Page 60 of Love and Other Goals

“Thanks, Dad,” I respond, giving him another squeeze before heading up to my room.

I may be talking a big game about us not needing to impress Mateo, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to put extra effort into my appearance today. After all, it is a holiday.

I blow-dry my hair and apply slightly more makeup than usual while waiting for my curling wand to heat up. I’m singing along to Christmas music on my phone as I wrap section by section of my hair around the wand. While the curls cool off, I pull on a pair of leggings and an oversized jade-green sweater that I know will make my eyes pop. I tease the curls in my hair into loose waves and add a finishing spray and spritz of perfume.

Surveying my reflection in the mirror, I quickly run a brush through the lengths of my hair to dislodge any stiffness from the product I used. I’m already anticipating Mateo’s fingers weaving through my hair, and I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

I head downstairs to help my mom with brunch preparations. I can smell the cinnamon coffee cake already in the oven, an aroma I associate with heaven. We assemble an egg casserole and put it in the oven as we pull the coffee cake out.

Either the smells from the kitchen or my dad woke up my brothers because they’re both sitting at the table. Olivia is leaning against the counter, scrolling her phone and trying to act nonchalant. But I can tell she put some extra effort into getting ready today too.

The doorbell rings at 8:55 on the dot, and I smile to myself. On time is late, I hear Mateo’s smooth, deep voice repeat in my head.

Olivia decides at this moment to drop her cool, casual act and takes off running toward the front door. “Hey!” I call after her as I sprint to catch up. She makes it to the door first but shrieks when I shove her to the side as she’s opening it.

Mateo is standing on the porch with an eyebrow raised and smirk on his face as he watches Olivia and I scuffling at the door. I give her a stern look and swipe my disheveled hair out of my face.

“Hey.” I smile at Mateo, stepping back so he can come in the door.

Olivia immediately slides in front of me when Mateo steps foot in the foyer. “Hi, I’m Olivia, Lana’s very mature younger sister,” she says, batting her eyelashes at him. I roll my eyes, but I can’t really blame her. I’ve shown Olivia pictures of Mateo and me together, but nothing can quite prepare a girl to see him in the flesh for the first time.

Mateo is all graciousness as usual, greeting Olivia and giving her a side hug despite holding several things in his hand, including two bouquets of flowers. My parents come up behind us, Mom still in her apron, offering their welcome to Mateo.

Mom goes right in for the hug, and then Mateo hands her one of the bouquets of flowers. “These are for you, Mrs. Grant, for being a welcoming host.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t have,” she says with an appreciative smile. “And you know you’re supposed to call me Alexis.”

Mateo holds up the second bouquet of flowers. “I hope you might have an extra vase to store these in for the day until Lana’s grandparents arrive?”

If Mom wasn’t melting already from her own flowers, she certainly is now. Mateo Alvarez, turning women into puddles everywhere he goes.

He then holds up a paper bag. “These are from my mother. She found out you had invited me to join you for Thanksgiving and made a big batch of polvorosas to overnight to my teammate’s house yesterday. They’re a popular Guatemalan shortbread cookie—I’m sure you already have dessert prepared, but she would be honored if you’d add these to the table as a token of her appreciation.”

My mom takes the bag from him as she says, “Oh, that is so thoughtful. Please extend our thanks to her.”

My dad takes Mateo’s coat from him and shakes his hand in greeting, then takes the bag of polvorosas from my mom to carry to the kitchen. Mom and Olivia follow him, and I turn to Mateo with a smile. Gosh he looks good, in jeans and a dark gray quarter-zip sweater that accentuates the muscles across his chest and biceps.

“Now my arms are finally open to hug you,” he says, pulling me toward him. My head rests against his heart, and I feel him press his face into my hair at the same time his fingers weave their way through against my lower back. I could stand here forever, but I know that Olivia will get snoopy and come back to the foyer if we don’t join them in the kitchen soon.

Looking up into Mateo’s eyes, I tell him, “I’m sorry you can’t be with your family today, but selfishly I’m really, really glad you’re here.”

He brushes a knuckle across my cheek and says, “Me too. Thanks for inviting me.”

I fight every impulse in my body wanting to lean up and kiss him, threading my fingers through his and leading him toward the kitchen instead. I introduce him to the twins, Carter standing up to shake his hand while Dean gives him a small head nod of acknowledgment.

Mom turns down his offer to help with breakfast prep since he’s a guest, handing him a cup of coffee instead. Mateo sits down at the table with my dad and the boys, sharing about their recent conference tournament win. I’m cutting up fruit, and Olivia comes to lean her back against the counter facing me. “He is so freaking hot,” she mouths silently but exaggeratedly. I give her a playful shove and mouth, “Behave yourself,” as I fake point the knife at her. She waggles her eyebrows but doesn’t say anything else, returning her attention to texting her friends.

I hear Carter talking about his cross-country team, and Mateo builds him up with admiration for long-distance runners (even though I know as a midfielder he’s doing just as much running in a match). I glance over and see Carter beaming, chest puffed up from the praise. Mateo turns to Dean and asks about his interests.

When Dean reluctantly responds that he mostly spends his free time playing video games, Mateo doesn’t scoff or drop the subject. Instead, he asks follow-up questions about Dean’s favorite games and gaming strategies. Dean sits up a little straighter as he shares more with Mateo’s full attention.

“You know,” Mateo says, “more and more colleges are starting to have Esports teams. You can even get a scholarship to join if you’re good.”

Dean sits up much straighter as my dad asks, “Esports? What does that mean?”

Mateo explains, “Just like there are teams for athletic sports like soccer or basketball, some colleges are forming teams for video gaming. They practice as a team and engage in competitions just like physical sports athletes.”

I’ve been trying to stay out of the conversation to not disrupt his connection to Dean, but I can’t help myself now. “Wait, this is really a thing?” I ask over my shoulder.

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