Page 36 of Fear of Love (Falling #3)

Another minute passed before Mateo’s team was announced. The crowd around us roared as the team ran out onto the field. Along with everyone else, I stood up, hands cupped to my mouth as I screamed.

Just like last time, number ten jogged near the back of the group. Mateo held his helmet by his side as he ran, unflinching as the yelling increased. As he got closer, I could see the set of his jaw as he got into game mode.

Mateo was goofy and easygoing, but like his brothers, when it came to something he loved, he was serious. I wasn’t sure if it was how he was raised or if it was just part of their DNA, but the Boone’s never gave up.

When the team settled below us, an ear-piercing whistle sounded beside me. I cringed, pretty sure I lost some of my hearing. I opened my mouth to ask Landon what the hell he was doing, but when I noticed Mateo had stopped to look in our direction, I clamped it shut.

His eyes swept over us, and a smile grew on his face. With a wink, he joined his team.

“How do you know how to whistle like that?”

Landon shrugged. “Wrangling tons of little kids on the ice is not as easy as it looks.”

Over the last few weeks, I’d spent more time at Hockey Haven . I watched a few of his practices as well as two of the Junior League games. For a guy who could be quite grumpy, Landon had a surprising amount of patience.

When the little kids asked endless questions, he calmly answered every single one.

When a few kids from the Junior League asked him if he could help with drills, Landon didn’t hesitate to stay behind.

A week ago during a practice, a little boy fell to the ice and started crying, but before the kid’s mom could get to him, Landon gently helped the boy up and spoke to him softly.

I wasn’t sure what he said, but within minutes, the boy was smiling and skating back to his friends.

Every kid that went to Hockey Haven loved Landon, and while he wouldn’t admit it, he loved them as well. I saw it in how he interacted with them, as well as his assistant coach and coworkers.

As the teams got ready to play, I felt the nerves coming off of Landon. His eyes were glued to the field, and his knee kept bouncing.

I leaned toward him and put my hand on his knee. “Relax. He’s got this,” I whispered.

All I got was a nod but I understood. He wasn’t going to relax until the game was over. I squeezed his knee before I put it back in my lap as a whistle was blown.

It took a few minutes of kicking the ball and getting possession before Mateo jogged onto the field for the first time.

Next to me, Josie let out an ear-piercing scream.

I didn’t know why I thought she’d be more tame here than at a hockey game.

Either way, she was someone you wanted in the stands, supporting you.

I held my breath as Mateo got in position to hike the ball. Over the last week, I’d done a bit of research on football so I could at least learn what was going on. If Mateo was going to be this big football star, I wanted to know the basics.

With the ball gripped tightly, he moved smoothly down the field, looking for the right moment to pass.

Watching Mateo play always stirred something electric.

Like you just knew you were seeing someone that was going to be big.

There was no doubt in my mind that he was going to be one of the top football players in the league.

I think everyone knew that as we watched him throw a perfect spiral to his teammate.

He moved like he was meant to be on the football field. Just like how Wyatt, Trevor, and Bryton moved on the ice. Like they belonged.

Minutes passed as Mateo’s team slowly moved down the field to get in position to score. I knew in my bones that Mateo’s team would win. The way they commanded the field, the way his players seemed in sync with him as he threw the ball, each making sure he wasn’t hit by an opposing player.

As the team neared the end zone, I reached out and gripped Landon’s arm. He didn’t even flinch as I squeezed. All nine of us sat there, eyes glued to the field as Mateo hiked the ball. He darted backward, arm cocked as he tried to find an opening.

When a big guy from the other team came barreling toward him, I dug my nails into Landon’s arm. The guy was huge. Just when I thought Mateo would be smashed to the ground, he pivoted on his heel. With the ball tucked against his side like a baby, Mateo took off down the field.

He darted and weaved, his own teammates doing a good job at holding back players trying to hit him.

“Go!” Landon yelled. Everyone else echoed that same one word.

With only steps between him and the end zone, a player came out of nowhere. The guy lunged to tackle him. Mateo jumped. Right over the player that dove at him.

It was like Mateo froze mid-air for half a second before he landed back on the grass. Right. In. The. End zone.

Touchdown.

I jumped to my feet along with everyone else, screaming like a lunatic. Josie and I turned to each other, shouting in each other’s faces, totally unhinged and not caring one bit.

Then I looked over at Landon. My face stretched in the biggest grin, and he matched it. That smile of his hit me like a wave. He didn’t smile often, but when he did…it felt like the whole world tilted.

“Told you he got this,” I shouted over the noise.

“He’s got this,” Landon repeated.

“We are the champions!” Mateo yelled, the giant trophy they just won held over his head.

The whole team echoed it, my ears ringing at the sound. I really was going to be deaf between this and hockey games. I couldn’t bring myself to care as I stood off to the side as Mateo celebrated with his team.

For the first time in thirty years, the Toronto University football team won a championship game. While it was a team effort, there was no mistaking Mateo’s role in helping them get there.

He was a beast on the field today. He showed why he was starting quarterback as a sophomore, and why scouts were already looking at him to play professionally.

The stands around us slowly emptied as we stood on the field with the team. By the time the nine of us made it onto the field, it was packed with students and other family members celebrating.

I stayed back as Evelyn, Wyatt, and Landon made their way to Mateo. My chest ached watching him engulf his mom into a tight hug, lifting her off the ground. From here, I could see his shoulders shaking as he held onto her.

When he went to hug Wyatt and then Landon, I had to look away. Watching them support each other and be a family had me mourning the loss of something I never got to have. Letting them have a moment as a family, I stuck back with the others.

“You played amazingly.” Josie was the first to launch herself at Mateo when he made his way over to us. Josie wrapped her arms tight around him, not even caring that he was still in his uniform. Mateo’s hair was stuck to his forehead with sweat, but his eyes were shining, a grin glued to his face.

One by one, everyone pulled Mateo into a hug, congratulating him. When it was my turn, I smiled up at the kid who was a perfect mix of Wyatt and Landon.

“Am I finally going to get that kiss?” he asked. I laughed, not expecting that to be the first thing out of his mouth. He looked down at me with a playful expression.

“After that performance, yes.” I didn’t bother messing with him this time. Going up onto my toes, I grabbed the sides of his face and placed a small peck on Mateo’s lips. I wouldn’t have classified it as a kiss, but by the dazed look on Mateo’s face, you’d think I did something more.

“I always knew you had a thing for me.” His smile widened as he looked down at me before he looked over my head. “I’m stealing your girl, Lan.”

I prayed my cheeks didn’t turn red. I forced myself not to look over my shoulder at Landon to see his reaction. Needing to change the topic, I patted Mateo’s chest. “Good job, babe.”

“Babe, huh?” Mateo raised an eyebrow and smirked.

“Figured we were serious after that kiss,” I retorted.

“I’ll take you out on that date soon.” He winked, making me grin.

“Going to go out and celebrate with the team?” Wyatt asked as I stepped back.

“Yeah.” Mateo glanced over his shoulder at his teammates.

“Be careful. If you get too drunk, call one of us to come pick you up. We don’t mind,” Wyatt said, but I found myself tuning him out when I felt someone step up behind me.

I knew who it was without looking. Landon’s cologne made my heart flutter in my chest. I kept my eyes forward as his chest grazed my back. Just when I thought my heart was going to explode, a hand nudged mine.

Landon’s pinky wrapped around mine next. It was a small gesture but enough to make my entire body light up.

It was right then, standing in the middle of a football field, pinky linked with Landon’s, that I realized I was starting to fall head over heels for the one guy I swore I never would.