“You’re a donor, right?” Apollo points his crab Rangoon at his twin, who nods. “Cool. I want in, too.”
I shake my head. “No. That’s not… I don’t need y’all’s money. That’s not why we invited you here tonight.”
“I’m in too.” Ares is typing on his phone as he speaks.
Athena brings Scott’s hand to her face and kisses his knuckles. “Me four. Breaking down societal barriers for underprivileged kids is right up my street. Even if it is for hockey.”
Oh my god is Athena de la Peña smiling? I open my mouth to protest, since none of them seem to have heard the first time, but Athena’s hand silences me. “Shut up and take our money.”
I never expected the de la Peña chaos crew to feel like my own, but damn if they aren’t proving it every chance they get.
I look to Artemis for help, or at least some kind of direction as to how to handle his siblings because it’s really not why they’re here. But he simply shrugs. He leans close to me, pressing his lips against my cheek. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”
It took me about three weeks after my injury to figure out what I wanted to do if I couldn’t play hockey again, or indeed for some time in the future when my body fails me, and I’m too old for the game.
I wanted it to be something still connected to the sport, and knowing how hard Mom worked to get us all into hockey and keep us there… well, Stick Together really was a no brainer. I just so happened to be dating a man who has experience setting up a not-for-profit organization to give me a helping hand. And start-up capital, because that’s the area I was truly lacking when it came down to it.
Considering Artemis withdrew from school—though he officially requested his transcript for future use, just in case—and his father is no longer an issue seeing as he is on permanent sabbatical from the family business having been legally cut off from the company, Artemis had some time on his hands. And he was only too willing to help me figure out how to set up Stick Together.
Roman offered to help out as well, claiming he’s never been so proud of me as when I came up with this idea. He and some of his teammates offered to do coaching sessions with the kids as well as donate to the cause.
“I don’t know what to say.” The fact all of his siblings are ready to open their wallets and donate to my charity even though Artemis isn’t the one making the decisions confirms that the decision was the right one. I’m more than capable of doing this, finishing my degree,andplaying professionalhockey. I am. And if they didn’t think so, they wouldn’t be offering to help fund it.
The de la Peña’s don’t fuck around when it comes to money.
“Thank you.” I look around the table, making eye contact with each of them. “I mean it. This is going to help so many future stars get their start on the ice.” I can’t hide the excitement in my voice. How many more Sidney Crosbys might we have had if low-income kids had access to the game over the years?
“We went to Guac ‘n Roll last night.” Edith dips a potsticker into soy sauce. “Claudia said she’s coming to cover the official launch?”
She’s still not my favorite person, but I’m working on forgiving her. Alonso de la Peña is the real bad guy here, and I have to keep reminding myself of that. “She is. She’s done her apology tour. She’s still writing under her Tabitha moniker, and she’s working toward a mainstream job in sports broadcasting.” I glance at Artemis. “She’s got her foot in the door. She just needs to ace the interview.”
Did Artemis connect her with someone he knew at the biggest sports broadcasting company in the country? Of course he did, because that’s what he does. He’ll always choose humanity over ego, and it undoes me every time.
“Good.” Edith takes a bite. “I’d say I can’t believe the audacity of Alonso but…” She trails off, popping the other half of her potsticker in her mouth.
“What about the boys?” Athena picks up the discussion that threatens to turn into a mutual, inward mulling over their father.
Artemis nods, drawing circles on the back of my hand with his thumb. “The three of them are doing better than expected. I knew they’d find their sea legs, but they were hired to senior roles without senior experience, so I was a littleconcerned. Mathias is doing great things with our HR department. Flexible work arrangements, paid mental health days, paid family leave for all employees, backup childcare benefits, even elder care support for aging parents.”
I don’t pretend to understand corporate politics, but seeing Artemis light up talking about his brothers’ wins? I get that part perfectly.
Ares gets up and goes into another room, when he comes back, he’s holding a pen and grabs a napkin. “Say all that again, I feel like we need to steal some of our brother’s ideas.”
We invited them to come today, but Alejandro is on vacation, and Matthias and Thiago had other commitments which meant they couldn’t come. But we’ve got dates in the calendar over the coming weeks to have dinner with each of them.
It was a little awkward at first, but Artemis and the gang are determined to foster a strong relationship with the trio of additional de la Peñas.
“It’s so good to hear they’re thriving in their new roles.” Apollo brings it back to business. “Would have been awkward as fuck to have to fire family.”
Artemis tips his head. “Sure, but we all knew the stakes going in. Rise to the challenge or you’re out on your ear.”
I nudge him with my elbow. “Sounds like our relationship, dear.”
The table descends into a warm buzz as we finish our meal. Scott and I almost come to blows over the last slice of apple pie—and my diplomatic boyfriend slices it fairly down the middle seconds before I smear it all over Scottie’s pretty little face then lick it off to prove a point.
Right when I feel like the button holding my pants closed is going to do me dirty, Artemis taps the neck of his beer bottle with his fork before clearing his throat. The second he looks at me, really looks, my heart trips. I know that face. That’s his ‘don’t argue, I’ve made a decision’ face.
“Xavi,I think it’s safe to say that our relationship hasn’t simply survived the fire, but we’ve actively started building the home we want together.”
