She shakes her head. “Worse.” She reaches into the fridge and grabs the carton of orange juice. “Ares brought extra pulp orange juice.” She hurls the carton into the sink. “What kind of fucking masochistic monster is he that he thought to assault me with not only pulp, butextrapulp? And without warning!” Her hands flap up into the air with such drama that Bacon lifts his head to see what all the fuss is about.
“I’ll bring you groceries, Edith.” She waves a hand. “Got you OJ, Edith.” She waves the hand again. “Who the fuck doesn’t tell someone they brought pulpy fucking orange juice?”
I dunno. But her righteous anger at the pulp situation is something I’m going to rib her about forever. Her crinkled nose, the way the freckles on her face stand out against her red cheeks, her popped hip, foot tapping. I’ve never seen someone fired up so much about fucking orange juice before and it’s epically glorious.
“Okay then, let’s go get some orange juice. Then we can go kick the crap out of Ares and teach him a lesson.”
Can’t have my girl upset about pulp now, can I?
CHAPTER33
Edith
(APRIL 7TH – DAY 21 POST OP)
Frozen Four final –vs– Alabama State
Nervous energy courses through me as we enter the arena. I’ve barely been out of my apartment for months. Some of that has been due to my physical struggles, but if I’m honest with myself, it’s mostly mental.
Being out today, after having been out yesterday, feels weird. Getting special treatment at the arena so I don’t have to walk forever or climb a bazillion steps, that feels gross. But by the time we settle into our seats at the plexi glass in the front row, I’m grateful for the wheelchair assist by the hospitality staff. Clunking down all those stairs with my cast and a crutch or with the help of my friends would have ended in absolute disaster. I don’t need a third fucking surgery on this damn leg.
Sometimes it’s nice to know the badass brunette with perfectly manicured nails and six inch stilettos at a hockey game.
“You good?” Athena takes her seat next to me as I nod.
We even managed to convince a reluctant Tori—Savannah’s hockey hating best friend—to come along to the finals, so she’s on my right side, and Savannah and Eloise sit to the left of Athena. I couldn’t convince Penelope to come.
Unsurprisingly, most of us are wearing de la Peña shirts.
Before Apollo left for morning skate, I confiscated his phone. His father has been blowing it up all day. Every single voice message he leaves and text he sends, I delete.
My prince of darkness doesn’t need that negativity.
The overhead clock counts down the seconds to warm up. Apollo has no fucking clue that I’m here and that feels sneaky. And fun. I’ve missed fun. And I’ve never been more grateful for my friends’ patience during the past few months.
Most people would have given up waiting for me to turn the corner and left me in their rearview.
Some of them did. I still haven’t heard from anyone in my dance classes. Dance worlds are so insular, and when someone leaves it's like they cease to exist. But this family, my hockey family, my boyfriend’s siblings, they stayed the course.
Apollo’s phone vibrates on my thigh. Alonso again. No doubt attempting to call to derail him before the game. Athena reaches for the offending device, but I block her hand, clearing my throat.
“Mr. de la Peña, it’s Edith. What can I do for you?”
Grumbles and grunts stall out the conversation on the other side of the line. “Where’s Apollo? Why do you have his phone?”
“I have his phone, sir, because it’s the Frozen Four finals and Apollo doesn’t need any distractions today. Is there something I can help you with? Can I give him a message when he’s off the ice? If you’re calling to wish him good luck I can have someone bring him the phone.”
Athena snorts next to me, her shoulders bouncing with silent laughter.
“I mean, it’s a pretty big game. One might say it’s a potential turning point for his career. I’m sure that has to be why you’re calling, right, Alonso? I’m sure any parent would want to support their child on such a momentous occasion.”
I’ve never called him by his first name before, but I no longer care about showing him any respect.
The line goes dead without another word. I turn off the phone and tuck it into the bag at my feet. When I sit upright again, Athena holds out her fist for me to bump.
“You’re a fucking badass you know.”
Coming from her, that means the world to me. I’ve never looked up to anyone as much as I have to Apollo’s big sister. She’s always been my idol, and to be sitting with her, hanging out with her, whether that’s playing cards in our apartment, or watching her brothers play a hockey game, well, in truth, it’s surreal.
