Chapter 20
MATEO
Flashes from cameras temporarily blinded me as I got out of my car, followed by yelling voices. I blinked rapidly to free the dots from my vision as I stepped around the hood of the car to the valet standing there. The kid stared at me with wide eyes, mouth gaped open.
“Thanks, kid.” I patted his shoulder as I dropped my keys in his waiting hand. His eyes darted from me to his shoulder, as if he couldn’t believe what was happening.
I breezed past him to the sidewalk that was littered with paparazzi. A dozen or more people with cameras were held back by security guards as they snapped picture after picture, hurling questions in my direction.
“Are you ready for the game tomorrow?”
“Is it true you have a mistress, and she’s pregnant?”
“Is Wyatt Boone going to retire?”
I ignored every single one. If you gave one of them any sort of attention, they turned into flies on shit and would never stop. I learned to keep my head down and ignore it.
I straightened the sleeves of my dark green button-up shirt before I stepped through the doors of the high-end hotel my family was staying at. The sounds from outside dulled as soon as the doors shut behind me.
Tucking one hand into the front pocket of my black slacks, I walked through the foyer, my dress shoes tapping against the marble stone beneath. Bright chandeliers hung overhead, bathing the foyer in a warm, honeyed glow that sharpened the edges of marble and glass.
Up ahead, a sweeping staircase curved along the far wall, the iron railing showcasing intricate details that clearly had taken hours upon hours to perfect.
Huge hand-painted artworks lined the walls in fancy frames, luxurious wallpaper beside it.
Even the air smelled amazing as white lilies spilled from oversized arrangements throughout the place. High-end, indeed.
Muted conversations, the quiet chime of the elevator, and the clink of glassware from the restaurant tucked beyond the wide archway to the left met my ears. A few guests walked past me, but they paid me no heed. Not in a place like this where most of the guests themselves were important.
I didn’t bother checking in at the front desk since I knew where I was going. This hotel was the same one my brothers usually stayed at whenever they came to visit. It was known for privacy and security, which was a must when it came to the kids.
Taking the stairs, I climbed the steps to the next level where a separate area was for exclusive parties. Another perk to this place was having a private space where the entire family could be without any prying eyes.
I followed the cream-colored carpet, not a speck of dirt anywhere to be seen, down the hallway. I passed a few conference rooms on either side before familiar voices came through a cracked door off to my right. The tension in my shoulders seeped away.
I stood outside the door for a moment. The deep voices of the guys talking, followed by little giggles from kids, filling my ears.
Josie’s laugh made me smile. It really hadn’t been that long since I last saw everyone, but I still felt a small wave of melancholy.
It wasn’t as strong of a feeling as usual, but it was there.
I wondered if it had something to do with a beautiful redhead taking up most of my headspace.
I gently pushed open the door and stepped inside, letting it slowly shut behind me. It took a moment for them to notice I was there, which granted me a second to take everyone in.
Tasha and Trevor laughed at something Mila said before flashing each other a grin. They’d been together seven years and still looked as smitten as the day I found them in my mom’s bathroom making out.
Bryton walked up behind his wife, hand on her waist, and whispered something to her. The love between them never faded. Instead, they just melded together effortlessly.
My eyes were then drawn to the little figures running around the private room, their giggles overtaking the conversations, but no one seemed to mind. How could they when my nieces and nephew were the cutest things on the planet?
“My baby!” It took a second for it to register before my mom, Evelyn Boone, was hurtling in my direction. Arms wrapping around my shoulders and a hard yank pulling me in had me bending at the waist. My mom’s small but strong frame held me to her.
I let out an inaudible sigh and embraced her back, soaking in the hugs only my mom could give. It'd been even longer since I last saw my mom thanks to their cruise, so I held onto her a second longer before I pulled back.
“Hey, Ma.”
“How are you? Have you been eating? You look a little thinner.” My mom looked me up and down, clicking her tongue. Her brown hair was more gray and a little bit longer than this past summer, but her skin was bronzed and glowy.
“I promise I’ve been eating,” I reassured her. I was an adult, but I’d forever be a little kid in her eyes.
“Want me to come by and make some food after the game tomorrow?” she offered. As sweet as that’d be, it was unnecessary.
Before I could respond, someone else did it for me. Well, more like someones.
“Uncle Maty!”
“Maty!”
Three little bodies came right for me. Mom barely stepped aside before she was mowed over as six arms wrapped around my legs. The three cutest kids I’d ever laid eyes on stared up at me with pure adoration.
“Well, if it isn’t the three hooligans.” I squatted down, not caring that I could rip my slacks, so I could be at their level. Almost instantly, their hands circled my neck.
I glanced up, trying to fight the fact that they were close to choking me out, as the others made their way toward us. I smirked. “Clearly, I’m their favorite person ever.”
“Oh, please. They also like dirt and mud,” Landon deadpanned.
“You’re just jealous.” I looked at Kai, Wrenley, and Jayden. “I’m your favorite, aren’t I?” I gave them my biggest grin, which they returned, albeit theirs with less teeth.
“YES!”
I shot my older brother a told-you-so look. Landon just rolled his eyes.
“How about you guys go play with the toys Grandma and Grandpa got you?” Josie suggested. Yells pierced my ears as the three let me go and ran away to the other side of the room, where said toys were located.
I straightened up, brushing the knees of my slacks, just in time for Josie to reach out and pull me into a hug. “Hey, Jo.”
“Aren’t you dressed nice.” She looked me up and down, fixing the collar of my button-down.
“Apparently, I’m the only one who got the memo to dress up.” I shot everyone a look. Not one of them were dressed to impress. Instead, the guys were in jeans, and the girls were in summery dresses. Nothing close to as fancy as what I was wearing.
“You still look handsome.”
Josie let me go. I was passed from her to Wyatt, Lydia, and Landon before Tasha stepped up. Her blonde hair was shorter than when I last saw her, now almost to her shoulders, but it suited her. Her face had a glow to it that reminded me of a certain secret I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone.
“How’s my girl doing?” I asked, wrapping my arm around her shoulder.
“She’s not your girl,” Trevor said beside me.
Tasha ignored her husband and offered me a wide smile. “I’m doing good. Sorry we weren’t here with the others a few weeks ago.”
I waved her off. “Don’t be. It's better you’re here now and get to actually see a game.”
“You’re the only football player I want to see anyway.” Tasha’s gray eyes sparkled.
“Knew you were my favorite,” I fake whispered to her, a chorus of protests came from behind me. Chuckling, I let her go as Bryton and Mila came over.
“How have you been, Maty?” Bryton asked, a pat to my shoulder.
“I’ve been good. How about you two?” I pulled Mila into a side hug, giving an extra squeeze. I made sure to keep my expression neutral. The two of them had gotten enough sympathetic looks with the whole adoption thing, and I wasn’t about to add to it.
“We’ve been well. Happy to come and see you play.” Mila flashed me a grin, but there was a lingering sadness in her eyes that tugged at my chest.
“You get to see my nice ass in my uniform.” I winked at her. “It’s a lot more perky, thanks to a Pilates class I took.”
That got me a laugh. “You took a Pilates class?” Mila pulled back and looked at me like I was joking.
“I did. I didn’t expect it to be so damn hard. I almost couldn’t walk the next day.”
“Dude.” Bryton shook his head at me. I didn’t care if he or the others gave me shit about it. It was enough to chase away the shadows in Mila’s eyes, and that’s all that mattered.
“Have a feel.” I turned and stuck my ass out. I fully expected Mila to balk, but a second later, her hand was squeezing my butt cheek. A hum followed.
“It is hard.”
My smile was wider than ever when I glanced over my shoulder at her. “Told you.”
“Why is my wife touching your ass?” Bryton looked from my body to her hand.
“Want to touch it, too?” I offered. The look he gave me had me holding back a laugh. I stood back up with a shrug. “Your loss.”
“Some days I wonder if you’ve matured at all.”
“Nope.” With another wide grin, I left the two of them and walked farther into the room. It was definitely a conference room. There was one big table to fit all thirteen of us, as well as a smaller one for the kids.
The floor was the same carpet from outside, and the walls were lined with golden accents.
A similar chandelier hung from the ceiling.
While it was a little weird having dinner in a conference room, it gave us the privacy we all wanted.
No need to worry about anyone listening or watching us at the restaurant a floor below.
Plus, it let the kids run around without disturbing anyone.
After taking in the room, I turned to Steven who had made his way over. “Thanks for coming,” I greeted.
“We wouldn’t miss your first game.” He wasn’t my father, nor the father figure Landon was growing up, but it meant a lot that he was here. Especially when he had a lot to get done before hockey season started next month.