Page 57 of Love and Other Goals

Amaya

We’ll meet you down there. Deep breaths

“Okay, Amaya and Teegan will meet us there,” I tell Mateo. He holds out his hand to me, which I gratefully accept as we walk out of the library. The familiar feeling of his fingers interlaced with mine is one of the only things grounding my anxious thoughts from taking flight. Mateo takes my phone from me, and seconds later my piano Christmas playlist surrounds us as we walk. My fingers automatically start playing along with Jim Brickman against the back of Mateo’s hand, and he just smiles and pulls my hand up to kiss my fingertips.

He doesn’t say a word the whole way back to AOPi—just lets me use his hand as my personal keyboard.

We walk up to the side of the AOPi house where Amaya and Teegan are already waiting. Mateo releases my hand as they both lean in to hug me.

“No matter what happens, we’re here with you, LaLa,” Teegan says.

I sit down at one of the patio tables, so anxious that I’m numb to the cold metal. I open my laptop and click on the application tab that’s bookmarked in my browser.

“Hold on, you should call your mom for this too,” Amaya says suddenly. Of course I should. I’m so lucky to have these three people in my life who know what’s important to me when my mind is too muddled to think clearly. I call my mom on FaceTime, relieved when she answers. I quickly fill her in, and Mateo holds the phone so she can watch.

I close my eyes and inhale slowly. I think all of us are collectively holding our breath, because I don’t hear anyone breathing. Finally, I open my eyes and click the mouse to log in with my saved information.

The website takes a second to load, and I desperately reach out and take Mateo’s hand with one of mine and Amaya’s with the other. I feel Teegan’s hand squeeze my shoulder as we all wait.

The screen pops up and everything is a blur except for one word that pops out: Accepted.

A second later, Teegan is screaming and jumping behind me, Amaya is hugging my neck yelling, “You did it, Lana!” and my mom has tears streaming down her face on the phone screen. Mateo’s hand squeezes mine tightly, and I don’t realize that I’m also crying until he lets go to reach up and wipe a tear off my cheek with a tender smile.

My heart is bursting with joy, and I stand up to jump hug with Amaya and Teegan as Mateo holds my phone so my mom can watch our celebration. I finally take the phone from him to talk to her directly.

The glistening in her eyes and her proud smile feel like a bear hug through the phone screen. “I don’t even know the words to tell you how proud I am of you, my beauty. I feel so honored to be your mom.” Now the tears are really flowing from my eyes as she continues. “You reached your goal, but I know this is only the beginning of all the amazing things you’ll do. You’re going to be such a force for good.”

My voice cracks as I respond, “Thank you, Mom. You’re the reason I’m here. I love you so much.”

“I love you too, sweetie. We’ll celebrate big next time you’re home, but for now, hang up and celebrate with your friends!”

I set the phone down on the table and look up into Mateo’s face. I’m surprised to see a sheen in his eyes as he smiles down at me. I reach up to wrap my arms behind his head and bury my face in his neck. He squeezes his arms tight around me and whispers, “I’m so proud of you, Lana. You are incredible.”

Teegan and Amaya hug me from behind until I’m the squished middle of a sandwich, making me laugh. When they finally release me, I smile at each of them. “Thanks so much for being here with me. Not just for this moment, but for all the little moments that led up to this moment. I can’t believe I get to have the best best friends and the best boyfriend in the world. Every other girl is missing out.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Idon’t stop smiling the rest of the week. Monday night I FaceTime with my whole family to receive their congratulations. Even Dean smiles and looks happy-ish for me. Tuesday night Mateo surprises me after ELL tutoring to take me out for celebratory tiramisu after arranging for Teegan to lead Bible study without me. I pay the $500 deposit on Wednesday to secure my spot, and Amaya even announces my acceptance at our chapter meeting that night.

My good mood can’t even be ruined by Bailey coming up to me at the Arrow meeting to offer her (very shallow) congratulations and condescending advice on how to “survive California life” after growing up in little ol’ Kansas.

I even keep my anxious reflexes under control when Aaron comes up to me at After Party. “I heard the rumors that you got accepted to the law school you wanted,” he tells me. When I confirm, he says, “Congrats, Lana. I’ve always known you’d accomplish whatever you set your sights on. There’s no stopping you.”

“Thanks, Aaron,” I say sincerely. “I’m really excited. Are you still planning to work for your uncle’s company after you graduate?”

He nods. “Yep, that’s the plan. I think I’ll take a remote position so I can experience living in another place for a while, though, before settling down back in KC.”

I politely small talk a little longer before excusing myself to find the AOPis. That interaction with Aaron wasn’t terrible, but I still wish Mateo were here. They have their semifinal match for the conference tournament tomorrow, so they left for Oklahoma today.

Late Friday night, Mateo texts me that they won their match. I immediately FaceTime him, and he answers despite clearly still being in the locker room. I hear the other guys’ voices cheering and celebrating as Mateo walks to the edge of the room.

“I can’t say I’m surprised you won considering you guys have dominated all season long,” I say with a grin. “But congrats anyway! What was the final score?”

Mateo grins back. “Thanks. It was a good match. It was one of those nights where everyone’s A-games lined up perfectly. I feel a little sorry for the other team because we beat them 6-0.”

I let out a whistle. “Gosh, I wish I had been there to see that!”

“Me too,” Mateo says with a dimpled smile. “I’ve gotten used to you being in the stands—it was weird not to hear you telling off the refs,” he adds with a wink.

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