Page 4 of Double Dare

“You working today?” Jed asks me.

“Just photo editing. I’m going to the Fjords with Gar to shoot Resurrection Bay later.” I give him a look when he starts to get googly eyes over Gar. “You’re not coming just to perv on him.”

“Not just him,” Dom says. “He can perv on both of you and get caught up in his threesome fantasies.”

Kade looks down at that, ignoring the threesome comment. Poor guy. I need to talk to him.

As the boys gossip about Gar and the magical hold he has on all of them, Rydan walks in, oblivious to it all. “Mom?” he asks.

“Resort,” Kade says, and Ry turns right back around to head out.

“Are all you fuckers going to steal my boozy coffee?” Kade shouts. “Or should I just make a whole new pot?”

“Put the pot on,” Kolt says, stumbling down the hall while still stepping into a pair of boxers. “It’s that kind of day.”

They all get caught up mocking Kolt, and Dom leans into my side. “You busy right now?”

I have editing to do, but I sense the tone of his voice. “No. What’s up?”

“I just need your help with something. At home.” His eyes warn me not to ask any questions, so I just nod. Dom has never come to me for help before. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Dom go to anyone for help. Him and Bo are usually the ones everyone else goes to.

“Who won?” Kolt asks Jed and Kade, pouring himself more creamy booze than coffee.

“Jed,” Kade says. “I think he broke my nose.”

“It’s not broken. Quit bitching.” Jed smacks him. I love watching them bicker; it’s constant, and the tone of it changes depending on their moods.

Everyone is chirping and fighting over a bottle of maple booze when Hardin tries to sneak Freya out the front door.

“Nice fucking try, idiots,” Dom laughs. “Morning, Frey.”

“Morning,” Freya laughs. “Gotta go, but nice to see ya all.”

Hardin gives her a kiss that she playfully shoves off, and then she’s gone. Freya is a local girl who works on her family’s fishing boat. Hardin met her when he worked for her family, and they’ve been casually hooking up ever since. They’re both too stubborn to admit it’s something more, but hey. If that dynamic works for them, go for it.

“Fuck, Lake. That chick rivals you on your sex drive.” Hardin sits down, taking a swig straight from the bottle. “Why are we drinking so early?” He takes another swig.

“It’s Saturday.” Kade shrugs.

“Preach.” Hardin gets up to start yet another pot of coffee.

“That’s my good maple booze, you assholes.” Rayne walks in the front door. “Just caught Frey doing the walk of shame. When you going to tell her she’s allowed to stay for breakfast, Hardin?”

“She doesn’t want breakfast. I’ve offered. Trust me, Mom. She’s playing me. I’m just her sex slave.”

“Mhm,” Rayne hums. “Try harder, you idiot.” She tacks a gentle cheek caress onto that insult like a queen before turning to Kade and Jed. “You two good?”

Kade chugs his coffee. “All good.”

Jed runs his fingers through his hair. “We’re good, Mom.”

They better not be lying because last night changed the dynamic of our rules. I don’t know if they’re mad at themselves, mad at each other, or mad at me. We’ve never crossed that line before, and now that we have, we’ll have to figure out if it needs to stop or continue with everyone’s comfort levels. I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t enjoy it, but I won’t risk my relationship with Jed, Kade’s sanity, or their relationship with one another over unclear boundaries. We have some hard chats coming up, and I need to trust that everyone is going to be honest.

Four runs into the kitchen with Gen slung over his shoulder. “Guys!” he shouts, a smile on his face so big I can see all his teeth. “I have a fucking girlfriend!”

Gen giggles like the happiest girl in the world, and now we’re all smiling with our teeth.

“Welcome to the fucking family, Genny!” Kade toasts her. “Boozy breakfast coffee?”

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