Page 4 of Teasing the Winger

“I don’t think I’ll mind working for a living, but I’m not sure how I’ll feel about living on my own,” Bronny adds.

“Yeah, that’s going to take some getting used to for sure,” Monster replies.

“My parents weren’t around a lot when I was growing up. It kind of felt like I was living on my own when I was a teenager, so I don’t think I’ll mind it too much, but I’ll probably miss you losers,” I supply.

There’s still a smile on my face as I talk with my friends, but bringing up my parents leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. When I was young, I went to my grandpa’s house after school, or they would hire a sitter to watch me when they went off to get drunk or whatever they did, but when I turned twelve, and grandpa passed away, it was up to me to take care of my myself. I was in charge of feeding myself, making my own lunches, and tucking myself into bed at night. If I needed help with homework, I went to my friends. It was lonely at times, but my friends were amazing and loved me more than my parents ever did.

“Even when we aren’t living together anymore, we’ll still be friends. I’ll make sure to harass you as much as possible,” Monster assures me with a toothy grin.

“Aww, you’re going to remember us small fries when you’re a super famous baseball player?” I tease him.

“Like they say, never forget where you come from.”

I’d like to forget where I came from, or at least the people that I came from, but I get what he’s saying and appreciate that he’ll want to continue our friendship. I’m not afraid that he won’t follow through because I already have one friend who became a professional athlete. We still talk on the phone at least once a month and text each other constantly. Chase will always be one of my best friends.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I almost snicker when I figure out who’s texting me. It’s almost like he knew I was thinking about him.

Chase: Killer game! Way to start out the season strong.

Me: Thanks! Our team is meshing super well. Hopefully we will keep that up.

Chase: You’ve got this!

Me: Thanks man. You guys have killed it in the preseason. Are you excited for the regular season to start?

Chase: Yes! I’m ready to bring home another Super Bowl win.

I chuckle because even though I’m only reading his words, I can practically feel his excitement. Chase is a man who lives, breathes, and eats football. His only other love is his family and his husband. How he ended up snagging a nerdy lawyer who hated all sports when they first met still baffles me some days, but I’m happy for them. I’d like to find the kind of love they have one day. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done.

Dating in college isn’t easy when you’re demisexual. Most people aren’t actually looking to build a relationship they only want to fuck, and I’m not sexually attracted to anyone until I’ve developed a close relationship with them. It’s crazy how small the circle is on dating apps when sex is completely off the table. I’ve had a few people try, but very few stick it out for long. I’m usually left with the you’re a nice guy, but this isn’t working out line.

In high school, I had a couple of relationships and lost my virginity, but nothing lasted for long. It took me a while to come to terms with actually being demi, accepting myself for who I am, and getting over feeling like I was broken. Growing up and maturing helped a lot with that. It is hard to do that when you are younger because being different can feel like the worst thing.

I know now that things aren’t going to happen for me the same as they do for others, and that’s okay.

I don’t mind being single because my focus should be on soccer and finishing college, but eventually, I’d like to find someone to settle down with.

While I think about a future with a partner by my side, an overly flamboyant flirt with forest green eyes, long flowy blonde locks, and a jawline so perfect he must have been blessed by some form of deity pops into my head, and it causes me to pause.

Why the hell am I thinking about Sasha of all people? A man who I only met because his best friend was dating my best friend. Then he just decided that he was going to stay in my life even after they left. A guy who is ridiculously pushy and tiptoes on my boundary line at any given chance. Someone I’ve only just started to think of as a friend. A person who most definitely would not make a good life partner. Quickly I push away the insane thoughts and try to focus on my studies. The last thing I need right now is to develop feelings for the biggest player I know.

But of course forgetting about Sasha is easier said than done when he bursts through the front door seconds later, like my thoughts summoned him or something.

It doesn’t take me long to realize something is off as Sasha makes his way toward us. His normally well-groomed hair is a mess, looking almost matted in places like he slept on it wrong or he’s been running his fingers through it so much that it got bunched up. His eyes are bloodshot, and tear stains mark his beautiful face, causing my heart to ache for him. What the hell happened?

“You look like shit,” Monster notes.

“I’ve had a couple of really shitty days,” he confesses, his bottom lip wobbling a bit like he’s going to cry again. “Max isn’t home, and I just don’t want to be alone right now.”

Max is Sasha’s roommate and one of his best friends and who he would normally go to when shit went sideways, but it makes sense that our place would be his backup plan. For some reason, he decided after meeting us that we should all be best friends. Monster and Bronny were one hundred percent on board from the get-go, but I was a bit more apprehensive. His persistent flirting annoyed the shit out of me and had me judging him before I really got to know him. I have always tried to hold my judgments on people until I’ve had a chance to spend more time with them, but I didn’t do that with Sasha. I immediately put him in the annoying acquaintance category without giving him a chance to show me who he really is.

That didn’t stop Sasha from showing up all of the time and inserting himself into my life, whether I liked it or not. Eventually I learned that my assumptions about him were all wrong, but I was also too embarrassed to admit that to him, so I’ve kept up my nonchalant behavior around him. Acting like he still annoys the shit out of me, when in reality, that isn’t the case. Although how I actually feel about him is still unclear to me.

But judging by how I have the urge to wrap him in my arms right now and wipe away his tears, he means more to me than I thought. Of course, I don’t do that. Instead, I sit up to give Sasha a place to sit on the couch with me and don’t say a word.

“What happened?” Bronny asks, closing his book and leaning forward to give Sasha his full attention.

Sasha takes a shaky breath as he takes his spot beside me. Again, I want to hold him, to push away his sadness and give him the strength he needs. But that would be way out of the ordinary for me, so I keep my hands to myself.

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