Chapter 33 #2
Emmie straightened, brushing it off like she didn’t just almost face plant. “That was a fluke.”
“Right. The door came out of nowhere.”
She turned to face me, eyes narrowing as she dared me to continue.
I grinned, loving that glare directed at me. “I’m just saying…if you can’t take on a door, the field might be a little ambitious.”
Her lips twitched like she was fighting a smile. “You’re gonna regret saying that.”
“We shall see.”
With that, we stepped through the door and out onto the practice field.
The same practice field I found out Emmie was the coach’s daughter.
The indoor facility was perfect for today.
The enclosed space was great for Tucker to run around and play while Emmie and I did our own thing.
Plus, it was private so no one would take pictures of us here.
A theme that followed us wherever we went.
The artificial turf smell hit me the second we walked through, oddly comforting.
At least it wasn’t peak summer anymore. Back then, this place felt like an oven.
The owner had dropped serious money on it, even adding massive fans to try and cool things down, but they never really stood a chance against the summer humidity.
“I always forget how huge this place is,” Emmie commented, turning in a circle to take it all in.
It was incredible, one of the biggest facilities in the US. We could easily fit the entire team in here and run separate drills without bumping into each other.
“I remember walking in here my first time and being blown away at the size,” I said as I walked over to the edge where the turf met a path of concrete. I squatted down and took my backpack off, rifling through to pull out Tucker’s water bowl and the toys I brought.
“I felt the same way with the rink my first time.”
I never realized until I met Emmie how nice it was to bond with another athlete. To have someone who just got it without needing to offer an explanation. Our sports were worlds apart, but we had that same feeling every time we stepped out onto the field or ice.
I straightened up and glanced down the turf, watching Tucker run around without a care. Not for the first time, I was grateful we found each other. He deserved to have a happy life.
Not wanting to get all in my feelings again, I moved my attention to the mesh bag nearby that was filled with footballs. On the far side of the field, blocking dummies lined the turf, as well as footwork ladders.
“Ready to try out some football drills?” I asked, bending down to pull a football from the mesh bag. I tossed it in the air and caught it, turning to look at Emmie.
I was good at hockey, the rink almost like a second home, but this place? This right here was where I was the most comfortable, and I was excited to bring Emmie into it.
“Bring it on.” Emmie put her hands on her hips, looking beyond adorable in her leggings with a familiar looking sweatshirt falling to her knees. A sweatshirt that mysteriously went missing from my apartment a week ago.
Emmie put me through the ringer with ice skating, now it was her turn.
“You’re doing this on purpose,” Emmie huffed.
“I’m not.” I said, bending down to grab another football.
“Then stop throwing is so damn hard.”
“I’m barely throwing it!”
Emmie stomped her foot and shot me a glare. “Tell that to my poor hands. I think I broke a nail.”
I shouldn’t have laughed, but it was oddly satisfying seeing Emmie be bad at something.
“Mateo!” she snapped.
I reined in my laughter. “Sorry, no more laughing.” I spun the football in my palm as Tucker bounded up beside her, a spare football hanging out of his mouth. Tucker has been right there to snatch up every one of Emmie’s failed catches. There was a pretty big pile off to the side where he put them.
“Okay, ready?”
Emmie nodded, bent her knees just a little, and glued her eyes to the ball in my hand. I barely cocked my arm back, learning the lesson from the first time when I set a spiral in her direction, only for her to yipe and dodge it as it flew in her toward her.
I gently threw the ball forward, barely snapping my wrist, as I sent it her way. It wasn’t a hard throw as it spun in the air and headed directly for her. Emmie put her hands out, eyes locked onto the ball, the tiniest peek of tongue sticking out.
I knew she’d catch it from just the pure look of concentration on her face—and the fact it was a perfect throw. I watched the ball sail through the air…right into her waiting arms. Just like I taught her, she instantly brought her arms to her chest to secure the ball so it wouldn’t fly out.
It took her a second to realize she caught it. Emmie stared at the ball and then back at me, a smile growing on her face until it took over entirely.
“I DID IT!” she yelled.
“Yes, you did.” I grinned right back, her own contagious. Beside her, Tucker barked as if he was just as excited for her.
“I know buddy! I caught it!”
I stood there, watching as my girl and my pup jumped around. Emmie playfully juked Tucker as he ran around her legs trying to get the football. She was perfect. Completely and utterly, perfect.
“I don’t think your dad can catch us, Tucker,” Emmie said loudly. Pure mischief on her face when she looked in my direction.
“What did you just say, firecracker?” I took a step forward.
“I said…you’re too slow,” she sang, already backing away. “And you’d have to catch me first.”
“Oh, you’re done for now.”
Emmie laughed and took off, Tucker barking as he bounded after her.
I gave her a two-second head start, just enough to make her think she had a chance, before I pushed off after her. Her laughter echoed around the room as she ran away from me, the football still in her hands.
“Mateo!” she called over her shoulder, breathless and laughing.
“Better run faster, firecracker,” I shot back.
She cut across the grass to try and throw me off, quick on her feet, but I was faster. I closed the distance in seconds, reaching out just as she tried to dodge away.
“Got you.”
Emmie squealed when I caught her around her waist, momentum carrying us another step before I lifted her clean off the ground. I spun her once, twice, her laughter spilling out as she clung to the football. Tucker barked and jumped, wanting in on the excitement.
“Put me down!”
“Not a chance.”
I slowed down but didn’t let go, keeping my arms banded around her middle, her feet dangling off the ground.
“You were saying something about me being slow?” I murmured, a grin tugging at my mouth. “Care to take that back?”
“Nope.”
“Fine, have it your way.” Still holding her, I turned and stared back the way we came, her weight barely noticeable in my arms. “There’s a nice ice bath down the hall we can visit.”
“Wait,” Emmie squirmed in my arms, “I didn’t mean it.”
“I don’t believe you.” I kept on walking, smirking as Emmie wiggled. She finally dropped the football, which was immediately picked up by Tucker, who took off down the field with it.
“I’m sorry! Okay, I’m sorry!”
I knew the threat of the ice bath would do the trick. I slowed to a stop, gently putting her down on her feet and twisting her around to face me.
“You should know better than to challenge me, Emmie baby.”
“Who else will put your ego in check?” she countered.
I bent my head down until my mouth was inches from hers. “You like my ego.”
“Eh, debatable.” She tried to come off nonchalant, but the widening of her pupils gave her away. As did her tongue peeking out to swipe along her bottom lip.
“Debatable?” I murmured, gaze flicking to her lips. “You’re a terrible liar.”
Before she could fire back, I closed the distance and caught her mouth with mine.
Like every single time I kissed Emmie, it was like returning home. Like nothing else in the world mattered but the two of us.
I should have known it wouldn’t stay that simple.