Page 65 of Love and Other Goals

Those memories play on loop for the rest of the weekend whenever I have moments to myself between playing games with my siblings, practicing my new piano music, and talking with my parents. We go to see the Christmas lights at the Plaza, and I can’t help but imagine Mateo experiencing it with me someday. I’m starting to imagine everything with him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Back at Townsend, campus is buzzing with excitement about the upcoming Division II soccer tournament. I barely get to see Mateo, as Coach Anderson is piling on extra practices, conditioning sessions, and film-watching meetings. I distract myself from missing him by studying for finals, getting quality time with Teegan and Amaya, and doing some follow-up work from the advocacy phone calls I facilitated for Elena.

I’m in the middle of typing a paper for my sociology class when my phone lights up with a text from my mom.

Mom

Check your email for your Christmas gift.

What’s the deal with Christmas gift emails this year? I see a forwarded message from an airline. My parents purchased a plane ticket for me to travel to North Carolina to watch the soccer tournament.

Tears spring to my eyes, and I immediately call my mom. “Mom! I can’t believe you did that! This is the best gift ever!”

I hear the smile in her voice as she responds. “We felt like it was important for you to be there for Mateo. And it’s way too far for you to drive—we would have been worried sick.”

“I’m so thankful, Mom. Mateo will be so excited too.”

“Well, the gift is half for you and half for him. Ever since he talked with Dean and connected him with that Parker friend, Dean’s been a different person. He voluntarily talked to the school counselor to suggest forming an Esports club at the middle school. He’s been playing chess with Carter and just being all around more pleasant. Mateo even sent me the link to a set of reflex training lights that Parker recommended for us to get Dean for Christmas. Sending you to watch his final soccer matches is the least we could do.”

Mateo isn’t even here to smolder at me, but my insides are still evaporating from hearing how he’s helped my brother. I hang up with my mom and FaceTime Mateo right away to tell him the good news. When he answers, he’s clearly running, and good gracious, if he isn’t easy on the eyes. Even dressed in warm workout gear, hair poking out from under a beanie, he makes my heart race.

“Oops, did I catch you in the middle of practice?”

“No,” he huffs, “just out on a run.” He looks away and calls out, “Go ahead, Andrès, I’ll catch up with you!” He comes to a stop, breathing deeply. “What’s up?”

“I just wanted to tell you about the Christmas gift my parents got me,” I say with a smile. He looks slightly confused but plays along. “I have a plane ticket to North Carolina on December eighth.”

His face breaks out in a huge grin. “Are you serious? You’ll get to be at the tournament?”

I nod and grin back. “Yes! My mom said the gift is just as much for you as it is for me after all you’ve done to help Dean. I didn’t realize you were on a personal contact basis with my mom now,” I tease.

He laughs. “I’ll take whatever brownie points I can get, especially if it means I get to have you in the stands for the tournament. Lana, this is amazing—you’ll get to meet my dad!”

Mateo abandons the rest of his run, and we excitedly talk about the tournament as he walks back to his house (after texting Andrès to meet him there). His limited availability over the next couple of weeks seems like less of a hardship now, knowing that I’ll get to be there in person to watch him play.

I alert my professors that I’ll miss classes on the eighth, which isn’t a huge deal since we’ll just be reviewing for finals the following week anyway. Soon, I’m driving home to Kansas City so my parents can drop me off at the airport the following morning.

My flight is on time, and I Uber to the hotel I booked that looked not scary but not too expensive. I text Mateo to let him know I made it, wishing him luck for the match that night. He messages back that his dad’s flight was delayed and he’ll arrive just in time for the match.

That evening, I arrive at the complex about thirty minutes before the match, scanning the eticket in the family section that Mateo sent me. I’m wearing a sweatshirt with his jersey over the top—thank goodness North Carolina isn’t as cold as Kansas right now.

About fifteen minutes later, I hear my name and look up to see a man I’d recognize as Mateo’s father even if I wasn’t expecting him. I stand up with a smile. “Mr. Alvarez! It’s so amazing to meet you!” I hold out my hand, but he steps in and wraps me up in a hug.

“Lana, que alegria!” he says, still hugging me tight. “Please, call me Luis, no need to be formal. We hear so much about you, I feel as though I know you already.”

We spend the rest of the time before the match happily chatting, then cheer loudly as Mateo and the rest of the team are announced. The ball is kicked off, and I quickly realize I’ve found the perfect partner to match my screaming energy. My frustrated yells at the refs are echoed in Luis’ rapid-fire Spanish shouts. We have plenty of moments to celebrate together as well, as our team closes out the match with a 4-1 victory, meaning we’ll head to the final tomorrow.

After the match, Luis and I wait around for Mateo to come out of the locker room, talking like old friends instead of new acquaintances. He tells me more about their restaurant, singing his wife’s praises so enthusiastically that I can see why Mateo is so comfortable openly expressing his emotions and his affection for me.

The team starts emerging from the complex doors, and as soon as Mateo spots us, he jogs over and throws his arms around his dad. They stay locked in a tight embrace, having their own conversation in Spanish, and I just stand there trying not to cry at how sweet it is to finally see Mateo with his father.

They pull back to hold each other at arm’s length, laughing and conversing at a speed that only Spanish speakers seem capable of achieving. Eventually, I hear my name sprinkled in a couple of times, and they both turn to me, grinning. Mateo steps forward and lifts me off my feet as I congratulate him on the amazing match. Luis is beaming at us and literally clapping with joy, which melts my heart into a warm little puddle.

Mateo sets me down but keeps his hands clasped around my waist. “I still can’t believe you’re both here. I’m just so happy,” he says as he looks back and forth between me and his dad.

“Ay, tu mamà is very jealous that I get to meet Lana without her,” Luis says with a mischievous grin. He doesn’t look to be feeling the slightest bit guilty about that, which makes me laugh. Mateo tucks me to his side and kisses my temple.

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