Chapter 5
MATEO
Grunts filled the gym all around me, the sound of metal weights clacking against one another. Sweat dripped down my forehead as my own breath came out in spurts. My legs threatened to give out as I repped out two more sumo squats to finish my set.
With my thighs burning, I dropped the weights with a clang, chest heaving as I put my hands on my hips and paced in a small circle. It wasn’t a good leg day unless you were making up swear words in your head the entire time.
“Next time, remind me not to workout with you,” Perry panted across from me. His face was red as he bent over at the waist. “Are you trying to break your legs or something?”
I did go a little hard on the workout, today but I needed to silence my head. Working out was the best way to do that. It was hard to think when your lungs were burning and your body was being pushed to its limit.
“It’s okay if you can’t keep up.” I threw him a smirk before chugging half my water bottle, my white muscle tank soaked with sweat and clinging to my skin uncomfortably.
“I can keep up just fine. I could do another circuit round.” Perry straightened up, acting like he didn’t just curse me out the whole workout.
“Okay. One more round?”
The smile on my face grew at the way Perry’s jaw slackened. He should have known that I didn’t back down from a challenge. The Boone competitiveness was strong in my family, and it only got worse with age.
“I forgot, I have plans later, and I don’t want to be late for them.”
His lame excuse made me chuckle. “Definitely don’t want to be late.” Bending over, I grabbed the weights I was just using to put back on the rack.
“But seriously, man, you solid?”
“Yeah, I’m good. I just needed to work out after taking my brothers to the airport.”
“That was a quick trip.” He put his weights away next to me.
“For sure, traveling with kids isn’t easy. Plus, they’ll be back in a few weeks for our season opener.”
“Oh!”
I shot him a look. “You do know you’re going to have to get over the crush you have on my brother, right?”
“Why? It’s perfectly acceptable to have a man crush, and mine is Wyatt Boone.”
“What about Trevor or Bryton?” I asked.
“Oh, them, too.”
I shook my head at Perry before I used the bottom of my shirt to wipe the sweat off my face. Of course one of my best friends was obsessed with my brother. Maybe it was karma for constantly hitting on my brother and his friends' partners for years.
“Are you going to tell me why you dragged me to a gym that’s not our own?” I asked then, taking another drink of my water.
“Well, there’s this hot girl—”
I groaned. “Perry, really? You know the team doesn’t like us working out somewhere else, and for a chick?”
“A hot chick,” he added. “She’s not here today, though.”
I closed my eyes with a sigh. We were going to get in trouble when the team found out we were here instead of the faculty gym.
“It’s Friday, have any plans tonight or this weekend?” Perry changed the subject. “The guys and I were thinking of hitting up Club Z tonight, you wanna join?”
I knew I should say yes and go. Do a bit of team building, even if it was at a club, but part of me just wanted to stay home tonight. Aside from grueling practices the last few days, I always felt drained after my family left. Almost like a small piece of me left with them.
Maybe a night out would do me some good, help get me out of my head for a bit, but the thought of being surrounded by a bunch of people while loud music blasted made my head hurt.
I was usually one to say yes to anything. Want to go on a hike before the sun rises? I’m there. Last-minute plans for a road trip? Let me pack my bag. Need someone to help you move a mattress? I’m your guy.
“Sounds fun but I can’t tonight. Coach gave me tons of plays to look over before Monday,” I said, which wasn’t entirely a lie. I did have a lot of them to go over this weekend before our practice Monday morning.
“You sure?” If it were anyone other than Perry, they would have hounded me to go, but he knew the pressure I felt being the captain. Unlike a lot of the players on the team, I had more on my plate.
“Yeah. Tell the guys I’ll make it to the next one.” I had a strict policy of no partying until after the season was over, so I would have to go out at least once before the season started in a month.
“If you want to meet up this weekend to go over plays, let me know.” He slapped my shoulder before reaching for his gym bag. “I better get going. I have to pick up Stan from the groomers.”
Perry’s scruffy terrier was the man’s pride and joy. He found him abandoned on the street two years ago, and from the moment he saw the little guy, he’s been wrapped around his finger.
He spoils the pup rotten. Stan goes to the groomer every few weeks, and when we’re away for games, he hires a doggy sitter to take care of him. He even feeds him the high-end dog food.
“See you later.” With a quick bye, Perry headed for the exit, gym bag on his shoulder, phone halfway up to his ear as he went.
My leg muscles twitched as I squatted down, reaching for the foam roller I put off to the side. The moment I put it under my right thigh, supporting my upper body with my hands behind me, I let out a groan. I truly believed this thing was a torture device, even if it helped.
I spent the next ten minutes rolling out my thighs, going from the front to the back, each time groaning under my breath. Pretty sure if anyone was close they’d think I was doing something inappropriate.
Just as I finished my last pass, a voice sounded above my head. “Hey, you’re Mateo Boone, right?”
Damn Perry for having us come to this gym. I should have left when he did and stretched when I got home.
Pushing off the mat, I stood and faced the person. My annoyance evaporated seeing a kid that couldn’t have been older than seventeen in front of me. The kids eyes were wide, mouth practically hanging open as he stared at me. The look of awe was something I was slowly getting used to.
“Hey,” I greeted.
“It is you,” he breathed.
“Nice to meet you.” I extended my hand toward him.
“Johnny. I’m Johnny.” He clasped his hand in mine and shook it. “I thought it was you, but I wasn’t sure, and my buddies bet me that I wouldn’t come over and say hi,” he rambled.
“Where’re your friends?” I asked. Johnny let my hand go to point across the gym at a group of four boys huddled around each other, staring at us.
They were clearly in high school and just starting to workout, their arms long and gangly. More than likely wanting to get in shape before the school year started and to impress girls. The good ole high school days.
“Do you guys want a picture?” The kid had the balls to come up to me, so it would’ve been rude of me not to offer, even if I looked like a sweaty mess.
I learned from my brother and his friends that taking a moment to greet a fan went a long way. They taught me that I wouldn’t be where I am without my fans, and I could show my gratitude by taking pictures. Of course there were times I couldn’t, but I tried my best.
“You would do that?”
“Sure.” With a hand on his shoulder, I steered us toward his friends, weaving around workout equipment. His friends froze mid-conversation as we drew closer. They weren’t expecting me to actually come over and talk.
“Mateo Boone,” they said at once. I flashed them a grin.
“Johnny here said you guys would like a picture.” The four of them scrambled for their phones, mumbling about how awesome this was.
It was still surreal and crazy that I had people who wanted pictures with me. Growing up, it was always Wyatt. But now it was me… It still took some getting used to.
For the next few minutes, I posed and took picture after picture. I knew within minutes they’d be up on social media, so I needed to get out of here soon before people started to show. It’s happened before.
They started pampering me with questions as soon as we were done.
“Is it true you could have been drafted at eighteen?”
“Do you constantly have super models on your arm?”
“Where’s your championship ring?”
The questions went on without pause, none of them giving me a second to answer. Their eyes were wide and curious, their voices almost feverish as if they couldn’t get the words out fast enough.
I wanted to give them what they wanted, but with their voices getting excitable, we were starting to draw attention from other gym goers.
Even if people didn’t know who I was, the moment they saw a good amount of people talking and pointing…
It didn’t take long for them to figure out there was a famous person in the building.
Going unnoticed was about to end.
“Sorry, boys, but I need to get going,” I interrupted, starting to back away, only to hear voices behind me.
“Mateo Boone?” I closed my eyes with a wince. So much for getting out of here unnoticed. Even though I wanted to leave, I wasn’t about to be a dick. Plastering a smile on my face, I turned and greeted the small crowd behind me.
Thirty minutes later, I finally slid behind the wheel of my car, shoving my gym bag in the passenger seat. My sigh filled the enclosed space as I shut my eyes and rolled my neck to try and relieve some of the tension.
My cheeks ached from all the pictures I took moments ago. I hadn’t noticed just how full the gym was until a good twenty people surrounded me. I’m not sure they all knew exactly who I was, but that didn’t seem to stop them from wanting a picture.
The next time I saw Perry, he was in for an earful, especially since I got groped by a group of older women dressed in matching track suits. Who knew they’d have wandering hands.
After a moment of getting my bearings, I started my car and pulled away from the curb. I headed in the direction of my favorite smoothie place around the corner when my phone started to ring.