“A quickie.” He kisses me again, lifting the shirt I’m wearing, and underneath I’m naked. The towel falls to the floor and Ares pulls me tighter against him, forcing me to spread my legs wide for him. I’m on the pill now, so we don’t use condoms anymore.
Before I can say anything, he penetrates me, and a moan of surprise escapes me but is stifled by his lips. His movements are rough and deep, but they feel fucking good. I hold tight to his neck as he thrusts into me, the table crashing against the wall with each thrust.
Our kisses become uncontrolled and wet, and it’s not long before we both reach orgasm. Breathing fast, we hug each other. Having so much sex has its advantages, we know each other intimately, and we know where to touch, lick, and how to move to make each other come.
Apolo walks in without warning.
“Ares, let’s—Oh shit.” Apolo turns his back to us quickly. Ares picks up the towel and covers himself, stepping in front of me to cover me. Apolo continues to stare into the distance.
“We’re going to be late. I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
As soon as he leaves, I burst out laughing, tapping Ares’s shoulder.
“I told you to close that door.”
I know, we’ve become cheeky and shameless. Ares gives me a short kiss and carries me toward the bathroom.
“Come on, we’ll save time by showering together.” I let out a laugh and bury my face in his neck.
- ARES -
“Well?” my father begins, holding a glass of whiskey in his hand. We’re in the study on the small couches to one side of my father’s large desk. Artemis is sitting beside him, checking a chart on his tablet, and my mother is on his other side, looking at me curiously. Apolo is sitting next to me on the opposite couch, giving me the occasional worried glance. I called this family meeting. I’m not going to lie, my hands are sweaty, and my throat is so dry it hurts.
“Ares?” my mother calls. Everyone is waiting for me. I can’t give up without a fight, and the thought of Raquel’s disappointed face motivates me.
“As you know, it’s time to apply to colleges,” I begin. Artemis puts down his tablet.
“Do you need help with that? I can make some calls.”
“No, I . . .” Shit, I didn’t think this would be so hard. The moment I say the words, I’ll expose myself, and I don’t want to get hurt.
“Ares, son,” my father encourages me. “Say what you have to say.”
Summoning my courage, I take a deep breath.
“I want to study medicine.”
Sepulchral silence. I feel like I’ve been exposed, thrown naked in front of everyone, begging not to be hurt. Artemis begins to laugh.
“Are you kidding me?” he asks. I want to chicken out and say yes, but I can’t do that, not when I’ve come this far.
“No, I’m not kidding,” I say.
My father sets his glass aside.
“Medicine?—”
“I thought we’d been clear about what the family needs, Ares,” my mother cuts in. “Your father needs another manager or head of legal in his companies,” she says.
My father immediately backs her up.
“I told you we’re opening another branch office in a few years. We’re expanding, and I need my children to be part of it. It’s our family legacy.”
“I know,” I say. “Believe me it hasn’t been easy for me to tell you this. I don’t want to be ungrateful. You’ve given me everything, but . . .” I speak with my heart in my mouth. “I really want to be a doctor.”
My mother clicks her tongue.
“Does this have to do with that idea you had as a child of wanting to save your grandpa? Son, he’s always had the best doctors; you don’t have to become one for him.”
Artemis puts his hands on his knees. “Just apply to a legal or business program.”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “This isn’t a whim or just because of Grandpa. I really want to be a doctor. I don’t want to study management, let alone law.”
“And you’re just going to put aside your family’s needs? Don’t be ungrateful,” my mother says, crossing her arms.
“I just want to be happy,” I mutter. “I want to study what I want.”
Artemis gives me an incredulous look.
“Even if that means turning your back on your family?”
“I’m not . . .”
“No.” My father interjects. “We’ve all made sacrifices for this family, Ares. Do you think Artemis wanted to study management? No, but he did it for us. We have what we have because we’ve all put aside individual wants for what we need as a family.”
“Really? How happy are you, Artemis?” My older brother gives me a cold look, and I look at my father. “Or are you, Dad? What good is so much money if we can’t do what we want?”
My mother reprimands me. “Don’t be impertinent! Your father has already given you an answer.”
“I’m not going to study management,” I repeat. I can see my father clench his jaw.
“Then you won’t study anything.” His coldness surprises me. “Nothing will come out of my pocket for your schooling if you don’t study what we need. I will not support a son who does not support the good of his family.”
Apolo speaks for the first time.
“Dad . . .”
A lump forms in my throat, but I don’t let tears fall from my eyes. I don’t want to look weaker than I already have.
“Dad, I want to be happy,” I say, not caring that everyone is watching me. “Without your support I can’t make it. Without financial support there is nothing I can do. Medical schools are expensive. Please support me.”
My father’s expression does not waver.
“The answer is no, Ares.”
My mind travels to an old memory when Dad was different, before he turned out like this.
“Dad, you know you are my hero . . .” The little boy runs around his father and hugs him. My father smiles at the child—at me.
“I always will be, I will keep you safe.”
My mother’s betrayal has changed him so much. Controlling the pain in my heart, I get up and walk out the door. I can hear Apolo talking to my father in the background, pleading with him, but I just keep walking.
When I get to my room, Raquel rises from the bed, looking at me cautiously. I thank the world for having someone who supports me unconditionally, who won’t turn her back on me, who I can break down in front of without embarrassment.
I’m trembling, and my vision is blurred by tears. She was right. I want to study medicine with all my heart, and now that dream has shattered. Raquel walks toward me slowly, as if she is worried that any sudden movement will push me away. Her mouth opens, but she says nothing. When she reaches me, she hugs me, and I bury my face in her neck, crying. I’m not ashamed, not with her. She knows every side of me. She has believed in me far more than my own father.
“Shhh,” she whispers, stroking my hair. “You’ll be all right, it’s going to be all right.”
I hear the door open and immediately pull away from Raquel, wiping away my tears defensively. Apolo comes in, and his eyes are red.
“You can count on me,” he says with determination. “I want you to know that not everyone in this family is turning their back on you. Count on me.”
He smiles at me, but the sadness in his eyes is obvious.
“We’ll look for scholarships. We’ll both work part time. We’ll figure it out . . .” His voice breaks. “You deserve to be happy, and you’re not alone. Do you understand?”
This idiot . . . I smile and nod.
“I understand.”
“Good.” He gives me a thumbs up. Raquel grabs both our hands, smiling at us.
“We’ll figure it out,” she says.
I know it’s not going to be easy and the odds are against it, but for some reason I believe them, so I smile.
“We’ll figure it out.”
FIFTY
The Job
- RAQUEL -
Apolo, Ares, and I are doing our best working the evening shift at Dream Burgers after school.