Chapter 32 #2
“I want this everywhere. Tell people if they want to adopt, they can come down to the shelter today. The entire Buffalo Titans team will be here. They can meet us, spend time with the dogs and cats, and take one home.”
I wasn’t sure if it would work, but it was worth a shot. Titans fans showed up, so I was banking on them doing the same today.
“Adoption fees, supplies…whatever they need, I’ll cover it.”
Jonathon was quiet for a moment. “Mateo…that’s a lot of money.”
“Yeah.” My grip tightened slightly on my phone. “I know.”
Covering adoption fees and supplies would barely put a dent in my bank account. What was the point of making millions a year and not using it for something good? I’d always been smart with my money, thanks to my brothers, so this was the perfect thing to spend it on.
A beat passed before Jonathon spoke again. “Are you sure about this?”
I didn’t even hesitate. “Never been more sure of anything.”
He sighed but agreed. “Okay, give me fifteen minutes to spread the word and talk to the team's owner. He won’t like being blindsided by this.”
“If the owner has a problem bringing good publicity to the team, tell him to take it up with me.” I was the best quarterback in the league, and he’d be insanely stupid to get mad and punish me for doing this.
“I’ll be there in thirty.” With that, he hung up. I didn’t feel an ounce of guilt for dropping this on him so suddenly.
My phone buzzed excessively in my hand, but I ignored it for a moment and glanced at Emmie. She gently stood up, holding a cute Chihuahua in her arms.
Her gaze locked on mine, a slow smile spreading across her face. “That was incredible.”
“Was a little over the top, wasn’t it?”
“Not at all.” She shifted the pup in her arms. “What do you need me to do?”
An hour and a half later, the shelter was busier than ever. People lined the walkway outside, patiently waiting their turn. The reception area was filled with people waiting to finish their paperwork to adopt a pet they found.
Wendy called a handful of people to come in and help, but even they weren’t enough with how many people were here. She was currently running around to help, excitement coming off her in waves.
When Emmie and I posted about being at the shelter and to come down to see the animals, I thought a few people would show, not half the city. I knew they were all here to see the team, but every time someone walked by with an animal up for adoption, I hoped they took them home.
“Where do I go to fill out adoption paperwork?” Griffin, one of my offensive lineman, asked. Cradled in his giant arm was a tiny white kitten with bright blue eyes. For such a massive man, he gently held the animal like it was the most precious thing on the planet.
“Oh my gosh,” Emmie cooed, reaching out to gently pet the kitten. “She?”
“Yeah, I’m going to name her Junie.” I swore I saw hearts come out of his eyes. I grinned, not at all expecting that.
“Just head up front and they’ll get you taken care of,” Emmie said. Griffin shot her a wide smile and took off toward the reception area.
“That’s the third player to adopt,” I remarked. When I asked the team to come today, every single one showed up without hesitation. No arguments. Just ready to help. They posed for pictures, played with the dogs, and did whatever was needed. I hadn’t expected a few of them to actually adopt.
“Mateo, this is amazing,” Emmie breathed, looking out at the room with awe in her eyes. “I can’t believe you pulled this all together so fast.”
“My mom always said I was like a dog with a bone when I got an idea stuck in my head.”
“Well, it paid off.” She wrapped an arm around my waist, peering up at me. “You should be proud.”
Looking out at all the people here and the dogs and cats finding their forever homes, I did feel proud.
“Thank you for being here with me. For going along with my crazy idea.” I draped my arm over her shoulder, bending down to press a kiss to the top of her head.
“Like I’d ever pass up the chance to play with and cuddle dogs all day,” Emmie scoffed. She had done just that, too. Her workout outfit was covered in dog hair and drool, her smile brighter than ever.
Before I could respond, her name was called from the other side of the room. She was in high demand today, constantly pulled into conversations by shelter volunteers or by my teammates. Emmie really just had that way about her.
“I’ll see you in a bit.” I kissed her head once more, then let her go. She walked away from me backward, shooting me a wink.
My agent suddenly appeared at my side. “Well, she’s been a hit today.”
This was only the second time I’d talked to him since he walked through the front doors. He was busy walking around and managing everything going on. He made sure everyone was happy and excited to be here, as well as made sure everything was running smoothly with Wendy.
“Yeah, she has been.” My eyes never once left Emmie as she stood beside one of the shelter's volunteers, Perry, and a family looking at a puppy.
“People are loving the two of you. The pictures posted by the photographers and the ones here to adopt have gone viral,” Jonathan said.
“Good. Hopefully it brings awareness to this shelter and other one.” The goal is to help this place but also the one on the other side of the city.
Jonathon crossed his arms. “I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t like this plan, but you’ve done a good job, Mateo.”
I glanced over at him, with comically wide eyes. “Was that a compliment?” I’d been with Jonathon from the moment I signed with the Titans, and I could count on one hand how many compliments he gave me over the years.
“Don’t let it get to your head.”
“Me? Never.”
Jonathon just rolled his eyes at my response. “Go and talk to people. There’s still a long line of people that are waiting to meet you and see the animals.”
“Jonathon,” I said his name before he could walk off. “By the end of the day, donate five hundred thousand to both shelters and make it anonymous.”
“Mateo,” he started, but I shook my head.
“Just get it done, please.” I didn’t give him a chance to argue, just clapped his shoulder and walked off. There were more animals that needed me.
“I want to be a football player just like you!” A young boy named Austin declared, a Titan jersey drowning his small frame.
Squatting down to his level, I gave him a smile of my own. “I bet you will. Make sure you eat your vegetables so you can be as strong as I am.”
“Even broccoli?” The kid scrunched his nose up in disgust.
I laughed. “Even broccoli.”
Behind him, his mom let out a chuckle at his groan.
“Make sure you take care of this little guy,” I added on, nodding toward the cat they just adopted. It was in its carrier by his feet. They picked out an older cat that had been at the shelter for over ten months.
“I will! I promise!” He puffed out his chest, like it was his new mission to take care of it.
“Good boy.” I ruffled his hair, making his grin almost split his face. “Listen to your mom and be good.”
With a promise to do just that, his mom reached down and grabbed the cat carrier, the two turning to leave the shelter. I returned the wave the kid gave me over his shoulder.
My cheeks ached from smiling as I pushed to my feet. For a second, I just stood there, taking it all in.
The room that had been packed only hours ago was now quiet. The three sections were empty, even the cat room sat empty. It felt almost unreal. Three hours straight of people coming and going—families, couples, kids—until one by one, all the animals found homes.
Wendy had already closed things up, finishing the last of the paperwork out in the reception area. Most of the team had left, after I thanked them endlessly for spending their day off helping.
My gaze drifted toward the back of the room, suddenly spotting a dark shape in the far corner. I weaved around the chain-linked fences, eyes glued to the dog as if to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.
The lone pup was curled in a ball and asleep in a back corner. Hearing my footsteps, he lifted his head and stared at me with big brown eyes. He had long floppy ears and a gorgeous deep brown coat. Definitely a hound of some sort.
“Hey, little guy,” I spoke softly. He wasn’t little by any means, but sitting back here alone, he somehow seemed small.
He didn’t move as I slowly lowered myself down onto the concrete floor, those eyes following my every movement. I sat directly in front of him so he knew I wasn’t about to harm him.
My heart squeezed painfully in my chest as I looked him over. He was too skinny, too sad. I wasn’t sure how long he’d been here or what brought him to the shelter, but it was clear he was neglected.
I cautiously put my hand out, slowly moving it closer so I didn’t spook him. A wet nose met my knuckles, sniffling me.
“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you, I promise,” I whispered. I held my breath as he sniffled my hand and then slowly stood up. I sat perfectly still, not moving a muscle as the pup came closer, nose running along the entire length of my arm and up to my face.
His wet nose dragged across my neck, over my chin, and up to my mouth as he planted himself right in front of me, paws near my crossed legs. I barely had time to react before his tongue darted out, licking a messy line from my mouth to my forehead.
A laugh broke out of me as he moved to lick the side of my face. His tongue was surprisingly soft. I wiped his slobber away, and he just stared at me, tail wagging like crazy. Now that he was standing, I could tell he was tall, a bit above knee height.
As I sat there, staring right back at him, something in my chest clicked. Something I hadn’t felt with any other animal all day.
I reached out and scratched behind his big ears. His tongue hung from his mouth, looking like he was smiling at me.
“Who do we have here?” Emmie’s voice said behind me. I tore my eyes away from the pup in front of me as Emmie moved to sit beside me on the ground.
“I saw him alone here in the back.” I moved my hand across the pup's head and down to his neck. I must have gotten the right spot as his head turned, eyes closing.
“He’s so cute,” Emmie cooed, reaching out to pet his side. “What breed is he?”
“I’m not sure.” I smiled as the pup sat down, leaning closer toward me.
“I think he likes you,” Emmie remarked.
I watched as Emmie petted him and whispered how good of a boy he was. Every few seconds, he would look at me as if to make sure I was still here. If I stopped petting him for even a moment, he pawed me.
I wasn’t usually the kind of guy who believed everything happened for a reason, that the universe had some plan, steering you toward the things meant for you.
But after a full day of watching everyone else adopt their match, finding this pup felt like a sign.
That I was meant to find him back here alone.
“Would it be crazy if I adopted him?” My voice was quiet and unsure, which was unusual for me.
Emmie’s head snapped to the side. “Really?”
“I just… There’s something about him.” Maybe it wouldn’t be a wise decision to adopt a dog with the season just starting, but I only had one game a week.
When I was away, I could hire a pet sitter or maybe have Emmie watch over him.
There’s a few kinks I’d have to work out, but the thought of leaving him here didn’t sit well with me.
I don’t even know how old he is—or maybe it was a girl—but something inside of me told me to bring him home with me.
The pup leaned forward again, licking away at my face like he could feel the connection between us, too.
“Well, I, for one, think you’d make a great dog dad.”
“You think so?”
Emmie leaned into my side, one hand resting on my thigh, the other petting the pup who was now lying on his back.
“I do. Something brought you two together, so it seems fitting for you to bring him home,” Emmie said.
I looked down at the pup, petting his solid chest. He was adorable, and even in this short time, I could tell he was a good boy waiting for someone to give him a real home. My life might be hectic, but I had room for him. More than enough.
“I’m going to adopt him,” I said, feeling no ounce of hesitation or second thoughts. Beside me, Emmie broke into a smile.
“You just became a daddy.”
I snorted but mirrored her grin. “I did.”
Like he could tell, the pup jumped up, paws hooking over my shoulders as he licked at my face. I laughed, gripping his sides to steady him. “Yeah, yeah, I know.”
Once he settled down a little, I turned to Emmie, the sudden realization hitting me all at once.
“I don’t have a single dog item in my apartment.”
“Looks like we’re going to the pet store, Daddy.”
Mateo Boone and Emmie James spent the day at a local animal shelter, where their presence quickly drew a crowd. Within an hour, word had spread, and a line stretched around the building as fans showed up to not only meet them and members of the Titans—but to adopt.
Staff reported one of the highest adoption turnouts they’d ever seen, with animals finding homes faster than they could process the paperwork. And by closing time, the shelter was nearly empty. Boone and James could very well be the city’s newest favorite couple.