31. Josie

31

JOSIE

I 'm totally freaking out.

My hands were sweaty and shaky, and I felt like I would throw up at any second. Not the best combination when I was minutes away from meeting Wyatt's family. I desperately wanted to make a good impression on the people Wyatt loved the most. If they didn't like me, they could easily convince Wyatt I wasn't worth the effort.

Clenching the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white, I tried to take some deep breaths.

It's going to be just fine. They're going to like me and everything will be okay.

That was my current mantra, although it did little to ease my nerves.

My phone pinged next to me, and I loosened my grip on the steering wheel slightly. A text from Wyatt flashed across my screen, telling me he was headed in my direction. Giving myself another second to get my nerves under control, I turned my car off. I grabbed my phone and reached across to grab my camera bag off the passenger seat. I figured, why not bring my camera in case there was something worth taking pictures of.

With one last, steadying breath I got out of my car, locking it behind me. Scanning the crowds heading for the stadium, I tried to catch sight of the man who made my heart pound. I was shocked at the amount of people there.

When Wyatt talked about his brother's football game, I'd thought it would be at a regular high school football field, but no. Instead, Wyatt had directed me to one of the Uni's football fields. The parking lot was beyond packed as fans made their way to the entrances, everyone dressed in the team's colors of blue and gray. You'd think everyone was there to see a Uni team play, not a high school team.

A few minutes passed before I spotted a familiar body heading in my direction. With the baseball cap pulled down over his face, it took me a second to recognize Wyatt.

Damn.

I looked him up and down, admiring how he looked in just a simple pair of jeans and shirt matching the rest of the crowds. The way he returned the gesture made me feel hot all over, flashes of us the other day sprung to mind.

Not sure I'll ever be able to look at him without feeling like I'm going to spontaneously combust.

"Hey," I greeted as soon as he was within earshot.

"Hey, you."

I love how he greets me like that.

He'd barely come to a stop before his hands grabbed my waist, pulling me against his chest. I tilted my head back just in time to meet his lips, the bill of his hat hit my forehead, but I didn't care.

It was like a part of me relaxed whenever I was with him. Like I could let my guard down.

"I'm glad you came," he murmured against my lips. He kissed me twice before pulling away. "Ready to see some kick-ass football?"

I nodded, swallowing thickly as my nerves flared again.

"Hey," Wyatt reached for my hand. "They're going to love you. Trust me." He gave me a reassuring smile and squeezed my hand. Grateful for the assurance, I squeezed his hand back and followed him through the crowd.

"Didn't know so many people would be here," I said after a moment, pressing into his side as a few people shoved past us. Wyatt kept a firm grip on my hand.

"They bring quite a crowd when they play. The team has only lost one game all season, which is a record for the school," Wyatt explained.

Suddenly, I felt a shock of recognition as the colors of those around us sunk in.

As we made our way through security and into the stadium it clicked.

How did I not put two and two together?

If anything, I should be ashamed that I hadn't realized before now.

Wyatt led us through the crowds to our seats, his enormous frame acting like a buffer between us and the crowd. I shouldn't have been surprised that our seats were mere feet away from where the players would be.

My grip on his hand tightened as we came to our row. I glanced across at the two occupied seats, my mouth running dry as I assumed they were Wyatt's mom and brother. Instantly my palms started sweating again.

Why the hell am I so nervous? They're just people. I talk to people all the time for work. You can do this Josie. Just be yourself.

"Hey guys," he greeted. The woman got to her feet, her smile wide and friendly.

"You made it!"

There was no question the woman before me was Wyatt's mom. Her hair was brown just like his and came down to her chin in a stylish bob. It was a little crazy how similar she looked like her son—the same cheek bones, same smile.

His mom pulled him into a hug, but Wyatt kept his hand wrapped in mine as if he knew I needed the contact.

"Mom, this is Josie. Josie, this is my mom, Evelyn," Wyatt introduced us, moving to the side so his mom could see me.

"It's so nice to meet you, Josie."

My hand dropped Wyatt's as his mom pulled me into a hug. I stood there stiffly for a second before hugging her back.

"Nice to meet you, too."

"I'm so glad you could make it." She pulled back with a wide grin, squeezing my arms before stepping back.

Evelyn shuffled to the side as Wyatt's brother stepped forward. Just like with Wyatt, I had to crane my neck to see his face. Though he was a tad shorter than Wyatt, with blond hair and greenish/blue eyes. The beard he wore made him look older, but in an attractive way. The two brothers may have had different hair colors, but the physical resemblance between the two of them was evident.

"Thought you got lost," he said as he and Wyatt did the man handshake thing.

"Aw were you worried about me?" Wyatt shot back with a grin, his brother shaking his head, before he turned to me. "Josie, this is my older brother, Landon."

As Landon's gaze fell upon me, I felt extremely intimidated. There was something about him that made me feel like he was assessing me.

"Nice to meet you, Josie." He stuck his hand out for me to shake. There was a hard look on his face, and I got the impression that he was a bit apprehensive about me.

The feeling's mutual.

I couldn't fully blame him. He's Wyatt's older brother. The guy who practically raised Wyatt and only wanted what was best for him. That included keeping an eye on women who may not have the purest intentions.

"Nice to meet you, too."

"Come have a seat, the game is about to start," Evelyn said, severing the slightly awkward moment between Landon and me. She gestured for me to sit next to her and Wyatt sat on my other side.

"How was Mateo this morning?" Wyatt asked, leaning around me to look at his mom.

"His usual ball of energy," Wyatt's mom said with a wave of her hand. "He was out the door an hour before he had to meet with the team."

Hearing the name, I felt even more like an idiot. I really should have put two and two together sooner. All my attention had been on Wyatt that I hadn't even thought about his younger brothers name.

"Bet he didn't sleep much."

"He pulled a Wyatt," Landon butted in.

"Pulled a Wyatt?" I looked at Landon, curious as to what he meant.

"When Wyatt was younger, he used to pace up and down the halls the night before a game. Would even take out his hockey stick and practice shots, mumbling plays until midnight." Landon explained.

"Wore a path in the carpet," Evelyn nodded in agreement. "The last time I checked in on him, Mateo had a football in hand, pacing," she added.

I found it adorable that Wyatt's little brother did the same thing before a game. "Has he always wanted to play football?" I asked.

"He's played almost every sport there is. If I thought these two were full-on as boys," Evelyn gestured to Wyatt and Landon. "Mateo's double that. The kid's always on the go."

"Not into hockey as much?" I asked.

"He likes it," Wyatt answered. "But football is his favorite. As soon as he held a football something just clicked."

I loved that they all supported Mateo and his sport. Just like they did with Wyatt.

A moment later a loud voice came over the speakers, echoing through the stands and a wave of anticipation swept through the crowd.

The teams were getting ready to come out onto the field.

The excitement rose around us as the announcer called out the opposing team. Family and students from their school cheered as the football team ran out onto the field. I was impressed to see there were just as many supporters present for the other team as there were for the home team.

I smiled to myself as I realized this would be my first time seeing Wyatt on the other side of a game. I was curious to see what he was like as a fan.

With Mateo's team, The Greyhounds, set to come out I grabbed my camera and turned it on. As the crowd stood to greet the team, I started snapping pictures of the players running onto the field.

The same team I took pictures of just a few weeks ago—the same day I met Wyatt.

Cheers echoed around me as I snapped picture after picture. When the team got closer to us, I searched for Boone on the back of a jersey.

Finding Mateo jogging towards us, I zoomed in, taking a picture. Beside me, Wyatt and Landon let out ear piercing whistles. We were close enough to the team that I saw Mateo's helmet head snap up towards our section. I didn't have to see his face to know he was smiling.

The sight of Wyatt's family cheering Mateo on made my chest a little tight. I'd always wanted a family to cheer me on at my track-meets, to be the loudest ones there, even if it was embarrassing. My dad came to a few in high school—he did the best he could, between work and then being sick. In Uni he made it to one meet before I tore my ACL, and it was all over.

The truth is, everyone wants someone to cheer for them, regardless of what it was for. There's no worse feeling than looking over a crowd and not seeing someone there rooting for you.

I continued taking pictures of the team. Shots of them all huddled together as the coach talked, of them mid-chant before they dispersed to do warm up before the game, shots of the coach watching them intently.

"Are you a photographer, Josie?" Evelyn asked, gesturing to the camera in my hand as we sat back down.

"Sort of. I work for Fusion Weekly magazine ."

"I've heard?—"

"So, you're a reporter," Landon leaned forward, interrupting his mom, his eyes narrowed as he looked from me to my camera and back again.

"Landon," Wyatt said, his voice low and full of warning. "She isn't a reporter."

"Then why is she taking pictures?" Landon looked back at me with a raised eyebrow.

I had a feeling whatever I said would affect how he looked at me. "The magazine I work for only highlights businesses or events t in Toronto. Nothing to do with the paparazzi," I explained, needing him and their mom to know I wasn't some reporter trying to cozy up to Wyatt, only to use him.

"A few weeks ago, I actually took pictures of Mateo's team for the magazine."

This time all three heads turned in my direction. "We did a piece on their success at making it to the championship."

When Landon glared, I immediately regretted the confession.

"So, you knew about Mateo beforehand," Landon demanded, the accusation in his voice making my mouth dry as I struggled to try to answer him.

"No. I didn't know he was Wyatt's brother until five minutes ago." I looked at Wyatt, silently pleading that he believed me. "It was the same night we got stuck in the elevator together—I told you about the assignment."

"The team that hit on you," Wyatt replied, realization in his eyes.

I nodded. "Mateo was nice enough to answer some questions about the team and that was it. I had no clue his last name was Boone. I didn't even ask at the time."

"I believe you," Wyatt said, placing his hand on my thigh, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"I can delete the photos, if you want." And I meant it. I'd delete all pictures if Wyatt asked, without hesitation.

"You don't need to," Evelyn spoke up, flashing me a kind smile. "Excuse my son, he sometimes speaks before he thinks." She turned to Landon, with a look only a mother could give.

Despite her words, I felt like I'd gotten on the wrong side of Landon.

"Hey," Wyatt said softly, and I turned to look at him. "It's okay, I'm not mad."

"You probably think?—"

Wyatt shook his head, cutting me off.

"You have no ill intentions, and like you said, you told me about it in the elevator. Neither of us put it together." He said with a casual shrug.

"I should have clicked when you first told me your brother's name." I shook my head.

"There's a lot of Mateo's in the world, you couldn't have known." He gave me a reassuring smile and took my hand. "I promise, it's okay."

Before I could say anything else, the whistle blew, signaling the start of the game. Though I didn't miss the glare Wyatt shot at his older brother.