Page 33 of Testing the Goalie

Sasha’s eyes sparkle with mischief. “I love that you understand me so quickly. Maybe we’ll have some fun a little later.” He winks at Monster, making my friend a little uncomfortable.

“Get your paws off the poor boy,” Rio scolds Sasha. “Not everyone is instantly DTF like you are.”

Sasha looks at Rio and licks his lips. “What about you? You keep pushing me away, but I’m positive I’ll break you down one day. We’d have so much fun together.” He practically purrs the words, but Rio rolls his eyes.

“In your dreams,” Rio murmurs, shutting the door he’s still holding open and walking back into the living room.

Sasha’s eyes follow my roommate with a hint of longing. Poor guy. He’s the world’s biggest flirt and also a notorious player like I was, but I know a secret no one else does. I’m just not sure how long I’m going to have to hold onto it.

“We picked up some snacks if you’re hungry. Rio will show you where they are,” I tell Monster, who rushes off in search of food. You don’t get to be his size without a decent appetite.

“Did I go too far there?” Sasha whispers when Monster is out of earshot.

“If you did, Rio would have said something,” I assure Sasha. “But when will you admit that you’re crushing on him?”

“And ruin my reputation?” Sasha questions. I lift a brow at him, showing that I’m not amused by his response, and he sighs. “What’s the point? He’s not into me.”

“What makes you say that?” I ask. “Have you actually talked to him about it?”

Sasha huffs out a breath but shakes his head. “If he were interested, I would know.”

I chuckle and pat him on the shoulder. “Sometimes, people are really good at hiding their true feelings. Have you ever considered acting a little less flirtatious around him? Hitting on other guys in front of him is probably not going to help either,” I advise.

“I know,” he whines. “But it’s my default mode. I’ve never had a crush like this.”

“How about you try being Rio’s friend for a while, dial down the flirting a smidge, and see what happens?”

Sasha purses his lips, thinking it through, and eventually shrugs. “I guess I could try it. I mean, what I’m doing now obviously isn’t working.”

I’m not sure if Sasha is aware Rio is demisexual or not, and it’s not my place to say. But if he stands any chance of getting Rio to like him, he needs to cool it by like a hundred.

“What kind of snacks do you have?” Sasha asks after a beat.

I chuckle, tilting my head. “Let’s go find out.”

When we arrive in the kitchen, Monster and Rio are deep in conversation.

“I just thought I was broken,” Monster murmurs.

Rio shakes his head. “I promise you’re not.”

I clear my throat, alerting the guys we are here in case they don’t want to continue the conversation with Sasha and me present.

“Hey,” Monster says with a shy smile. “Rio was just explaining the asexual spectrum.”

“Are you ace?” Sasha asks.

Monster tilts his head from side to side.“I’m not actually sure what I am. I just thought I was a little messed up in the head.”

“So, I was explaining that there isn’t anything wrong with him,” Rio steps in. “There’s the possibility that he’s demisexual like I am, asexual, aceflux, or a bunch of different things. The asexual spectrum is broad, but also, he doesn’t need a label if he doesn’t want one.”

A sense of understanding is visible behind Sasha’s eyes as he listens to Rio. Maybe now he’ll understand why I suggested he change how he acts toward my roommate if he actually likes him.

“I wish more people talked about this stuff,” Monster mumbles.

Rio nods, offering him a comforting smile. “More people probably would if they didn’t feel exactly how you’re feeling right now. No one wants to admit that they aren’t like everyone else, especially when we live in a society that tends to be hypersexual and is all about conforming. There are a few informative forums online if you want to talk with others.”

“That would be awesome,” Monster says.

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