back, but the other man standing with them can't control himself and lets out a bark of a laugh.

The brunette flips off his friend, then rolls his shoulders back and meets my gaze. "I'm confident," he replies with a straight spine and firm tip of his chin.

"Good," I reply with a smirk and stick my hand out. "I'm Sasha, by the way, the newest Kerrington."

"I'm Rob, but everyone calls me BooBoo," he replies, shaking my hand.

"I'm Whiley," the other man with dirty blonde hair and stunning green eyes tells me, taking my hand after BooBoo lets go.

"Is that your real name?" I check, even though I'm almost certain it's not.

He shakes his head with a toothy smile. "Nope, but I don't give that out to anyone."

" We don't even know his real first name," Rio supplies.

"And I think the only reason we know his last name is because it's printed on his jersey," BooBoo adds.

Whiley lifts a shoulder. "Maybe I just like to be mysterious."

"Rumor on the street is he's a serial killer and kills anyone who finds out his real name," BooBoo stage whispers, making Whiley roll his eyes, but he doesn't deny said rumor either… interesting.

"Time to get on the bus," the coach calls out in a booming voice.

All of us head toward the door at the same time, not wanting to be on Coach's bad side. Whiley and BooBoo are ahead, and Rio is right behind me.

"Do you have a seat partner yet?" I ask him as we get on.

"I always sit with BooBoo," he answers. "You could probably sit with Whiley if you want."

"And risk being murdered?" I whisper in mock horror.

Rio chuckles. "I don't think he's actually a serial killer."

"Well, I'd rather be safe than sorry," I respond, scanning the seats and noticing Evangeline has an empty spot next to her, across the aisle from the cheerleaders. "Oh, look, a free seat next to not a serial killer," I state, pointing toward Evangeline, who smiles and waves at me.

"How do you know she isn't a serial killer?" Rio whispers into my ear in a deep, breathy tone.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and goosebumps cover my arms. Not from the words, which are innocent, but from my stupid imagination that is now conjuring up different scenarios of him whispering in my ear. Thoughts that have no place running around in my brain at this moment. I fight back the lustful shiver that wants to escape as my mind travels straight into the gutter.

I flash a smile at him over my shoulder, hoping he doesn't realize that his voice turned me on. "I'll take my chances with the one who doesn't have the rumor about her," I tell him, then take the seat next to my boss.

"See you later," he responds as he passes me to sit with his friends.

"Making new friends?" Evangeline asks with a warm grin.

"Kind of. BooBoo and Whiley are new, but I've known Rio a while now," I supply.

"That's excellent. It's always good to be on happy terms with the team," she responds. "The last thing we want is animosity between our mascot and the players."

"Has that happened before?" I check, earning me a sigh.

"Unfortunately, it's happened more than I would like to admit. And it's always over the dumbest things."

"I promise not to make any waves," I assure her. "Besides, everyone always loves me." I wink at her, and she shoves my shoulder in a playful way.

"Didn't I overhear you tell BooBoo not to be cocky?" she questions with a knowing smile and a lifted brow.

"I'm not being cocky. I'm confident that everyone loves me," I reply, making her laugh.

It doesn't take long for the rest of the team to board the bus and we are finally on our way to my first away game as Kerrington the Koala.