31. Scott
CHAPTER 31
Scott
FEbrUARY 2ND
“ W hat 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 Pena’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.”
Ares grins at me. “You’re doing just fine, hermano. Do you need any help?”
I nod. “Actually, I do. Could you keep her busy for like two hours on the day so I can set shit up on her roof?”
Apollo smiles now too. “Rooftop date. I like it. February in Iowa. Not exactly an easy, do-nothing date, but rather a 'make sure you don't lose a finger' kind of date. Very smooth, Scottie. Very smooth.”
My face heats as I nod. “Twinkling lights, a bundle of heavy blankets, a candy buffet of her favorite things, and a movie on the wall of her building.” I’m kind of proud of myself for coming up with that, so if any of these three fuckers pick holes in my plan, I might actually cry.
The three of them go quiet and stare at me again. My chest might implode while I wait for someone to say something . Anything .
“I think she’s going to love it.” Artemis assures me, patting my shoulder. “And you’re right. The family name is easier for us to carry ‘cause we’re men. We get to play the sport we love, occasionally show up for shit, and expectations of us are often lower than for Athena, even if we feel like they aren’t. She’s got that first kid shit to deal with. I think it’s a great idea, Scott. She’s going to love it.”
For now, I can only hope. It was a great idea until Ares mentioned taking her to Paris. I’d fucking love to do that. Having dinner with the Eiffel Tower in the background would be a dream come true. But for now, I’ll have to settle for a sunset picnic on her roof with the two of us bundled up in sweaters watching Notting Hill and hope that she finds it as sweet an idea as I first did when this whole idea came to mind.