Page 84 of Riding the Pine

Athena

FEBRUARY 20TH

Author Note:In case your copy opened after the content advisory page, please be aware that this chapter contains an on-page rape scene and may be triggering for some readers. Please protect your mental health and skip the next few chapters if you need to.

Savannah: Drinks and dancing?

It’s tempting. Soooooooo tempting. But if I don’t get this assignment finished tonight, I won’t be able to work on my business proposition for my boss. Okay, sure, he’s not my boss, he’s my investment portfolio manager, and I can overrule him if I feel like it. But when it comes to my finances, I like having an adultier adult on hand to make sure I’m not pissing my money away.

It's not quite hard-earned, but it’s hard kept.

Dancing and drinking sounds like fun, but this business proposition is important.

Athena: Library. Got to finish this assignment. Coffee tomorrow?

Savannah: All work, no play, makes Hen a dull… Hen.

I chuckle to myself in the library.

Savannah: They need to put your name on that desk when you graduate. “This desk is dedicated to our most nerdy book nerd, Athena de la Peña. She’s as much of an intellect as her namesake.”

Athena: That plaque would take up too much space. A bit wordy.

Savannah: Tomorrow. Or I’ll come and pull you out by your hair. I know where you live and the code to get inside.

Athena: You have a key to the front door too.

Savannah: Shit. So I do. My drug-addled self forgot that. Plus, the guy at the desk is hot for me.

Athena: LOL! What does Justin think about that?

Savannah: Keeps him on his toes, you know? So what if he’s an older man.

Athena: Bernard is pushing eighty, Vannah.

Savannah: So?

Savannah: Tomorrow. Or else.

Athena: Quaking in my Manolos.

Savannah: There’s no way you’re wearing those in the library.

I snap a picture of my beloved foot babies and send it to her.

Athena: Berrrrrp. Wrong answer.

Savannah: You’re crazy. One of these days someone’s going to steal those right off those weirdly perfect feet of yours.

Athena: Over my cold and dead body, Vannah. See you in the morning. Can’t have you needing to ask the boys for help burying my body.

I turn back to the project at hand, but before I know it, it’s almost midnight, and I have a sticky note stuck to my face. Seems someone took a nap in the library again.

The caretaker comes around to make sure I’m not drooling into my notes and won’t miss closing time. Though there are worse things I can think of that could happen than being locked in a library for the night.

I pack up. There’s nothing left in my tank tonight. I’ll grab a few hours of sleep, then get up a little earlier and get the job done.

Leaving the library, I’m dragging ass. I yawn as I trudge toward the front door. Somewhere, a window is open, and a gust of cold air sends a shudder through my heavy, tired body.

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