Page 59 of Love and Other Goals

I’m 100% certain I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you. I don’t tell you often enough how grateful I am to have you in my life, that you told me how you felt that day at Bookafe and gave me a chance to catch up to you. I’m still a little bewildered why you noticed me, but I’m so thankful that you paid attention even before I did.

I always will, Lana

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The rest of November rushes by like the Kansas wind blowing the final leaves off the trees. Everyone is starting to buzz with the anticipation of an extended weekend off school for Thanksgiving. I know a lot of people will ditch classes on Monday and Tuesday to just take the full week off, but my studious streak that got me accepted to law school just won’t quit, so I’ll be one of the few attending every class before heading home Tuesday afternoon.

With the Division II men’s soccer tournament looming at the beginning of December, the soccer team still has practice scheduled for the Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving. Coach Anderson asked Mateo and the other captain if they could attend a film-watching strategy session on Friday afternoon. As Mateo phrased it, “Coach’s requests are more like expectations.” So, even though it means he won’t get to fly home for Thanksgiving, Mateo agrees.

When my mom finds out about his situation, she insists that I invite him to join us for Thanksgiving. Mateo gratefully accepts, planning to stay with a teammate who is also from the Kansas City metro. He’ll spend the whole day with us on Thursday before driving back to Townsend Friday morning.

My mom is giddy with anticipation, and I half wonder if she called Coach Anderson and asked him to schedule this Friday meeting. If so, I’ll need to thank her, because I’m even giddier at the prospect of getting to spend a holiday with Mateo and my family. It certainly feels like a huge step toward the future in our relationship.

I’m attempting to sleep in Wednesday morning, but my mom comes knocking far too early with a long list of preparations I’m supposed to help with. I roll out of my old childhood bed and trudge downstairs in my pajamas, heading straight to the coffee pot.

My dad is sitting at the kitchen counter eating a bowl of cereal as Mom chatters on and on about all the things we need to do to make tomorrow “extra perfect.” I look at my dad with a deadpan expression in my eyes, and he just stifles a laugh.

I walk over to where my mom is writing out a to-do list, placing my hand over the pen in hers. “Mom, you have met Mateo. You know that he is kind and gracious and relaxed. You do not need to try hard to impress him tomorrow.”

“I have met him, dear,” my mom says in a stern tone, “so I know what’s at stake. We can’t risk losing him!”

My dad bursts out laughing as I face palm and groan. Mom glares at Dad, and he quickly straightens up and turns his laugh into a cough. She is not kidding around.

I play along and help my mom deep clean and prep as much as we can. Olivia is even mildly helpful, enticed by the excitement of finally getting to meet Mateo tomorrow. We order takeout for dinner and sit around the table as Mom rattles off the schedule for tomorrow for the fiftieth time. Mateo will come over in the morning to join us for a casual brunch, we’ll get everything prepped and cooking, we’ll have time to hang out in the afternoon, and my grandparents will join us for an early dinner at 5:00.

“Ugh, we know, Mom,” Dean groans, rolling his eyes.

“You’d better have a more respectful attitude when we have guests tomorrow, young man,” my dad tells him with a note of warning in his voice.

Dean looks ready to pick a fight, but I jump in. The last thing I need is Dean going into tomorrow feeling like he’s under a microscope. “It’s fine, Dad. Mateo has siblings, so he knows how real families act. And he’s totally chill—we don’t need to roll out the red carpet for him.”

My parents let it drop, and Dean sits back with his arms crossed but looking less grumpy.

Despite all my assurances to my family, as I lay in bed that night, all the butterflies in my body wake up and give me anxious energy. I’m not nervous about Mateo being around my family, meeting my siblings and grandparents. I know they’ll like him, and I know he’ll be so kind to everyone (even Dean) because that’s just who he is.

But I can’t rein in my thoughts from charging ahead to the future and imagining every family holiday including Mateo in the picture.

Mateo texts me to confirm that he’ll be here at 9:00 tomorrow morning.

Mateo

Has it been longer than a day since I’ve seen you? Because it feels like forever. I don’t like it

Well, it has been more like 31 hours, so yes, technically longer than a day

Only 11 more to go

My eyes burst open when my alarm goes off at 7:00 a.m. I’m up and in the shower in a matter of minutes, then head downstairs to get a cup of coffee while my hair air dries. My dad and I sit at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and silently scrolling our phones (although he is more nobly reading the news as opposed to my mindless social media).

I’m about to head upstairs to finish getting ready when my dad stops me. He hugs me tightly and says, “I’m so proud of you, kiddo. I’m going to miss you like crazy when you’re in California next year.”

“Aw, Dad, don’t make me cry right now!” I say as I hug him back. “Let’s table that emotion until the spring.”

He chuckles and then steps back to study my face. “You know, Lana, your mom may be acting a little…”

“Crazed?” I offer with a smile.

“That’s one way to put it,” he says with a smile in return. “But she means well. You know that we both really like Mateo. And we’re really happy to see you so happy. Not just happy about law school, but happy with Mateo. Every parent wants to see that kind of contentment for their kids.”

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