Love and Other Goals (Love and Other #1)

Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

T he next morning, I smile the whole way to class. I’m in a good mood because the temperature dropped overnight, so the morning air is crisp as I make my way through campus.

I may also be in a good mood because I keep thinking about my soccer “date” with Mateo yesterday.

I still feel invigorated from playing again after such a long time away. I grin to myself thinking about how much fun it was playing together with Mateo, trash-talking Chris and Andrès, and watching the camaraderie of the three of them.

But even beyond the rush of the game, I really enjoyed just sitting and talking with Mateo, hearing more about his life and background, and opening up to him about my own. It felt so…natural. Like it was exactly what I should be doing. Maybe what I should have been doing all along.

My phone pings in my hand, and I see a text from my mom asking if I have time to talk today.

I send a message letting her know I’ll call after class as I head into the building. I’m half listening to my professor, half mulling over whether to mention Mateo to my mom. Is it too early to do that? I’ve talked with her in the past about Aaron, so maybe I should bring her up to speed? I don’t want it to seem like I’m hiding the fact that I’ve gone on dates with Mateo from her.

But last night I skipped After Party following the Arrow meeting because I didn’t think I could risk trying to carry on a conversation with Aaron while my mind was one hundred percent still immersed in my afternoon with Mateo. My short interaction with Aaron when he sought me out to get a name tag was enough to send my brain into malfunction mode. The more I get to know Mateo, the less I even think about Aaron. But there’s still a degree of confusion fog surrounding Aaron in my mind.

After class ends, I have thirty minutes till my next one begins. I find a quiet, deserted bench and pull out my phone to call my mom. She answers on the second ring.

“Hey, Mom! How are you?” I ask. “Everything good at home?”

“Hi sweetie, I’m good. Trying to get things wrapped up early today so I can make it out in time to go watch Olivia’s halftime performance at the football game tonight,” she tells me. I know I have her full attention, even though I can sense she’s multitasking in her office. Mom’s always had that superpower; I think she must have a super brain that can somehow fully engage two tasks at a time.

“Are things with Dean going okay?” I question, with a little bit of trepidation.

Mom sighs. “I’m not totally sure, to be honest. Carter has his crew of friends from cross country and track, but Dean is struggling to find his fit. I know he wants some autonomy from Carter, but he mistakes that for meaning he needs to be the opposite of Carter. But at least he’s going to school and passing his classes, so I just keep praying that he finds the right niche.”

“I don’t know what I could do from here, but let me know if you think I could help in any way,” I say.

“How are you doing, hon? Any fun plans this weekend?” my mom asks. If there was ever a perfect segue to fill her in on the events of the past couple of weeks, this is it.

“I do have something fun planned,” I start slowly. “I’m going to watch the Townsend home soccer match tomorrow.”

There’s a pause before my mom asks, “Really? What made you decide to go? Not that I don’t think you should, because you definitely should, I’m just curious.”

I take a deep breath and glance around to make sure no one is listening. “Well…there’s this…um, I’m actually going to the match because of a guy.”

“Oh? You mean Aaron? Did he ask you to go?”

“Um, no, it’s not Aaron. He still hasn’t ever asked me out or anything official like that,” I say, fumbling to explain. “There’s this other guy from Arrow named Mateo, who’s also on the Townsend soccer team. We’ve been friends the past few years because of Arrow activities and Summer Projects, and, well, apparently he’s liked me for a while, and he asked me out on a date a couple of weeks ago.”

I’m silent, waiting to see what my mom’s response will be. She’s never been anything but supportive of me, so I don’t know why I’m nervous about how she’ll react. But I’m still holding my breath.

“Hmm,” my mom finally says. “Well, that’s certainly interesting. What’s he like? Have you gone on a date already?”

“Mateo is…” I look up at the sky, trying to decide how to sum him up. “He’s turned out to be pretty amazing. Like, I’m constantly surprised by how much I enjoy being with him, by how sweet and thoughtful he is.” I give my mom an extremely abbreviated summary of our conversations at Lake Games and Bookafe, and our first date. I conclude by telling her about playing soccer together yesterday.

There’s silence for what feels like a really long time. I finally hear what sounds like a sniffle. “You played soccer again?” she asks, voice laced with emotion.

I grin to myself. “Yeah. It was really amazing.”

“I’m clearly going to need to meet this boy. But if he’s as sweet as you say, and he got you to do something you love but ignored for such a long time, he already has a stamp of approval in my book,” Mom says.

“I’ve gotta get into class, Mom, but I’m sure you can meet him when you and Dad come visit. I promise I’ll keep you updated in the meantime. Tell everyone I love them!”

I hang up and hurry into the building to sit down right as class begins. Relief washes over me. Although I knew my mom would be supportive no matter what, it feels good to hear her so pleased about Mateo. Even if some of that pleasure is due to me opening the door to soccer.

Thinking about soccer reminds me about the match tomorrow, so I slyly pull my phone out under my desk and send a text to Teegan. She’s also in a class now, but I can always count on Teegan to check her phone during classes.

Will you go with me to the soccer match tomorrow? I’ll feel better having someone to sit with

Teegan

Will I go watch Mateo and all his soccer bros running around being all athletic and stuff? Duh yeah

I snicker and cover it up with a cough.

You’re so self-sacrificing

You’re lucky to have me. But you’re going to have to explain everything since you apparently have harbored a secret knowledge about everything soccer. I used to go to the games freshman year but that was only for the socialization, not the sport

I’m sorry for not telling you about it sooner, but you can’t hold it against me forever

You underestimate my grudge-holding powers. I demand some open swooning over Mateo from you in my presence if I’m ever going to let it go

Sigh. You’re impossible

Impossible not to love, you’re so right

kiss face emoji

queen emoji

Friday after lunch, my phone dings with a calendar reminder. Law school app. NO EXCUSES!!!

The AOPi house is a little more chaotic than usual—several of the freshmen came over after their morning classes to have a reality TV marathon in the movie room. Teegan is trying to get me to join them in the name of sisterhood bonding, but I must make progress on my application today if I want to get it submitted this month.

I show Teegan the calendar notification on my phone screen like a trump card. “Fine, fine. Go be a responsible human being,” she relents. “You might want to go work someplace else though—Amaya just texted me that she’s planning on a power nap this afternoon.”

Amaya was up late last night after the After Party finalizing some homecoming details and sending out reminders to girls who signed up. I’m so glad I opted out of AOPi leadership this year. But I’m proud of how hard Amaya is working to make AOPi the best version of itself.

Heading out to the parking lot with my backpack, I pause when I see a text from Aaron come through on my watch. I pull out my phone to read the whole message.

Aaron

Had our first planning session for homecoming showcase last night. Won’t be near as fun without you this year

My heart starts pounding. Aaron has no idea that I’ve gone on dates with Mateo. He probably doesn’t even know that I’ve talked to Mateo.

A wave of guilt washes over me, but I shake it out of my system by repeating the mantras Amaya pounded into me when I told her why I skipped After Party. “Aaron has never asked me out. If Aaron feels jealous of me dating Mateo, that’s his problem, not mine,” she made me repeat over and over until she was convinced I believed it.

I decide to reply to Aaron in the least flirty fashion I can think of. I’ll just completely ignore his reference to us dancing together last year.

Prepare to lose epically because AOPi is going to dominate this year

Aaron sends back a “We Are The Champions” GIF, but I leave it on read and head to my car.

I sit down in the driver’s seat, about to start the ignition when I see something stuck under my windshield wiper. Opening the door a crack, I half stand and reach around to grab it before sitting back down in the car.

It’s a generic letter envelope with Lana scrawled on the outside. I break the seal and pull out a piece of notebook paper, unfolding it to see Mateo’s signature at the bottom.

I can’t help but smile before I’ve even read a word.

Lana – I’m writing this after unsuccessfully trying to fall asleep after our dinner date. I feel bad that this isn’t a real card, or at least some nice paper, but notebook paper is all I had on hand in the middle of the night. Next time will be better.

I don’t even know when I’ll give this to you. Probably not right away. I don’t want to come on too strong and scare you away because I know that you’re still getting used to this, getting used to thinking about us. It’s still new for you. But my sister Isabel told me there’s a Taylor Swift song about saying how you feel even though the beginning of the relationship is fragile, so maybe you won’t mind since you’re also a Swiftie. At least I know you like her music. I don’t know if being called a Swiftie is a compliment or an insult to you. Please trust I would only ever compliment you.

I’m getting off track here. I just have to tell you that tonight was one of the best nights of my life. I know that probably sounds like an exaggeration. Of course I’ve had lots of best times with my family, with my soccer teams. But tonight was the longest coming best time. I’ve thought about what I would do if I had the chance to take you on a date so much over the past couple of years, thought about how I’d feel, what I’d say, what you’d say, how I could make it perfect. And the reality was so much better than anything I’d ever pictured.

You looked so freaking gorgeous. You came walking down the porch steps in that dress with your hair around your shoulders, and I immediately felt like an impostor to be taking you out. And as much as I’ve admired you over the years, I was still blown away by how much more incredible you are than I even knew. I enjoyed learning more about your life and appreciated how interested you were in hearing about mine.

Maybe I shouldn’t have asked you to dance, maybe that was too much for a first date, but between the sunset and the music and you looking so beautiful, I just couldn’t help myself. And now I don’t regret it because that’s an experience I won’t stop thinking about for a long time. Maybe ever. I hope not ever.

I guess I should end there or I really will scare you away. And that’s the one thing I never want to do.

Mateo

I lean my head back against the headrest and hold the paper to my chest. I’m pretty sure if you held up an x-ray, you’d see my heart growing three sizes like in the classic Grinch cartoon. I immediately reread the letter with a huge, goofy grin on my face that I don’t even care to tone down.

“I really like Mateo,” I whisper to myself at the end. I don’t just like the fact that he likes me, although I do appreciate the way he’s so open about his feelings, so unafraid to express what he thinks about me. But even more than that, I really like his godly character, his humor, his thoughtfulness, his personality, the way he interacts with and treats other people.

“I really REALLY like him!” I scream in the car, thankful that no one is around to witness this.

I’m about to text him thank you for the note when I decide that’s not good enough. Not after he poured his heart out in his letter. I rip a piece of paper out of the notes section of my planner and write Mateo’s name at the top.

Mateo – thank you so much for your note. I can’t think of a sweeter gesture that anyone has ever done for me. And that’s after everything you did on our first date was the sweetest ever.

The song that you’re referring to is Delicate. And it’s cool that you said all that.

Don’t let anyone tell you that the term Swiftie is an insult.

And I’m not scared away. Not even a little.

Can’t wait to watch you play tomorrow.

Lana

I fold the paper in half but realize I have no clue where Mateo lives. I assume in an apartment or house with some soccer teammates, but I don’t know where. I’m going to need to remedy that asap. For now, I drive toward the soccer complex, hoping they’re still at practice.

Luckily, I see Mateo’s truck in the parking lot. I leave my car in park, and hurry to tuck my note under Mateo’s windshield wiper just like he did mine, then quickly drive away so I don’t get caught.

I’m flushed with a rush of happy adrenaline. I smile thinking about him finding the note after practice. I can’t decide if I hope no one else is around when he discovers it or if a few teammates are there to razz him over it. I take it back—I definitely hope Andrès or someone else is there to give him grief.

Knowing there’s no way I’ll be able to concentrate on my personal statement now, I decide to head back to AOPi and just relax with the girls. Watching mind-numbing reality TV will be an easy way to half pay attention and half think about Mateo. Well, let’s be honest, probably 90/10 attention in Mateo’s favor.

I park but don’t head inside until I’ve reread Mateo’s letter twice more. After quietly stashing my backpack in our dark room, I follow the sound of voices giggling and yelling judgments at TV characters down to the movie room. Coming up behind Teegan on the couch, I cover her eyes with my hands. She grabs my wrists and looks up at me in surprise. “I thought you were ditching us to work on your application?”

I shrug my shoulder with a smirk, and she immediately gets up to “go pop more popcorn.” Pausing in the empty stairwell, I quietly tell her about finding Mateo’s note on my car. I can tell she’s about to squeal but clap my hand over her mouth just in time.

“What?!” she whisper yells. “What did he say? Are you going to let me read it?”

I laugh quietly and whisper yell back at her. “ No, I’m not going to let you read it. But you can rest assured that it was very sweet. And thoughtful. And one of the most romantic gestures I can possibly imagine.” I’m goofy grinning again with one hand over my heart.

“Now that’s the kind of swooning I was demanding,” Teegan says in a normal voice before I shush her. “I officially forgive you for neglecting to tell us about your athletic prowess. But I may not forgive you now for refusing to let me read your love letter. I’ll contemplate what your penance will be.”

“Beef! It’s not a love letter. It was just…a nice letter,” I tell her, poking her in the side. “And sorry, but you’re not guilting me into reading it. Now let’s go make some popcorn before the girls wonder what’s taking so long.”

“Eh, they’re in a reality TV trance, they’re oblivious to reality right now,” Teegan says as she does a happy dance up the stairs.