“I’m a bit biased, but he’s one of the best people I know.” It almost seemed like a test to see what my response would be. If I would agree just to get on her good side or if I truly felt that he was.
“He really is.” I met her gaze, hoping she could see I meant it. Because I did.
Was that approval in her eyes? I couldn’t be sure, but I wanted it to be.
“Mateo told me your dad is Coach Reggie,” she said suddenly.
Oh, Mateo really did tell her about me.
“He is.”
“Just follow my lead, okay?”
I was unsure where she was going with this, but I nodded. Josie flashed a smile and squeezed my arm before she turned to face the man beside her. That was all the warning I got as she raised her voice.
“Guys, meet Emmie. Her father is the team's head coach,” Josie announced. All at once, nine pairs of eyes met mine. I was glued to my chair, trying not to freak out that Mateo’s entire family was now staring at me.
“Hi,” I said lamely, lifting my hand in greeting.
“Head coach, you said?” A man with dark brown hair, green eyes, and tattoos down his arm leaned forward from the row above us. He was seated next to a gorgeous blonde-haired woman, as well as an older woman and man.That must be Mateo’s mom.I swallowed thickly at the sight of her.
“Can you tell your dad to make Mateo Boone run laps for us?” he asked, sending a charming grin my way.
The blonde slapped his arm. “She’s not going to do that, Trevor.”
“But she could.”
Unable to help it, I chuckled. “I can see what I can do.” That would be great payback for springing his family on me like this.
“That’s Trevor and Tasha,” Josie butted in, introducing everyone. “Next to them is Steven and Evelyn, Mateo’s mom.”
Mateo’s mom gave me a smile in greeting, the skin around her eyes wrinkled. She didn’t look a day over fifty with tan skin and shoulder-length brown hair that had a sprinkle of gray in it. Looking at her, I could see Mateo.
“Hello,” I chirped at her and the man at her side. He also had brown hair with gray at the temples. Despite the hard lines of his face, he sent me a warm smile. If I remembered correctly from what Mateo told me, he was the Toronto Knights coach.
“Then we have Mila and Bryton behind you.” Josie turned in her seat to face the couple two seats over behind me. A handsome man with light brown curly hair gave me a wave as the woman next to him with the most gorgeous dark skin and braided hair beamed at me.
I waved back as Josie continued with her introductions.
“Mateo’s older brother, Landon, and his wife, Lydia,” Josie said, referring to the two seated on the other side of Wyatt. They were Kai’s parents, I mentally reminded myself, picturing the cute little blonde from the photo Mateo showed me.
Mateo’s older brother gave me a nod. I could see the similarities between them, but where Mateo had that easy go-with-the-flow energy, like a human equivalent of a golden retriever, Landon had sharper edges. There was something watchful about him that made me straighten without meaning to.
Next to him, Lydia greeted me with a bit more warmth, blonde hair cut in a short bob and gray eyes that told me she didn’t put up with any shit. The pair of them together made sense in seconds.
“Hi,” I managed.
“And then finally, Mateo’s other brother, Wyatt.” Josie beamed at the man beside her.
“Saving the best for last,” Wyatt said, leaning down to press a kiss to Josie’s cheek. His blue eyes met mine over Josie’s head. Where Landon was intense, Wyatt was the opposite. The easygoing smile he gave showed the laugh lines around his mouth.
Was everyone in Mateo’s family extremely attractive? Because holy hell. I guess Erin wasn’t joking in saying Wyatt was one of the hottest hockey players.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, hoping I didn’t come off as leering at Mateo’s older brother.
“Have you met Mateo?” Wyatt asked.
The lie slipped past my lips before I could stop it. “A few times when I’ve come to see my dad.”
