41. ISABELLA
forty-one
This is already my favorite game, and it hasn’t even begun yet.
The feeling in the stadium is electric. The DJ is blasting salsa, merengue, and bachata through the speakers, keeping everyone in the stands moving and on their feet.
The Monarch players litter the field, greeting their teammates for the day, celebrities and Puerto Rican public figures. They’re all in casual jeans and T-shirts, with loose jerseys indicating the teams—one home team Monarchs jersey and the other an away game Monarchs jersey.
The crowd is filled with people who donated to the cause or those who won tickets. Most of the ticket winners were flown in from Puerto Rico. Over a dozen of them on Mateo’s private jet. Only I know this because I was there when he was on the phone, asking how we could get more Puerto Rican locals to the Monarchs’ stadium. I’m also the only one who knows that he’s footing the bill for most of their hotel stays, since he upgraded whatever the stadium was offering and extended their stays—with a stipend.
I look down from the suite I’m seated in, but I can’t see him. He must be mingling with the newcomers.
And yes, I’m in the suite. Because not only was I invited, but I was able to bring as many friends as I wanted since Mateo reserved a private suite… for the rest of the season.
Luisa and Daisy are done with their logistics for the day and are indulging in the chilled champagne as Denise wrangles her three kids while also pleading for a glass. She came along with her mom and cousin so they could help her out with the kids, but I swear they’re all velcroed to her.
Amelia and Nikki were also able to make it, and they brought their significant others. I remember Tony faintly as the hot guy she was on vacation with when we met, but I truly forgot that the guy was the size of a tank.
Although the biggest shocker was when Amelia’s husband, Evan Cooper, walked in and immediately spilled the beans that Amelia was newly pregnant. It took a second for my brain to jump off the fact that Evan Cooper was hanging out in our suite. But the way his smile beamed the moment of his announcement made him seem much more approachable. And a clear simp in regard to his wife.
Daisy’s fiancé was supposed to be here as well, but it seems like he’s running late. I’ve been dying to meet the man who’s put a ring on Daisy’s finger, and not because he has atrocious taste in jewelry. There’s a silent sadness in Daisy that sometimes slips through her blinding smiles, and I wish I knew how to set her free from whatever is keeping her down.
Next to Amelia’s pregnancy announcement, my favorite moment was when Nick Stonehaven showed up and immediately ruffled Luisa’s feathers with his mere presence alone.
“Play nice,” I see him mouth to her when he thinks no one is looking. “Play nice,” she mouths back mockingly as he chuckles. She rolls her eyes while finishing off her champagne.
And to round off the gang, my parents, Bethzaida, and Anna are here.
Everyone in this suite besides the parents know about Mateo and me. So tonight will be the night I rip off the Band-Aid and let the mothers rejoice in the satisfaction of being right to push us toward one another.
Honestly, now that I think about it, it’s a small price to pay for the man I now get to call mine.
Speak of the devil.
He walks in, scanning the room until his eyes meet mine, and his smile threatens to weaken my knees.
Long gone are the days when I couldn’t read this man or was greeted with barely constrained scowls. Now, I’m the lucky woman who gets to witness those loving smiles, the ones that are only directed at me.
And the other women in his life that he loves.
Love.
Shit. I’m in deep and I know it.
I’m trying to pace myself, but it’s no use. I know my heart has long belonged to that man since before my head ever gave it permission to.
Now I just need to grow some lady balls and tell him how I feel.
Although it wouldn’t kill me if he said it first. Yeah, I know I’m probably setting feminism back fifty years with that kind of mentality. But if you only knew the things I let that man do to me in the bedroom, you’d already know that ship has long since sailed.
He moves into the room, greeting people as he gets closer to me, until I hear, “Shit, you’re Evan Fucking Cooper, right?”
“Says Mateo Fucking Martinez.” Evan laughs as they do that weird bro hand slapping and hug combo.
“Tony, nice to see you again, man.” Mateo repeats the same ritualistic handshake.
“You remember me? Uh, I mean, yeah, man. Nice to see you again too. Have a good game out there tonight.” He nods repeatedly, clearly still starstruck by Mateo.
Nikki winks at him from across the room and whisper-shouts loud enough for all to hear. “You’re doing amazing, sweetie!”
Tony silences her giggles with a stare I recognize all too well. Oh, she’s in for it tonight.
Mateo changes trajectories, opting to say hi to my parents before he comes over to me. Smart man.
The wink he throws my way as he hugs my mother lets me know he agrees.
They chat for a few minutes, my mother very loudly singing his praises for giving me a job and a place to stay.
Yep. Looks like it’s time to put an end to this dog and pony show.
I simply walk up to Mateo. His gaze tracks my every move, as if to gauge what my intentions are. Yet he doesn’t skip a beat when I lean into his body, wrapping my arms around his middle. He slips his hand to my hip and drops a quick kiss to my forehead.
We’re barely able to get the words out before my mother and Beth are in hysterics.
We honestly let them be, as Mateo shifts me slightly to shake my dad’s hand and whisper something in his ear. Something chivalrous, I’m sure. But my dad has always been a big softie, never one for intimidation tactics. So before I know it, I’m in a group hug started by my dad. We’re quickly joined by the moms and Anna, who won’t stop singing “I knew before you guys did!”
With the way our mothers are wiping away tears, you’d believe we’d just had our first kiss at the altar as husband and wife.
Although their thoughts aren’t far from it, as they shout and call each other suegras. Spanish translation: mother-in-law.
This is Mateo’s cue to get out of Dodge, yet the small shrug and smile he gives me make me nervous for a whole other reason. “Do you not hear these cackling women? They are essentially planning our wedding, and they’ve known for five seconds.”
He leans down, whispering in my ear. “Did you think being mine had an expiration date, tesoro? I might not be a fan of the term boyfriend, but husband? That one I can get behind. Especially if it means I get to call you my wife.”
He silences my gasp with a sneaky kiss, and not a quick one.
The room erupts into cheers and whistles, and I’m sure I’m burning bright red. From the attention and that blistering kiss.
“Sorry, had to get one in before the game. Didn’t think I’d be able to get one once you’re out of this suite.” He smiles shyly.
And guilt weighs heavily in my gut.
“Well, it’s just that a lot of people are watching…”
“I know.”
“And people will talk…”
“I know.”
“And I—”
“Baby, you don’t have to explain or worry about me, okay? We move at your pace and your pace only. I’m just the smart bastard who thought ahead and came to get what’s mine before this show starts.” He kisses me again, then winks as he retreats. “Have fun tonight, baby. Oh, and by the way, I love your jersey.” He smirks as he backs away and slowly retreats from the suite, waving goodbye to our crew.
I laugh as I recall the jersey I found on our bed this morning. The very one I’m wearing tonight. With a big 1 in the center and Morales written in big block letters over my back.