Chapter 27
MATEO
Tell Emmie good luck from all of us!
She’s going to crush it!
I smiled at the onslaught of messages in the family group chat.
The girls were beyond stoked for Emmie at regionals today.
I was pretty sure they already blew up her phone, but it was sweet they did in the big chat as well.
A chat they’ve been trying to get Emmie to be a part of since last week when they came.
I shifted the ice pack on my shoulder as I sent a reply back, then I switched over to my message thread with Emmie—our only way of communicating the last three days, thanks to an away game.
I missed waking up to her this morning, but I knew she needed the normalcy of staying at her own place, since today was such a big day for her.
Mateo: Are you at the rink already?
I moved on the couch, wincing slightly at the cold burn from the ice strapped to my right shoulder as I tried to get comfortable. It was only ten o’clock, and I just got back from physical therapy, so I was just going to hang out before I headed over to Ackles Arena.
Propping my feet on the coffee table, I flicked through the TV stations to find the one that would air the skating competition. It was still a good two hours away, but I wanted to see if they would talk about Emmie.
My phone buzzed in my lap a minute later.
Emmie: Yeah, I’m here. About to start stretching.
I knew she was stressed about the day. She was putting in more hours at the rink, and I could see the weight of the pressure on her shoulders. I understood exactly where she was coming from, but I was doing my best to keep things lighthearted and stress-free.
Mateo: I’m gonna need proof, you know.
The little text bubble popped up as Emmie typed out a response.
Emmie: Are you trying to get me to send you dirty pictures before I skate?
Mateo: Wow, Emmie, you have a dirty mind. Wasn’t where I was going at all.
I grinned, practically seeing her eyeball through the phone as it showed she read my message.
Mateo: I mean, I wouldn’t say no to that…
I would never ask her to send me anything like that, especially right before her big skating competition, but I knew the teasing and joking would help get her mind off of everything. Or at least, I was hoping it would.
A few minutes passed before she responded again but this time with a picture. I’ve never clicked on something so fast in my life. The sight of her took my breath away. It was a simple selfie angled from above, but she looked downright beautiful.
Her nose was scrunched up, drawing my eyes to the dusting of freckles across it and her cheeks.
She had makeup on, but I liked that she didn’t hide under it.
Her green eyes popped, thanks to eyeshadow and a dark swipe of eyeliner.
The lips I craved were painted a bright red, and I instantly wanted to smudge it.
Her hair was pulled into some intricate bun-like style, small strands falling out in a purposeful way. From what I looked up about figure skaters, they typically had their hair pulled back to keep it out of the way while they skated. I didn’t know how she did it, but it looked great.
My eyes traveled to her outfit, lips twitching at the sweatpants and sweatshirt combo. I figured she wouldn’t be in her performance outfit quite yet, but I really liked the comfy look. I wasted no time saving it to my phone.
Mateo: I love the matching dark gray sweats.
Emmie: Think I should wear this on the ice?
Mateo: You could wear a plastic bag and still look amazing. You’d be my cute little trash bag.
I chuckled at my own joke, wishing I could hear her laugh back. I made it my mission to get her to laugh when we first met, and I’d gotten pretty damn good at it.
Emmie: You sure know how to compliment a girl.
Mateo: I try my best.
As much as I wanted to keep talking, I knew she needed to go and get in the right headspace to hit the ice soon.
Mateo: I better let you go and stretch. You’re going to crush it!
I stared at my phone and the texting bubbles started, stopped, and restarted.
Emmie: Thank you. And thank you for coming today.
I shook my head even though she couldn’t see me. She had no clue how much she meant to me. I didn’t care that I got back late last night from an away game, I was going to her competition no matter what.
Mateo: I’m honored you want me to be there. Go out there and show them what Emmie James is made of.
Her response was short and sweet—I will. Letting her be, I sat my phone on the couch and tuned into the TV. I stretched out, clad in only my boxers with my shoulder going numb from the ice.
My body was exhausted and achy. I took a few hard hits during the game yesterday morning and now I was paying for it.
We came out with a win, but just barely.
I wasn’t looking forward to the team meeting on Monday when Coach would remind us about what we did wrong.
All of that was a problem for another day.
Today, all I cared about was Emmie and showing up to support her.
That was…if I could pry myself off this couch.
For the next little bit I distracted myself by watching commentary about the competition. They went into depth on each skater, talking about their last wins and experience, plus what we would see in their routine today. It was really interesting learning about Emmie’s competitors.
They, of course, saved Emmie for last. As soon as they said her name, I sat up, elbows on my knees, and leaned forward to listen.
Two-time Olympian. Four-time medalist. Emmie James returns to the ice at twenty-five, and the conversation has already begun—will this be her final season?
She’s built her reputation on big jumps, elegance, and consistency, but after a year out of competition and a surge of rising stars, there’s real pressure to prove she can still hold onto her title as the Ice Princess.
I bristled at the way they worded that. As if Emmie was too old to be there with new talent coming in. I knew without a shadow of a doubt Emmie could out skate every other competitor there.
They started talking about her past wins, but I tuned it out. I know commentators needed to say things like that but I didn’t like it. I wondered if this was how the girls felt when they heard stuff about their husbands.
I grabbed my phone and hit Josie’s number, glaring at my TV. FaceTime rang for a good minute before her face appeared, the sound of other voices in the background.
“Hey, Maty,” she said.
“Hey.” It came out as a grunt.
“That was a happy greeting,” Josie mused, holding her phone a bit closer to her. “What’s up with you?”
“I’m watching the channel that’s covering Emmie’s competition before I leave, and they started talking about her.”
“Pretty cool your girlfriend has sports casters talking about her.”
“But they went on about how old she is.” My eyebrows pulled in, the corner of my mouth pinched.
“She isn’t fucking old, and they made it seem like she won’t be able to keep up with the others.
Like, what the hell is that about?” I ranted.
“I don’t see people saying I’m too old to be playing football, yet here she is as a two-time Olympian being talked about as if she can’t skate anymore. ”
I blew out a breath, anger filling my chest. It felt like double standards and I hated it. I always knew female athletes got shit, but having a girlfriend who was probably the best athlete I ever met being talked about like that didn’t sit well.
I looked back at my phone and found Josie smiling at me like a creep. Her cheshire grin was weird.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s cute how upset you are.” Josie rested her chin in her palm.
“That’s all you got from that?”
“Oh, no. I stand with you. Women are treated like shit in sports and most often they’re better athletes, yet make way less. It’s unfair.” I could see her eyes twinkling through the phone. “I just love how supportive you are of your girlfriendddd.” Josie dragged out the word, making me groan.
“Josie.”
“Come on, let me have my moment to tease you about having one. I feel like a proud mom watching her baby grow up.”
“Having the woman that was supposed to be my wife compare me to a child doesn’t really feel great.” I fell back against the couch. Josie shook her head at my antics.
“I mean it, Mateo. It’s cute how upset and protective you are of her. I bet she appreciates having you by her side. It can’t be easy in her sport.”
“It’s definitely more cutthroat than I ever thought.” I let out a sigh. “Sorry for calling and ranting to you.”
“Don’t apologize, I'm happy to listen any time.” I returned the soft smile she sent me. “You leave soon to go to the arena?”
“Yeah, but now I’m contemplating if I should bring a sign or something. Have Emmie James is the best written on it.”
Josie laughed at that. “While that is a very sweet gesture, you just being there today will mean more to her. There is nothing that compares to someone showing up for what you love most. That is something she will remember, Mateo,” Josie advised.
I wasn’t sure Emmie would appreciate me waving a banner with her name all over it.
“You’re right.”
“But, you can still yell louder than anyone else when she comes out.” Josie grinned.
“Now that, I can do.”
She let out a light sigh, expression soft as she gazed at me through the phone. “I always knew you’d make a great boyfriend, Mateo.”
“Jo, babe, I think it’s a little late for us. I’m taken now,” I joked.
“In another life, we would’ve been unstoppable,” Josie teased on back. The two of us shared a look, years of history and inside jokes stretching between us. The sound of Jayden calling her name cut through the moment.
“I better let you go. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Sounds good. Call me anytime, I mean it.”
I nodded. “I will. Tell the kids I said hi.”
With one last smile, I ended the call and sat there for another minute before pushing to my feet. I unstrapped the ice pack from my shoulder as I made my way to the fridge.