Page 74 of Three

“Security system,” I simply reply.

Lori’s beat-up car appears on the intercom screen, and I jog to the front door and open it. The car swerves to the right, almost hitting a tree, before Lori yanks the wheel in the other direction. He stops with a harsh braking, making the car hiccup backward. Then a smiling Gremlin gets out wearing a pair of purple skinny jeans, high Mary Janes, and a pirate-looking white shirt, all frills in the front.

He whistles as he takes in a panoramic view of the place and tells me, “Congrats, mate!”

“On?” I walk to his car.

“Let me put it this way: you came, you fucked, you conquered.”

“I didn’t conquer anything. It’s more like Hunter conquered my ass.” It clenches at the thought of my grizzly.

Lori makes a filthy sound as he opens the car’s back door and bends to grab the pizza boxes.

“Hello!” Ash’s leering eyes fall on Lori’s round ass. Lori straightens and pouts his lips while taking a look at Ash, from his dirty blond, wavy hair to the pink crocs on his feet.

“Oh, a few years older, and I would’ve eaten you for breakfast and spit you out for dinner.”

“That’s Ash, the rude triplet.”

“Triplet? There’s three of him? Fuck, I’ll give you guys five years, then we can give life to one of my shagging fantasies.”

I groan. He isn’t the best role model. But am I? None of the people in my family are really.

“Not a chance in hell.” Ash shakes his head at Lori. I understand. I’d be grossed out at being part of an orgy with my bros as well.

“Bummer. Is that a snake?” Lori grabs my forearm, his eyes on George slithering his way out of the house and disappearing into a bush. “I didn’t think your black mamba was a real snake. I’m gobsmacked.” He turns a shocked expression my way.

“Fuck off, Gremlin.”

We enter the house and sit at the dining table. Lori introduces himself to Ren, Dare, and his squirrel in his bubbly, inappropriate way. The wicked trio doesn’t seem to care as they start demolishing two of the three giant pizzas.

“What are you waiting for, a written invitation from the king?” Lori taunts me.

“Hunter is not here yet,” I explain. I should wait, even though the scent of pizza is making me salivate.

Lori takes a slice and starts moving it in front of my face. It touches my lips, and damn, I can’t resist.

“So easy!” Gremlin scoffs, dropping the slice in my hand. I have to use both to stop all the toppings from sliding down. It feels warm and floppy, white flour sticks to my fingers.

And the taste—heaven! Whoever invented this dish should become a god and be accepted on Olympus. Even Maple snoring and drooling on my sneaker doesn’t bother me right now. Nothing can.

Almost nothing.

“Offspring three, would you be interested…” Lori starts to ask Dare, but I stop him.

“Don’t you dare.” I glare at him.

“…in coming to clubs as my wingman, since you’re almost married.” Lori directs the last part at me, sounding ridiculously affronted.

“You proposed an orgy five minutes ago… Did you say…married?” I look at him with confusion.

“You’ve been shagging the daddy bear exclusively, right?”

Daddy—fuck no! “Papa Bear,” I correct him.

“There’s only one papa.” Lori points at himself and then turns to Ren. “And he wants to know, what’s with the glasses, offspring two?”

Give it to Lori to bluntly ask about a sensitive topic.