Page 77 of Riding the Pine

“That’s what I said!” Ares points at me. “See? Tonto.”

Fool. Even I know that one. At least he didn’t call me an asshole, I suppose.

“You should have listened to me mamagüevo.”

Cocksucker.

Ha. I can only translate maybe one in every ten words they say when they’re in full flow, but the swear words I have down pat.

“Is that it? You’re all just going to call me a dumbass for not acting sooner? No warnings about hurting her? No threats to my life? Seriously?” I stare around the room at four amused faces, any lingering trace of apprehension leaving my body because I feel like a damn idiot.

Ares raises his hand. “I have a question.” He looks from me to Athena and back again. “When’s the wedding?”

CHAPTER 31

Scott

FEBRUARY 2ND

“What are you doing with Hen for Valentine’s?” Ares nudges my elbow right in front of his net. Apparently, he thinks right here, in the middle of practice, is the appropriate time to ask me what I’m doing with his sister for Valentine’s Day. The temptation to answer ‘barebacking her,’ or ‘fucking her until she turns inside out,’ is overwhelming in this moment.

“I said.” He pauses to clear his throat.

I dig him in his chest pads. “I will skewer you on my stick, goaltender. Don’t fuck with me.”

His eyes dance as he wiggles his sweaty brows through the gap in his helmet. “Don’t threaten me with a good time, hermano. If you need suggestions, we’ve got you.”

He waves his stick at Artemis who has come to join me to clear the pucks out of the net. “Don’t we, Arte? We can help him figure something out for Athena for Valentine’s Day?” He falls quiet for less than a second. “He could take the jet to Paris.” He lets out a fake, dreamy sigh.

“Or New York City. She loves New York.”

Apollo skates up behind us. “Athena? She loves anywhere. Take her home to the DR for Valentine’s. You could totally borrow the jet.”

I huff out a laugh.

“What?” Apollo tips his head.

I roll my lips. I don’t want to tell them they don’t know their sister as well as they think they do, but at the same time, I don’t think I can hide my distaste for their suggestions.

“If this is about money, don’t even go there.” Ares holds up his glove.

I shake my head, conscious of other bodies around us. If I make the guys mad, my blood’s going to be a bitch to get off the ice.

“What is it, Scott?” Artemis nudges my shoulder.

“Sometimes she doesn’t want to get glammed up and be Alonso de la Peña’s daughter in public.” There. I said it.

“What do you mean?” Apollo scrunches up his face like he’s trying to understand what I said.

“Sometimes she just wants to be a no one. She wants to fly under the radar. She doesn’t want private jets, fancy planes, and a big to-do.”

They still stare at me like I’ve lost my mind. Maybe I have, but if their posh trip was red, I’d put every cent left in my bank account on black.

“She has a beautician on retainer, she has the biggest collection of shoes I’ve ever seen, she loves bags, and jewelry, and she wears the most expensive clothes I’ve ever seen, sure. You’re right about all those things. She loves to travel, she loves to eat good food, but sometimes she just wants to be ‘off’ instead of ‘on.’ She just wants to wear her comfy clothes, eat a pizza, and watch an old movie with some red candy vines.”

Artemis bumps me again. “And how do you know which this is?”

I huff out a sigh. This is all making me sound kinda pathetic. “She has at least three fancy charitable events this month where she has to wear make-up, and a different expensive dress, and painfully high heels. She’s got an event for your mom’s foundation.” I shrug. “I figured for Valentine’s Day, we’d keep it low key, and I’d just let her be herself for a night.”

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