Page 60 of Knotting With A Stranger

“So, this has nothing to do with the treasure map?” Archer interrupts, looking confused.

“No,” James and I say in unison.

“This is about him leading me on for weeks,” I continue. “Making me believe he was someone he’s not.”

“I never lied about who I am,” James repeats. “Everything I told you about me—my likes, my thoughts, my feelings—all of that was real.”

“Except the part where you were in prison,” I point out.

The damage was already done. The words are out, cracking the fragile thread of control I’ve been clinging to. My chest tightens, the weight of it pressing down, suffocating.

How am I supposed to believe him now? How am I supposed to trust that he’s innocent—if he even is—when he’s already proven he can keep something this huge from me? I had built an image of him in my mind, a version I felt safe with, someone who had been honest in ways that mattered. But was it ever real? Or had I fallen for a stranger who only gave me pieces of himself?

James exhales, rubbing the back of his neck, his expression unreadable.

“Yes,” he concedes. “Except that.”

The room falls silent as the truth settles between us, thick and heavy. Can I forgive this? Can I even begin to believe that the man in front of me is someone I can still trust?

Because right now, I don’t know if I can.

“Well,” Hunter says finally, clapping his hands together. “This is all very dramatic, but can we get back to the game? Or should we just start throwing punches now?”

His attempt at humor breaks some of the tension. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

“Game,” I say firmly, my heart hammering in my chest, my face feeling like it’s on fire. I really wished I hadn’t asked him those questions in front of the other two, but better to be transparent, right?

“Your spin, James,” Hunter reminds him.

James stays silent at first.

Then he reaches for the bottle, giving it a forceful twist. It spins for what feels like forever before pointing at Archer and the base toward me.

“Truth or dare?” I ask, still feeling the aftershocks of adrenaline from confronting James.

“Dare,” Archer says without hesitation. “Let’s lighten things up.”

I consider for a moment. “I dare you to do your best pickup line on Hunter.”

Archer grins and immediately turns to Hunter, batting his eyelashes dramatically. He slides closer, placing a hand on Hunter’s massive forearm.

“Are you a campfire?” he asks in a husky voice. “Because you’re hot, and I want s’more.”

Hunter shoves him away as we all burst out laughing. Thor beside me grumbles, which is most likely more to do with us probably being too loud for him.

“That was terrible,” Hunter groans.

“But effective,” Archer winks. “You’re blushing, big boy.”

“Fuck off,” Hunter mutters, but he’s smiling.

Archer spins the bottle, which lands on me and him again.

“You’re popular tonight,” James comments.

“Truth or dare, Lily?” Archer asks.

“Dare,” I say, deciding truth is much more dangerous tonight.

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