Page 30 of Teasing the Winger

“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.

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