“You tell us two truths and a lie, then we guess the lie,” Benson says. “So for example, we’d say something like… I’m a virgin, my favorite thing to do is sing, and I’m scared of the fuckass roosters.”
“Sounds easy enough, but no cheating," I reply, pausing to think for a second.
I chose to ignore his turn, because I’ve seen him being chased across the farm by a rooster, but he was ten, so things have no doubt changed. He can't still be afraid of them. I also don't for a second believe his favorite thing to do is sing. His efforts at karaoke the one time they had an open mic at Taron’s bar were abysmal, and he’s obviously not a virgin.
Three lies, the damn cheat.
“I've never seen the ocean, Christmas is my least favorite holiday, and I can wrap my ankles around the back of my head,” I say once I've made my picks.
“I'm going to guess the lie is that Christmas is your least favorite holiday,” Benson says, like it's the most obvious answer, which of course it was.
“Correct.” I nod. “But my lie was too obvious, so no more obvious lies, and you have to tell two truths, not three lies.” Ipoint an accusing glare at Benson before turning to Nick. “Your turn.” I’m done coring all the apples, so I grab a knife and mimic Benson’s slices, smug when he gives me a nod of approval.
“I can’t ride a bike. I fucking hate the asshole roosters, even though I admire their tenacity.” He chuckles, shaking his head. “And I’ve never knotted someone I’m in love with.”
“Too easy!” I complain. “The lie is that you can’t ride a bike.” I swear I must have seen him riding one at some point over the years…
“Wrong.” Nick smirks, and I glare at the alpha. “I’ve never knotted anyone at all, love or otherwise. Though I technically lied twice. I don’t truly hate the roosters.”
“That's cheating!” I complain, snapping my head toward Benson, who is glaring at his brother. I’m not going to acknowledge the weight of that confession or the fact that Nick has never knotted anyone before.
“Can you just follow the rules next time?” Benson grumbles, shaking his head like he didn't also cheat. “Actually, let's play something else; I can tell he’s going to be difficult.”
“Truth or dare time?” I offer with a shrug, and Benson nods.
“Yeah. Easier rules. You do the dare, or you answer someone’s question truthfully. If someone doesn’t want to answer or do the dare, then you just say ‘pass.’”
“Oh. Well okay, that doesn’t sound too bad.” I shrug, even though I wasn’t serious.
“But this is supposed to help you be more comfortable with us, and us with you. So as long as it’s not something that crosses a personal boundary, then we should all try to be honest,” he says, taking the bowl of sliced apples, covering it with plastic wrap, and then sticking it into the rather massive fridge.
“Fair.” I nod. I’m grateful that they gave me their clothes to wear. The soft fabric makes me feel a little more at ease, since I’m bundled up and cozy in the much too large layers. Almostlike I’m hiding without really hiding. “Who wants to go first?” I ask, watching Nick as he crosses his arms over his chest, and Benson grabs the platter of wrapped dough and puts it in the fridge too.
“Me.” Benson nods to me as he takes his apron off and hangs it on its wall hook, walking back over to us. “We still need to prepare the sweet potatoes, but we can take a little break.”
“Are you hungry, Plum?” Nick asks, and I shake my head. Honestly, I think I’m too anxious to eat right now.
“Okay. Benson—” I start to say, but he jerks forward, pressing a finger to my lips.
“First, let's get comfortable in the den.”
“We won’t be interrupted, since no one will be here until Wednesday,” Nick adds, as I follow them out of the kitchen and into the den. This room, like most of the house, is very different than I remember. There's a massive couch with pillows and blankets, and the fireplace is already lit. I bet this room would look magical if it were decorated for Christmas.
I love putting up Christmas decorations. Normally I have them up in my apartment the second November hits, but this year has been a shit show. I wonder if they’ll let me take over this room next Sunday, since they’re going to keep me prisoner until after decorating is done.
“Sit wherever you like, omega,” Nick offers gently, and the alphas wait for me to pick my spot before joining me. I’m on the edge of the couch closest to the fireplace.
Warm, snuggly, cozy. Honestly this room could rival a nest with how amazing it is. I’m a little obsessed.
I wiggle into the cushions, and a quiet purr escapes my chest. Something I haven’t done in a long time. Both alphas’ scents react to the sound, as their own chests rumble with low alpha purrs. The sound of them purring for me combined with theirdelicious scents and the heat of the fire all sink into my bones, setting me further at ease.
They said I could stay in a guest room tonight, but I think I’ll just sleep in here instead. They have to stay in here too, though. Their scents are crucial to maintain the vibe.
“So what will it be, Benny? Truth or dare?” I ask, grabbing a blanket off the back of the couch. I’m about to unfold it, but Nick takes it from my hands, standing in front of me. He shakes it out and then drapes it over me before tucking the edges in around my body.
“That was hot,” I tease, making the alpha smirk. I can’t explain why, but this feels like the first time the three of us are really seeing each other.
It’s all an illusion, but it’s nice to enjoy the moment, even if it’s not meant to last.
