Page 12 of Riding the Pine

Does it light me up the way my skin dances when he touches me? Of course it does. Am I afraid my brothers would beat fifty shades of blood out of him if something were to go wrong between us? Sure, but that’s their problem, not mine. Just like it’s my body, my choice. If I were to date their friend and theygot all neanderthal about it, I’d take Abuelita’s chancla to their asses.

My body, my choice, as well they all fucking know, too. They learned that one the hard way.

When I was like, maybe thirteen, one of their friends wanted to date me. Looking back, it was a notch on the bedpost type thing. I’d always thought that bedding a de la Peña was only currency for women. However, it seems that since there’s only one of me, those bragging rights carry even more weight.

Anyway, I caught Apollo and Artemis threatening someone on their team with various forms of bodily harm. The guy wanted to ask me out on a date, he was cute, but knowing my three hockey playing brothers, I kind of have my own rules for dating jocks so I’d have said no.

Hearing them defend my honor and threaten a poor kid who was literally shaking in his skates by the end of the lecture only served to make my blood boil. And like the brat Mamá told me I was damn near every day as a child, I did exactly what my brothers didn’t want me to do. I dated the guy.

For months.

I got the worse end of that deal because dude was boring as fuck, but I wanted to prove a point. And I did, because they haven’t ever tried to stop me from dating since. At least, not that I know of, but they know that if I ever found out they’d intervened, they’d be in a world of fucking trouble.

Which is the other reason I’m not throwing myself at Scott and begging him to take a chance on us. Firstly, I don’t beg. But secondly, if a guy is too chicken shit to step up to my brothers and say, “she’s a grown-ass woman and can make her own choices,” then he doesn’t deserve to be with me.

Scott seems too concerned with what my brothers think to be able to take the leap, so we’ll circle each other in that weird, friends-with-chemistry sphere for the rest of our lives.

It’s another hour before the lights are all on the tree, and by now I need a fucking shower, but there’s a sweet smell of baking in the air that has my mouth watering and my feet moving me back toward the kitchen.

Laden with two full arms of empty drinks containers, I don’t get the full picture of the kitchen until I’ve dumped my travel mugs, bottles, and glasses into the sink and turn around. As if waiting for me to get my shit together and make an appearance, my brothers and Scott are sitting around the table wearing golden paper crowns, and there’s a selection of sandwiches and snack foods on tiered cake stands between them on the table. In the center, a two-tiered cake decorated with pink frosting that Ithinksays my name on it but it’s kind of hard to read. Athena looks more like Abuelita, but considering how proud of themselves they look, I’m not going to burst their bubble.

There are pink and gold balloons around the room, and a banner that saysHappy Birthday, Athenahung from the wall.

It’s hard to fight the lump that wells in my throat. When Scott told them today was my birthday, they probably panicked and figured they needed to go all-in to make me feel special. They’re not bad guys, they’re just slightly self-absorbed dumbasses sometimes. I mean, who isn’t from time to time?

Apollo pulls out the almost empty chair between him and Artemis and gestures, I guess for me to claim it. In order for that to happen, I have to get past the stuffed owl sitting there in my place.

Given my name, there isn’t much I don’t know about the Greek goddess I’m named after. The little owl, or Athene noctua, represents Athena’s intelligence and insight. The owl in general is linked to Athena, but specificallythistype of owl. It has a flat-topped head, a plump, compact body and a short tail. It’s kind of adorable and has a tag tied around its neck on a piece of hot pink ribbon.

Trying not to react, I inch my way around the table, suddenly aware that everyone’s attention is on me. It’s something that usually wouldn’t bother me, but in this instance, I pull the little owl onto my lap and sit. The tag says,Happy Birthday, Bright Eyes. And I cast my own eyes everywhere but at the person who gave me such a thoughtful gift.

Thankfully, my brothers break the weird atmosphere settling over the table, they collectively lift teacups filled with what seems to be some kind of champagne or fizzy drink into the air.

“Happy birthday, Hermana.” Ares clinks his cup against mine. “We didn’t forget it was your birthday; we just momentarily didn’t remember.” My three brothers have the decency to look equal measures of embarrassed and guilty as they shift in their seats.

Scott seeks out my gaze, offering me a genuine smile across the table. I mouth “thank you” to him as my brothers all simmer in their discomfort.

He tips his head to the side like it was nothing.

If only he knew it was actually everything.

CHAPTER 7

Scott

(SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD)

May 2020: The Prom

Is there anything more soul destroying than a pretty girl who’s sad?

Athena’s sitting on the third-to-last step on the de la Peña’s spiral staircase as I enter the house. She’s wearing a fire-red dress with a slit up to her thigh and a dramatic ‘V’ in front, almost the entire way to her belly button.

The dress is almost as striking as the beautiful woman wearing it, but it’s clear she’s down about something.

She’s trying to hide it, any time someone catches her eye she offers them a throw-away, light and completely fake smile.

I just arrived at their house to hang out with the guys, I’ve no idea what’s going on other than averyglammed up Athena is sitting looking utterly miserable and wildly overdressed for a regular Saturday evening as she stares at the screen of her phone. I don’t think she’sseeing;she just doesn’t want to look around her or, based on how she’s curling her shoulders in on herself, be seen.

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