I stared after her, the wordboyfriendrolling through my mind. We didn’t have that conversation yet, but I couldn’t deny the giddy feeling that washed over me at being able to give him that title.
I nervously playedwith my lanyard as I stood outside the Titans’ locker room. The jersey I was wearing seemed heavy, but only because of the last name that was on the back. A lastname I was about to go into that room wearing that my father would easily see and question.
I could have easily worn my usual jersey with my last name on it my dad got me years ago, but I didn’twantto. I wanted to wear the jersey that Mateo surprised me with the other day at his place. I liked knowing it washisname on my back.
More than likely, my dad wouldn’t even notice, too caught up in the season's first game happening in under an hour. At least, that’s what I was banking on. Today wasn’t the day to have the conversation about Mateo and me.
Knowing I needed to go in and wish my dad luck before they got on the field, I took one last deep breath before pushing open the doors. For a split second, I questioned if I should be in here, but I knew this was where I’d find my dad, not in his office a door down.
While it may have been a while, I still knew my dad’s pregame routine. He’d spend a bit in his office, but then he’d be in the team's locker room. He said it helped get him in thezonebeing with the players before the game.
The door was quiet as it shut behind me, but a few players glanced my way, surprise written on their faces. It’s been alongtime since I came into the locker room like this before a game, but if my dad was making an effort to bridge the gap between us, it’s time I did my own part as well.
The farther in the room I got, the more sets of eyes landed on me. I gave them all a close-lipped smile and a nod. My own gaze searched for one person in particular. I should have been looking for my dad, but my brain had other ideas.
Unlike the locker room layout of the practice facility, the stadium's had one long section, almost like a hallway with locker cubbies on either side before it opened into a big rectangle farther down.
The design was weird but fit the fifty-three players andthen some. I stepped around players and their gear on the floor as I made my way toward the middle of the room.
I spotted Jake and Perry, the two sliding their shoulder pads on in front of their cubbies. I had half a mind to ask them what they were doing with my best friend, but I knew it wasn’t the time or place to do so. Soon, though.
It only took another second before I spotted the person I was searching for. My heart stuttered in my chest at the familiar mop of dirty blond hair. A bare muscular back filled my vision, muscles flexing in a way that had my mouth watering. Oh, how I wanted to run my nails down them.
I blatantly checked Mateo out as he stood in front of his own cubby, shirtless with just his football pants on. Pants that hugged that nice ass. The same one I grabbed just two nights ago as he fucked me. I was starting to understand men’s obsessions with asses because I wanted to sink my teeth into his.
It was Jake who saw me first. He flashed me a wide grin as he nudged Mateo’s back. The locker room was too loud to hear what he said to him, but whatever it was caused Mateo to whirl around.
He drank me in just like I did to him seconds ago. I saw the moment he noticed the number eleven on the jersey. Those gorgeous eyes zapped to mine, approval clear as day in them. From here, I swear I could feel the tension rise between us.
The next time I fuck you, it’ll be my jersey you’re wearing.
Mateo’s words from two weeks ago echoed in the space between us. There was no doubt I had thrown the gauntlet down wearing this while knowing what he wanted to do to me in it. I gave him a little smirk as he likely recalled those words, too.
His eyes traveled from my tied-up jersey, down to my bare legs, then back up. The heat in his stare held a promisefor what was to come later tonight. I shivered at the thought, wishing we weren’t standing in a loud locker room surrounded by players, my father who knows where.
I took one small step toward him before my name was called.
“Emmie!” I only had time to give Mateo a small smile as I turned, my dad coming toward me with a broad grin. “What are you doing here, sweetie?” In one swift motion, he had me pulled into a tight hug. One I used to crave when I was a kid.
I sagged against him as I hugged him back, face smushed into his barrel chest. His cologne filled my nose, the same aroma I got him for his birthday back when I was eighteen. For some reason, the thought of him continuously buying it after all these years made tears prick the back of my eyes.
“I wanted to wish you luck before the game,” I said when he let me go. His smile seemed to grow wider, like me being here meant more than anything else. Not for the first time, I wondered if maybe I’d been the one putting space between us all these years.
“That means more than you know.” His face barely shifted, but his eyes gave him away. Full of things he didn’t trust himself to say out loud, especially with where we were at.
I swallowed hard, forcing down the tight knot of emotion in my throat. “I better let you go. Have a good game.”
The restless energy in the room grew with each passing second. I needed to leave so they could finish getting ready for the game. I turned to do just that, then paused. “Do you want to get lunch tomorrow?”
“I’d love that.”
“Okay…good. Um, I’ll talk to you later.” I awkwardly shifted on my feet.
I met Mateo’s eyes once more as I pivoted around. With my dad at my back, I couldn’t exactly go up to him, and Ihoped he understood that. I gave him a dorky thumbs-up and mouthedgood luck.
He shot me an amused look and replied with athank you. Offering one last smile, I ducked my head and quickly made my way out of the loud locker room.
Many voices met my ears when I stepped back into the hallway. It was deserted a mere ten minutes ago but was now filled with a mix of people. Security guards stood in position for when the players walked out to the field. Cameras were strapped to chests of photographers. Workers bustled around. None paid me any heed thankfully, so I was able to slip away and head back the way I came to get to the stands.
