Chapter 31 #2
Coach shot me a look, his jaw clenched, hands fisting on the table, already pissed the question was even asked. He leaned toward the mic, face set, expression hard. This was about to get interesting.
“Mateo and my daughter’s personal life is no one’s business. Those kinds of questions have nothing to do with football or the game we won today.” His tone was gruff. Final.
A few reporters shifted in their seats, but no one backed down.
“Mateo…” This time it was a woman reporter who spoke up. “Do you want to clarify your relationship with Emmie James?”
I exhaled slowly, Coach silent beside me, already knowing there was no dodging this one. At least I could answer this one on my own terms and set the record straight for any stupid future questions sent my way.
“Emmie and I are in a relationship, but it’s a private one. She has her own career to focus on, and I support her in that, and she does the same for me. We’d appreciate it if the attention stayed on our careers. If you want to support her, go watch her do what she does best.”
The second the words left my mouth, questions started flying. Voices overlapped, reporters shouting over one another to ask me another question. Now that I officially said Emmie and I were in a relationship, the gates flung open.
I gave Coach a small nod, then pushed back from the table and stood. Cameras flashed as I stepped away. I left Coach there to finish the interview and headed back to the locker room, questions following me out the door.
That was all they were going to get out of me.
“Well, aren't you the talk of the town,” Perry remarked, placing three beer bottles on the table.
“No one's even talking about our win today.” Jake grabbed one of the beers, taking a sip as he leaned back in his bar stool.
“Don’t even get me started,” I muttered, snagging one for myself. I didn’t usually drink during the season, but after today’s win and the press, it was very much needed.
Ever since I walked out of the press conference, my news spread like wildfire. It was plastered all over news outlets and social media. Hell, my own brothers sent me videos people made of me declaring my love for Emmie.
“How’s Emmie handling it?” Jake asked.
I sipped my beer before answering. “She’s okay, or at least says she is.”
I was doing my best to keep my overprotective side at bay. Emmie has countlessly reassured me that having our relationship in the public eye doesn’t bother her, that she can handle it. I know she can, but I can’t help but still worry.
“You don’t believe her?” Perry questioned.
“No, I do. I just…” I trailed off, eyes roaming over the hotel bar as I tried to find the right words to explain. “I’ve seen firsthand what it's like being in the limelight, how brutal it can be. I don’t want Emmie to have to experience any of that.”
I’m used to people being in my business. I signed up for that when I decided to go pro by having the last name that I do. Yes, Emmie was in the spotlight because of skating and her dad, but the buzz surrounding our dating life was ten times more than that.
“Oh no. Poor Emmie,” Perry muttered dryly. “Dating a hot, rich quarterback. Tragic.”
I gave him a hard look while Jake chuckled.
“I’m serious, though. She wouldn’t be here if she couldn’t handle it,” Perry continued.
I sighed. “I know.”
“Mateo,” Jake leaned forward, “you don’t get to decide what she can handle. She’s been in the spotlight, too, just…differently. If she’s choosing you anyway, knowing all of that? That should tell you something.”
He was right. I saw how it affected Josie when Wyatt tried to make the decision to not be with her, how pissed she got when he took that choice from her. I needed to believe Emmie when she said that none of that mattered.
“Look, if anyone gives her hell, they answer to us, too,” Perry said, nudging Jake’s arm. “We’ve got your back like always.”
I knew they did, and I was grateful for that.
“Thanks. I…I needed that,” I admitted.
Perry leaned back, smirking. “You really think we’re letting you mess this up? Not a chance.”
“You’re lucky a woman like Emmie is even giving your dumbass the time of day,” Jake added.
“Don’t I know it.” I sipped my beer. I knew without a doubt I was the lucky one in this relationship.
Now with the attention off of me and my life, I looked at my two best friends. I was curious to know why they were sitting with me at a table in the back of the hotel bar instead of celebrating with the team like usual.
“Are you two going to tell me why you’re here in the hotel bar with me, instead of with the team?” I asked.
“Didn’t feel like going out.” Perry shrugged.
“It didn't make sense when we’d have to be back at the hotel in three hours,” Jake said. The two shared a brief look.
“So, it has nothing to do with a certain author that lives with my girlfriend?”
Jake blinked innocently. “An author? Wow, that really narrows it down.”
Perry coughed to hide his grin. “Could be anyone.”
“Uh huh. You both are terrible liars.” I already knew they were seeing Erin. Whatever they had going on definitely made me curious about how it worked. From the little Emmie told me, things were serious between the three.
“We don’t kiss and tell,” Perry said.
“We all know that’s a lie,” I pointed out. “If we have to talk about my love life, then it’s only fair you share yours.”
Perry glanced at Jake before dragging a hand over the back of his neck. “Things with Erin are…” he trailed off, searching. “Not what I expected.”
Jake let out a quiet laugh, but there wasn’t much humor to it. “Yeah. Didn’t exactly plan on it turning into something real.”
A beat passed as Perry exhaled, shaking his head. “But it did.”
“And now we’re just…trying to figure out what the hell that means.” Jake’s eyes dropped to his drink.
It was weird seeing my two best friends hung up on a girl, let alone the same one. Neither seemed interested in a long-term relationship. Then again, a few months ago, I was the same way, and now here I was.
“Then don’t overcomplicate it,” I said simply. “If it works, it works. You’ll figure the rest out.”
It wasn’t my place, or anyone else’s, to tell either of them how to live their lives. If they both wanted to be with Erin then who cared. As long as they were happy, it didn’t bother me.
“Look at you giving relationship advice.” Jake smirked.
I took a pull of my beer and shrugged. “Figured I’d return the favor. Although, I think mine was better than yours.”
Perry snorted. “Yeah, right. You’d be lost without the two of us.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Keep telling yourselves that.”
But even as I said it, my mind drifted back to Emmie.
Maybe they weren’t entirely wrong.