Page 136 of Riding the Pine

Apparently if you eat a third of the mix, it’s noticeable.

Someone’s watching me, and when I scan the room, my eyes land on Apollo. I flex my eyes at him as if to ask ‘What?’

He shakes his head.

We repeat the decoration process another couple of times until Athena gets frustrated with Ares’s trip down memory lane over every decoration that passes his palms. She confiscates the box, then pauses, facing Apollo. “Qué?”

“Nada.”

“Qué? No es nada.” Her brows are raised, as are her hackles. “Habla.” She sweeps her hand at him to open the door for him to speak, then she closes it because she doesn’t stop talking. “You’ve been giving me and Scott weird looks all morning. Whatever bug’s up your ass could you fart it out please?”

Apollo shifts in his seat. If he were one of Snow White’s dwarves right now, he’d be bashful. “I was just…” He scrubs the back of his neck with his palm. “I was wondering.”

Even Artemis has leaned forward, elbows on his knees like he’s awaiting some kind of big announcement.

Apollo clears his throat. “Have you seen Ophelia lately?” He casually sinks back against the couch like his whole display of weirdness didn’t just happen.

I know what he’s really asking, I think we all do. Especially Ares because he’s got this smug smile on his face as he snickers.

Athena puts down the box of decorations and crosses her arms. “Do you mean seen, or do you mean fucked?”

Apollo moves again. “I was just curious.” He looks at me, his eyes pleading to rescue him from whatever verbal landmine he’s stood on.

“Since when have we had to be cagey about curiosity?” Athena’s not letting it go.

Apollo shrugs.

“Since it’s a conversation about our sister’s sex life.” Artemis speaks up, glaring directly at me.

I wave a hand. “Keep me out of this. He’s the one who wants to know if we’ve adopted a third.” I chuckle, checking Athena’s temperature from across the room with nothing but a glance. She’s keeping her brother going, and as she turns back toward the tree to pick up the box, she gives me a nod.

“We’veseenher quite a lot, Athena and her have become friends. Athena’s only fucked her twice.”

Apollo’s face shows confusion, so he turns to Ares. “Have you and Eloise… you know…?”

“Fucked other people in our bedroom?” Ares snorts. “You’ve never struggled to use these words before, Pollo. What gives?”

“It’s weird asking your siblings about their sex lives. It’s not like asking a friend at a bar.”

Athena sighs. The cord of lights slips off the end of a branch of the tree, and as she rehangs it, she casts an impatient glance over her shoulder. “What are you actually asking, Apollo?”

He sighs. “I’m not sure. I think I’m curious about your bisexuality. Both of you.” He points at Ares, then back to Athena. “I know that just because you’re with Scott you’re not straight, you’re still bi. And I know that a bi person being in a monogamous, two-person relationship isn’t erasing a part of themselves, whoever that relationship is with.”

“Right.” Athena nods. “Because that argument itself is erasing. It’s the equivalent of saying, ‘oh, you’re a woman with a woman, therefore you must be lesbian now.’” The way she speaks tells everyone it’s not something she enjoys hearing.

“But I’m curious I suppose.”

“It’s quite simple really,” Abuelita enters the chat from the door. “When you find the person you’re supposed to be with, no one needs to change who they are to fit.” She gestures at me and Athena. “So many people aren’t open to the possibility that opening your relationship to an extra person, even just once to try, or full time as a polycule to benefit either one or both of the people in it, for whatever reason, is an act of great selflessness and love.” Her eyes twinkle as she takes a breath, holding us all hostage with her contribution to the conversation.

I don’t know about anyone else in the room, but I sure as shit didn’t think the de la Peña’s hundred-year-old grandmother knew words like polycule. I’m very grateful we all have mugs of either hot cocoa or eggnog at our feet or on neighboring coffee tables to keep us occupied right now as she speaks.

Before anyone else can talk, she pats Ares on the shoulder. “Ares here has found his twin flame in Eloise just as Scott and Athena have found their twin flame. Ares doesn’t need or want anyone else; he doesn’t need to erase part of himself. And as long as Eloise pegs him sometimes, he’s a happy man.”

The end of her sentence is almost drowned out entirely by Gabriella shrieking “Mamá.” Ares spraying a mouthful of hot chocolate everywhere. And Apollo hanging his head in severe distress, clearly regretting opening the door to this conversation.

Abuelita holds her hand up. “I don’t hear everything, but what I do hear, I like to understand.” She shrugs. “I Googled that word.” She grins. “It was very educational.”

Every single one of her grandchildren looks like they’re either going to vomit or are desperate for the floor to open and for the devil himself to swallow them whole.

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