Suddenly, they burst out laughing. I find myself feeling embarrassed and confused by their reaction.
“What's so funny?” I ask, joining in on the laughter to hide my discomfort. “A duck!” Mike exclaims incredulously. “Why on Earth would a duck be your favorite animal?” I shrug my shoulders, trying to play it cool. “I don't know, they're harmless. They shuffle around and go 'quack, quack,' what's not to like?”
Cain chuckles and leans in to plant a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Please never change, princess,” he whispers affectionately.
Nate chuckles and shakes his head, his eyes glinting with amusement. He lifts his head and turns to me, his lips curving into a smile. “Okay,” he says, “what's your favorite holiday?” I pause for a moment, thinking back to the times I have enjoyed the most. “I do like Halloween,” I reply. “The whole dressing up and masks.” I notice the trio exchange a knowing look and a smirk.
I shift my gaze towards Mike's plate and I notice that the burger buns have an unusual black hue. I can't help but ask him about it, “Why are they black? Are they burnt?”
Mike responds with a snigger and says, “They are charcoal buns.”
We all finish our delicious meals and a moment of content silence fills the air, interrupted only by the faint clinking of silverware on plates.
Suddenly, Mike speaks up, breaking the peaceful moment. “Are we getting dessert?” he asks, his eyes scanning the menu. I let out a small groan, feeling my stomach bulging uncomfortably against my dress. “I'm too full,” I reply, sinking back into the booth, trying to relieve the bloated feeling in my tummy.
Cain chuckles. I swiftly turn my head towards him and observe a waiter standing beside the table, holding a stunning heart-shaped cupcake adorned with vibrant, red icing and a single, flickering birthday candle perched on top. With a gentle peck on my cheek, Cain takes the cupcake from the waiter, extends it towards me, and utters, "Happy Birthday, princess."
I lean forward to blow out the candle and peel off the cupcake case.
Despite feeling full, I can’t resist taking a bite of the delectable looking cupcake. The taste is heavenly. I playfully dip my finger in the icing and wipe a little on Cain's nose. A giggle escapes his lips as he wipes it off with his finger and places it in my mouth. The creamy icing tastes delightful and I can’t resist licking it off my lips with a satisfied smile.
I carefully divide the delicious cupcake between us. While we enjoy our dessert, Mike kindly asks for the bill. I can't help but feel grateful to have such amazing men in my life.
We start getting ready to leave.
“Excuse me, I just need to go to the bathroom before we leave,” I say, sliding across the booth while Nate and Mike stand up to let me pass. Before I go, I return to the table and express my gratitude. "Thank you for tonight. It has meant a lot,” I say with a warm smile.
I navigate through the narrow hallway toward the bathroom, instinctively reaching for my phone to check for any unread messages from Rae. Suddenly, I overhear a conversation between a male and a female voice. Curiosity gets the best of me and I look up, only to find the two men standing with their backs to me, pinning a waitress against the wall and playfully teasing her.
They must have heard my footsteps. The men quickly shoo away the waitress, turning around to face me.
My eyes widen in shock as I recognize the notorious Ackley twins.
My heart skips a beat as I realize I am in close proximity to the dangerous duo.
I freeze like a deer in headlights.
TWO YEARS AGO
We make our way out of the club and the chilly night air hits us like a ton of bricks. The alcohol I consumed earlier is making me feel incredibly lightheaded. Meanwhile, Rae is holding hands with a guy she just met inside the club–his name is Harrison Ackley. Despite not having spoken much to him earlier, he seems decent enough. Harrison came to the club with his cousins, Royce and Porter Ackley, identical twin brothers with dark blond hair slicked back and neatly groomed. They both stand tall at six feet. They are decent, but I wouldn’t necessarily consider them to be particularly handsome. The only difference between them is that Porter has a tattoo of the word Mother going up his neck. They both seem pretty posh in the way they carry themselves and speak. I can’t help but notice that they seem to have a lot of money to spend. They kept buying expensive drinks for me and Rae without a care in the world. However, I can’t help but feel uneasy about the way they treat the bar staff. Their behavior towards the staff left me with a sense of discomfort.
Rae turns to me and drunkenly as, “Bitch! Will you be okay if I go home with Harrison?”
Porter, who has his arm around me, says, “Don’t worry. We’ll drop her off at her place.”
I nod and reply, “Ye–Yes,” I stutter, feeling the effect of the booze kicking in. “I’ll be fine. You guys go ahead and have fun.”
Rae walks off giggling with Harrison, nearly stumbling over each other. I find myself still standing next to Porter, his arm wrapping around my neck. The smell of his strong aftershave invades my nostrils as we slowly make our way toward his car. However, my head feels dizzy and I’m almost stumbling, myself. I glance around and all I can see is a white car, my vision hazy and unclear.
A sudden and overwhelming sensation washes over me–the effects of the alcohol I consumed seem to hit me all at once.
Despite feeling drunk, I’m grateful that Porter and Royce are giving me a lift home. However, it’s evident that they’re not nearly as intoxicated as I am. As Royce jumps into the driver’s seat, Porter turns to me and says, “Get in the back with me, Ness.”
I’m taken aback by his mistake and can’t help but laugh drunkenly. “I’m...I’m...Tess,” I correct him, still giggling.
Without hesitation, I jump into the backseat with Porter, my mind still fuzzy and my body feeling unsteady.
Royce starts the car engine and yells, “We’ve got more booze in the back there. Give her some, Porter.” Porter reaches for a bag near my feet and pulls out a bottle of vodka. “Open,” he commands with a mischievous grin. I hesitate, but he grabs my cheeks and forces the bottle into my mouth as he pours the vodka down my throat. The liquid burns as it slides down my esophagus, leaving a trail of warmth that spreads through my chest.
The world around me starts to spin. Royce asks me where I live. I try to answer him, but the words that escape my lips seem jumbled, making it difficult to communicate my address effectively.
Porter pours more liquid into my mouth. My eyelids feel heavy and I struggle to keep them open. Despite my efforts, the world around me slowly fades into darkness.
I slowly open my eyes and the first thing I notice is my ceiling looming above me. It takes a moment for my groggy mind to register that I am in my own bedroom. I slowly make out the familiar contours of my lampshade and the artwork adorning the wall. A sudden dizziness overcomes me and the room seems to spin around me. Panic sets in as I realize that my body is completely immobilized, unable to move or even speak. It feels like an invisible force is pushing me around and I am completely at its mercy.
“Fucking hold her still, Royce.” It sounds like Porter’s voice. I can make out his words clearly despite their muffled quality.
My eyes struggle to focus, but I can see a shadowy figure towering above me. The form becomes more apparent, revealing Royce’s figure, holding me down with a tight grip.
I summon my strength to lift my head, and as I do, I catch a glimpse of Porter positioned between my legs. Despite my blurred vision, I manage to focus on his face, which is contorted with concentration. I feel a sudden rush of fear as I realize the gravity of the situation.
Porter is inside me.
I freeze. I want to say stop. However, the words won’t come out. I lay on the bed and my body jolts, causing it to shift up and down the bed. I want to scream for help, but no sound comes out of my mouth. Tears fill my eyes.
A hard slap lands across my cheek.
