Page 4 of Riding the Pine

It might be tempting to make her love me regardless, but Bro Code is crystal clear: no crushing on your friends’ siblings.

It’ll be fine. I’ll squeeze this stupid, school-boy crush back into the box it sprung from, and won’t think about Athena de la Peña as anything other than my teammate’s sister.

She’s officially friend-zoned.

No biggie.

CHAPTER 3

Athena

If this guy wasn’t friends with my brothers, I may consider asking him out. As hockey players go, he’s nowhere near as annoying as my brothers. That’s a huge plus. How he manages to put up with them is anyone’s guess.

“What’s your favorite movie?” Scott shovels M&Ms into his mouth from the emergency stash I keep tucked away in my glovebox and asks between bites.

This isn’t usually how conversations go with me. People want to know what my brothers like, how much my father makes, how big our house is, how much money I have or what I can do for them.

It’s shit, but it’s a lesson my brothers and I have probably all learned the hard way. Which stands in my passenger’s favor, he’s gotten into my brothers’ inner circle pretty damn quickly.

It’s crystal clear that he’s different.

Scott doesn’t seem to be like other kids. He’s seemingly not interested in brand names, or clout, and from the way he’s waiting with an expectant, lop-sided grin on his face, he’s genuinely interested in finding out the answer to his question.

“Top Gun.” My cheeks prickle with heat at the admission that my favorite movie is a 1986 action drama featuring Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis.

“Classic.” He tosses an M&M into the air and catches it with his mouth. He nods firmly like it’s an acceptable answer to his question, and something almost undetectable inside me loosens. A tinge of relief that suggests I care what this guy’s opinion of me is.

Danger, Will Robinson.

The iconic catchphrase from the old TV series Lost in Space bellows in my brain.

“What’s your favorite movie?” I squeeze the words out around the tightness in my chest.

This guy has everything stacked against him: I’ve sworn off hockey players, my brother’s friends, and guys who have shitty cars. He has the trifecta of ‘no fucking way’ going for him, and yet... yet I want to know more.

He tosses an M&M into the air, it hits the fabric ceiling of my car and drops into his open and waiting mouth. “Goonies never say die.”

“Bullshit.” There’s literally no chance this guy’s an ’80s film buff like me. Zero. He just picked the first film from that decade that came into his head.

“Beetlejuice is a close second. I cry at E.T., can quote every word of the first Back to the Future, and we can’t ignore The Breakfast Club. Judd Nelson messed with the bull, got the horns, and still got the girl!.”

I resist the urge for my chin to drop and hang open in surprise. He has to be shitting me.

“The Shining?” I challenge.

He shakes his head. “Hate horror.”

“Blade Runner?”

“Iconic. Harrison Ford is amazing. See also: Indiana Jones.”

My heart skips a beat. I can’t convince any of my brothers to watch old movies with me. Like, never. I tried to bribe Ares once, offered him twenty bucks to watch Star Wars with me, but he faked being sick, so he didn’t have to endure it.

“Dangerous Liaisons is also a favorite, but I think that’s because Michelle Pfeiffer is hot as fuck.”

Agreed, but I can’t seem to find words to join him in his commentary about classic movies. I clear my throat. “Die Hard?”

He grins. “My favorite Christmas movie.” He holds up a hand. “Nothing you say will convince me otherwise. Field of Dreams gets an honorable mention because, Iowa.”

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