Chapter 39
MATEO
Soft piano music played through the room as Kai and Wrenley skipped down the aisle, throwing petals in the air. The two looked absolutely adorable in their dresses. It made it hard to be mad at them for stealing my flower boy position, but I had my own trick up my sleeve.
I stood at the back of the room, watching everyone smile at the two girls before Jayden took their place. He stumbled down the aisle, clenching the rings on a cushion. Thankfully, they were secured or they’d be flying all over the place.
Steven stood at the altar, looking quite dapper in his tux. He kept fidgeting with his sleeves and glancing at the doors behind me every five seconds. It was actually really sweet, as long as I didn’t think too hard about the fact it was my mom he was waiting for.
Once the kids were down at the end and corralled by Lydia, it was my time to shine. Unzipping the fanny pack wrapped around my waist, I strutted for the aisle. I cleared my throat to get everyone's attention.
I looked every single person in the eye, sending Emmie a wink, before I reached into the fanny pack.
I dramatically swayed my hips, throwing petals in the air.
I pulled out a hard candy and handed it to Mila, causing her to grin.
When I got to Trevor, I grabbed the small mini bottle of tequila I stashed in the pack and handed it over with an exaggerated wink.
One by one, I went to each person, either handing out mini bottles, little candies, or throwing petals as I worked my way down the aisle.
When I finally reached Steven, he stood there shaking his head, but he couldn’t hide the smile on his face.
Before he could say anything, I wrapped him in a tight hug.
I hoped he understood how much it meant to me that he made my mother so happy. I pulled away, giving him a wide grin before I made my way to the seat beside Emmie.
“Tequila?” I offered her as soon as I plopped down.
She shook her head, smiling. “You are such a dork.”
“Yeah, but I’m your dork.” I planted a kiss on her lips as the music changed to the wedding march.
As a group, we got to our feet and turned toward the doors as Josie and Wyatt appeared. Josie looked amazing in her peach-colored dress, brown eyes sparkling under the lights. Wyatt was at her side in his tux like the rest of us. We really should start a boy band.
“Mommy!” Jayden wiggled out of Trevor’s hold, taking off down the aisle toward his parents. Beside me, Emmie awed as Josie easily swept him up into her arms, kissing his cheeks.
I smiled softly at my brother walking down the aisle with his wife and son. He truly hit the jackpot meeting Josie all those years ago.
Wyatt walked over and gave Steven a hug, murmuring something that had Steven nodding and patting him on the shoulder. The two shared a grin before getting in position, eyes facing the doorway.
A second later, my mom appeared. The sight of her wearing a simple white gown made my chest constrict. A small hand slipped into mine. It was like Emmie knew I needed it. My throat clogged as Landon walked my mother slowly down the aisle, her eyes only focused on Steven waiting for her.
The way my mom looked at him was wondrous.
It was the same look she had after all these years of being together.
I was helpless in holding back tears. Seeing my mom get her happy ending after so many years of being alone and putting her children first was…
I couldn’t even begin to think of words to describe how happy I was for her.
When I glanced at Landon, arm looped through mom’s, I recognized the glassy look in his eyes. My throat went tight, jaw locking as I tried to keep it together. He’d been everything a father was supposed to be for Wyatt and me. And now, he was the one walking her to someone else.
At my side, Emmie squeezed my hand once.
I held hers tightly, needing to ground myself.
Around us, I caught bits and pieces of movement—Wyatt scrubbing a hand over his face, Mila blinking a little too quickly, Trevor and Bryton wiping at their eyes, Lydia with a wobbly smile as she held Kai in her arms, Josie’s shoulders shaking as she watched.
I let out a slow breath, eyes burning as I forced them back to the aisle. I sat down with everyone else as Steven stepped forward. He shook Landon’s hand, a quiet understanding passing between them.
When he took my mom’s hand, my breath faltered. Because just like that, everything was changing.
“Faster, Uncle Maty,” Kai squealed, hands gripping me as her feet balanced on top of mine. I moved us across the dance floor. I lifted one foot at a time, shimmying our hands together to the beat of the music.
Her giggles made me grin. Trevor and Tasha danced next to us, swaying in each other's arms, oblivious to anyone else. Josie and Mila were on our other side, dancing with Wrenley and Jayden in wild moves that had both kids laughing.
I glanced over Kai’s head at Emmie talking to my mom and Steven. My heart stuttered at the sight of her.
I’d seen her a thousand different ways—laughing, dressed, half asleep, but this? The navy dress, the way it fell against her, the quiet confidence in the way she held herself…it hit me all at once.
She was it for me. No question.
I brought my attention back to Kai as the music stopped. Time to finally ask Emmie to dance. Before I could utter a word to her, Kai jumped off my feet and ran over to Bryton.
“Well, thanks for the dance!” I called after her. Not even a backward glance, and here I was, hurting my own feet for her. With a shake of my head, I headed for Emmie, my steps purposeful, only to stop when Wrenley flew right past me and wrapped her arms around Emmie’s legs.
Well, that’s unfair.
Wren grabbed Emmie’s hand and pulled her over to the dance floor. The way Emmie smiled at Wren brought images of our own children to mind. It was way too soon for that, but I could easily picture little redheads running around years from now.
When Emmie passed me, she trailed her free hand along my arm, a soft smile gracing her lips. I was completely and utterly wrapped around her finger.
I kept my eye on the two as I made my way toward an empty table, falling into the seat with a sigh. Below the table at my feet, Tucker slept, exhausted from the nonstop fun he had.
I rubbed my ribs, my suit jacket long gone, as I watched Emmie twirl Wren. I took a few deep breaths, wincing at the sharp pain. The doc told me I had to practice breathing deeply to make sure my lungs got used to expanding fully again, but damn, it hurt like a bitch.
“Still going to lie and tell us you feel fine?” Landon asked as he and Wyatt sat down in the chairs beside me.
“Would you believe me?”
“No,” Wyatt answered.
There was a pause before Landon spoke again. “You gave us a hell of a scare, you know that?”
“Thought you weren’t getting back up,” Wyatt added, jaw tight.
I swallowed, eyes dropping to my hands. “I did.”
“Yeah,” Landon said softly. “You did. Just…don’t make a habit out of it.”
The tension eased a little, but something heavy still lingered. The guilt that I disappointed the two most important men in my life.
“Didn’t mean to scare you,” I muttered.
“We know,” Wyatt said.
I swallowed. “Just…didn’t want to let anyone down.”
Beside me, Landon frowned. “By getting hurt?”
I didn’t answer. The last two weeks I struggled with the weight of failing. The team lost two games in a row because I wasn’t there. But it wasn’t just the team I was letting down. It was them, too.
So much time and money was spent to make sure I succeeded. So many hours of Landon, Wyatt, and my mom sitting in hard seats to watch me play. If I failed, then all of that would be for nothing.
“I let you guys down,” I admitted softly.
“Mateo.” Wyatt turned in his seat to look at me. “What are you talking about?”
“You could never let us down. Why would you even think that?” Landon's gaze was intense as he looked at me like he couldn’t fathom the words coming out of my mouth.
“If I’m not playing, or playing well, what’s the point of all your sacrifices?”
“Sacrifices?” Landon leaned forward. “Mateo, I made zero sacrifices when it came to you.”
“Yes, you did. You had a job you hated for years so you could pay bills. You didn’t date or do anything because you were always having to be around to help raise me.”
“None of that has to do with you, Mateo. It was my choice to do all of that, and I would gladly do it all again in a heartbeat.”
Landon reached out and clapped a hand on my shoulder, his hazel eyes drilling into mine.
“Raising you and Wyatt was the greatest honor of my life.” He glanced at Wyatt then back at me.
“You are the best version of myself and Wyatt. It has been amazing seeing you grow into a great man, and an exceptional ball player. Whether you win or not, I will forever be proud of you.” His breath hitched at the end.
My own was stuck in my throat, fighting the tears that wanted to fall. Who knew I was such a crier?
“Don’t ever think you’ve failed or disappointed us,” Wyatt butted in. “Trust us, we will always be front row to your games. Win or lose.”
Landon’s hand squeezed my shoulder. Wyatt gave me a reassuring smile that countered the emotion in his eyes.
The moment passed before Landon cleared his throat, glancing at Wyatt.
“Fuck me,” he muttered. “I wasn’t prepared for today to go like this.”
“I swore to Josie I wouldn’t cry.” Wyatt wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
A weight that pressed down on me for years lifted. All I needed was my brother's reassurance. It would take a while to reprogram my mind, but right now, I felt like I was experiencing a breakthrough.
My eyes drifted over to Emmie. She twirled on the dance floor, the world's biggest grin on her face as she laughed at something Josie said.
“You love her,” Landon said.
“I do.” There was no ounce of hesitation.
“Never let her go,” Wyatt added.
“I don’t plan on it.” Spending a week apart taught me I didn’t want to ever be without her.
Needing to touch her, I stood. “I’ll talk to you guys later.”
I left before they could make any remark. I crossed the dance floor, side stepping Mila and Bryton.
“Sorry to interrupt,” I said, stopping in front of Emmie and extending my hand. “But may I steal you for a dance?”
“You may.” Emmie placed her palm in mine.
I pulled her into my body, my left hand resting on her lower back as hers came up to my shoulder. The music slowed, my mom’s favorite song “Isn’t She Lovely” starting to play. I half-heartedly registered everyone else making their way onto the dance floor beside us.
“It looked like you were having a serious conversation with your brothers,” Emmie said. “Everything okay?”
“Everything is fine. It was a very much needed conversation.” Maybe one that should have happened a few years ago.
Emmie hummed but didn’t press, and I found myself loving her for it. For the quiet trust. For the patience. There were already a thousand things I loved about her. Somehow, I knew there would be a thousand more. With time, I’d fall for her in ways I hadn’t even learned yet.
“I love you.”
Emmie peered up at me from under her lashes, her face filled with love and warmth. She pulled her hand from mine and placed both of hers on my chest.
“I love you, too.”
Around us, my entire family was lost in their own moments.
Steven dipped my mom, her laughter filling the air.
Mila and Bryton stared at one another, sharing a fragile moment.
Tasha and Trevor swayed to the music with her back resting against his chest, his hand on her belly.
My brother Landon and Lydia held Kai between them in their own little bubble.
And Josie and Wyatt danced away with Wrenley and Jayden.
Everyone was with their person. And for the first time in my life, I didn’t feel left out. I wasn’t an outsider looking in. I was right there, dancing with my person. The one who stripped back my walls and made me believe in love. Made me believe in forever.
And for the first time…forever didn’t scare me anymore.