That sounds like something any one of my teammates might do, though I have an overwhelming urge to attack her shirt with a Sharpie and write #32 instead of hockey, then scrawl UCR Raccoons where the Devils logo is.
I’m not thrilled at another team being anywhere near my girl’s tits, though that’s the least of my problems right now since my twin brothers and my fucking sister are walking towards our table.
Eloise is currently oblivious to the fact she’s about to get accosted by a whole lot of fucking de la Peña in one go. I try to shake my head at my siblings, silently pleading with them to reconsider what they’re about to do.
“Why are you shaking your head? Is the bagel bad? It tasted delicious to me.”
I lean forward, dropping my food onto my plate and cupping her chin with my palm. “I am so fucking sorry.”
The pulse in her neck skips faster as the color drains from her face. “For what?”
“My brothers and sister are making a beeline for this table, and there’s no door behind us to escape out of.”
“You told your family about me?”
“My sister. She saw me at your car putting hot chocolate under the wiper. She thought I was stalking you. Then she told my brothers.” I take her hands in mine, though I can’t rest them on the table because of all the fucking plates. “They think it’s adorable I finally have a girlfriend, and by adorable, I mean they think it’s fun to make an endless number of jokes at my expense. I never told them we were coming here. I’m sorry.”
She shakes her head, and her freshly dyed pink hair falls forward. “If you’re okay with me meeting your family, I am, too.”
I scan her face looking for a sign that she’s uncomfortable or lying to me. I don’t care who the fuck wants to meet her, if my girl isn’t feeling it, I’m not above throwing her over my shoulder and leaving an Ares and Eloise shaped hole in the wall if I have to.
“You’re sure? I can tell them to fuck off if you aren’t ready.”
She nods, her lip caught between her teeth. “I’m ready.”
I ease back into my chair, waiting for my family to descend, and while Eloise thinks she’s ready, I’m not sure I am.
CHAPTER20
Eloise
If I’m going to meet Ares’s siblings, it’s better to do it all at once, right? Instead of spreading the pain out over a longer period of time? I really don’t know. All I know is I might poop my pants right now from the way he’s looking at me.
Are they going to grill me? Probe me for all my deep, dark secrets? Does he think they won’t like me? I don’t think he’s embarrassed by me. I mean, the way he looked at me when I arrived makes me feel like I’m lucky to have my clothes on right now. He didn’t seem to mind a public display of affection, in fact, it seems like he craved it.
But I don’t get why he’s gone so pale, and his usual mask of cockiness and bravado seems to be slipping juuuuuust a bit.
“¿Qué lo qué, hermanito?”
Three of the most beautiful human beings I’ve ever seen surround our table. One of the twins pulls two chairs over and plops down like he’s here for the day. Okay then.
Offering his hand to me, he flashes a megawatt smile. “Apollo.”
I risk a side-eyed glance in Ares’s direction. His eyes are fixed on me, burning with intensity. He gives the most imperceptible nod before he slides his foot between mine under the table and rubs his calf against my leg.
My heart wants to burst from the silent support he’s giving me, the consideration that I might not be ready for all of this to descend on me, and I admit, I fall a little harder.
“It’s nice to meet you Apollo, I’m Eloise.” I shake his hand, making sure to make eye contact. I’m not afraid, a little anxious maybe, but that’s every day ending with Y. I don’t know what they want, whether it’s to suss me out or embarrass their youngest brother, but I do want to make a good impression.
The other twin stands over his shoulder. “Artemis.” He offers his hand and I shake it, giving him a smile.
Athena has a paper cup in her hand. She puts it on the table and sits on the other chair Apollo brought over, which puts her closest to me, our knees touching. She’s the one I’m most intimidated by, the one I’m most worried about. If notlikingme, then at least not hating me.
If rumors are to be believed—and there are many, many rumors around UCR at any given time, especially about Ares’s family—she might be the thorn in her brothers’ sides, but she also protects them with the ferocity of a mother dragon. I’d rather not get singed.
She offers me her hand and a warm smile. “Athena.”
My chest loosens a little, and it’s only now that I realize how constricted it’s been for the past few minutes.
