Chapter 26: Chapter 26

- T or D

Deila's pov

By 6 pm the next day we were already at James's house. We had extra company as Nat's 'best mate'— as he had called him— tagged along with him. Alexander looked cool to me, so I appreciated the extra company.

The girls were in awe of the penthouse, including I who had been here yesterday. It called for it.

James had also told them it was a small place and I didn't try to contradict him just so I could see the exact look they wore when they saw it.

For the guys, Dawn had already been in the house. I'd be surprised if he hadn't, they were best friends in every sense of the word. And according to James, Dawn had been one of the reasons he had bought the house in the first place when he had cajoled him into buying it the moment they saw it on a house-hunting site.

I hadn't told Nat and Alex what to expect, but the look on their faces was one showed they had been impressed. Alex even voiced how he was in awe of it, and Nat nodded impressively when James had shown us the gym that could pass for an actual gym house.

We sat wordlessly in the living room, figuring out what we'd engage ourselves in when Sia suddenly chimed, "Let's play T or D!"

"No. No." Eva's voice dropped disapproval. "I'm so not doing that."

"Me too," James seconded.

"Come on, people!" Lari exclaimed rolling her eyes. "We are not stone-age. It's just a game, you gotta let loose sometimes," she reasoned matter of factly.

Dawn nodded. "Let's do this."

Nat and Axel agreed with Dawn by nodding also which meant I was the only one who hadn't voiced an opinion. And from the way their eyes were fixated on me simultaneously, it was very needed.

For fucks sake. I have nothing to say, I almost to plead out.

"Dei? Watcha say?" Sia asked happily.

I shook my head. "I have never liked that game and you know," I told her and earned a pout from her.

"Please," she pleaded, feigning a sad face as she emphasized the word.

I sighed. "You manipulative kid," I grunted. "Fine."

We sat in a circle in the middle of the living room. James was seated between Lari and Eva. I was seated directly opposite to him and between Alex and Nat. Sia was seated between Lari and Alex.

"Who's spinning the bottle?" Eva asked begrudgingly.

"Dawn," Sia chimed happily.

"What?" he started to argue. "W-"

"Just spin the fucking bottle," I and Eva said in unison. I gave her a mental high five.

He opened his mouth to argue, but then shrugged when I gave him a grim look. Lari threw her head back and laughed hard when she saw it, and the rest of us guffawed.

"Whatever," he muttered under his breath before proceeding to spin the bottle.

The bottle stopped spinning and pointed to Lari.

I'll see how this goes.

"T or D?'' he questioned.

"T," she answered, batting her lashes dramatically at Dawn. Eww and aww.

"Are you in a relationship at the moment?"

There. Thought as much, I thought, a little proud that what I had been noticing was something.

"If that's your way of asking me if I'm single and ready to mingle then, " she paused as she winked. "No, I'm not in a relationship." Her giggling was followed by bellows of laughter.

What in the hell? Her answer confirmed it all. I hadn't been wrong about the oozing chemistry between them. Lari and Dawn? Oh no, not good. Or maybe too good. They were both free-spirited and I didn't know what would happen if they were to run wild.

I'd hate a situation where they'll hurt each other and I'd have to be the one at the center of it all. But at the same time, there wasn't anything I could do if they were to get involved.

It all made sense now that I think about it. Lari would always stare at Dawn's pictures on my phone longer than she should've, voicing how good-looking he was. I should have guessed she had a little crush on him even before she met him. And with the way I had caught Dawn stealing glances from her —like a piece of meat— right from the very first time they had been introduced, I knew there was more than some little crush now.

I wouldn't blame any of them, especially not Dawn. Lari was such a beautiful personality, it came with that cute face and a killer body. Her white skin was spotless and overall she was that Irish head-turning beauty.

In Lari's case though, I couldn't place what she saw in Dawn. He was okay, or maybe I knew my brother was a catch and didn't want to admit it to myself. Never would be admitting that.

Dawn chuckled, sending me a wink when he saw me eyeing him warily. The asshat.

It was Lari's turn to spin and she did. My breath caught in my throat when the bottled stopped, pointing to James. This was what I feared the most about games like this. I didn't want to hear unveiling truths about James. And knowing Lari, her question would be sexual.

"Your turn handsome god," she voiced the obvious, addressing him with the name she had first called him when they were introduced.

I saw his white cheeks blush faintly. It only made me more scared.

What would she ask? What would he answer?

He looked skeptical before he answered. " T "

"When was the last time you had sex?" As soon as the words left her mouth, my fear increased.

Why did she have to ask that? Damn her.

I looked discretely at him from under my lashes, but then he caught my eyes and quickly averted his gaze. Blast!

With the way he quickly averted his gaze, I knew what his answer was going to be. I didn't exactly know, but I knew it wasn't going to be the answer I needed. Wanted. Hoped for.

Was I stupid enough to hope he would answer that he hadn't been with anyone? Yes, I was that stupid.

Was I stupid enough to have hoped that he would be committed to me, a girl with genophobia when we weren't even a thing? Yes, I was. Stupid. Stupid me.

He was a grown-ass healthy man. A handsome Greek god woman would die to be with. Of course, he had a sex life. Still, there was this stupid part of me that hoped we would be each other's first in everything. That stupid part of me was filled with illusions, and after hearing his answer, I would have to be snapped out of it.

"Yesterday," he answered and had the guts to look up to me. "By 6," he added.

He hit me. He did hit me. And I didn't know why. Why did it hurt me? The fact that he had sex with some woman a few minutes before he came to pick me up to what he called a date, yeah that... that was what made it hurt the more.

Even though I never agreed it was a date, it was in my head. Then the were the moments of letting it all out we shared after. I had reasons to be hurt. The fucker had the guts to kiss me again yesterday. Same yesterday. I knew it would've hurt me in any way it came, the 'yesterday' just made the pain unbearable.

"Woo. The man!" Alex cheered in a voice that made me cringe and rumbles of laughter followed... not a single sound from me.

It was James's turn to spin the bottle, he did and it was Eva's turn.

''Eva truth or dare?'' he asked.

''T, " she answered

I saw him struggle with what he should ask her. "I don't know how to do this stuff. Sia if you may come to my aid, will you?" he asked.

Oh yeah, he doesn't know how to do this stuff, yet he knows to answer well and politely, I thought to myself sarcastically.

Sia chimed. "Of course. I'll be delighted," she agreed happily. "Eva," she started and the game continued.

I was still silently praying that it never reached my turn when the spun bottle pointed to me.

"Dei your turn," Sia stated, amusement lacing her voice.

I knew Sia, and I knew very well if I picked T, she'd ask me something I wouldn't like. To avoid that, I had to go with D.

''D," I said, nonchalantly.

''Oh c'mon, you can't pick dare," she whined.

''Why? The game is T or D," Eva intervened.

''Yeah, but we've all been picking T, so Deila won't be left out," she said matter of factly "So Dei T?''

I rolled my eyes. "Are you asking or stating?'' I asked sarcastically.

Lari giggled. Dawn laughed and the rest of them I didn't hear a sound from.

Sia sighed. "Okay fine, T it is then?" When I didn't answer she continued. "How many lips have you tasted?''

Hell, I knew I wasn't going to like her question, but still, I didn't expect to dislike it so much. At that moment, I didn't like her at all.

There was turmoil going on inside of me, instead of allowing it to show, I forced a smile on my face. I knew I was supposed to be shy of my sexual escapades, or lack of, but I wasn't. That didn't mean the thought of lying because of James's answer didn't cross my mind.

I wanted him to think he wasn't the only one exploring. But I didn't lie. Couldn't. I didn't have the strength to anyway. It was simple, I could just say 'Countless' and be satisfied. But... damn it all to hell.

I looked over at James with a ghost of a smile and held his eyes. I saw the fear in them. He too was scared of my answer. Good. I should give him a taste of his medicine, I thought.

I sighed defeatedly. I had nothing to blame him for, after all that was what I wanted right? To give him the chance to explore. To set him free from been tied down to me when I couldn't give him what he wanted. It was what I wanted, I assured myself.

"Just one."

He quickly dropped his eyes to the floor in what was noticeably a relief. His body posture relaxed.

My gaze averted to my questioner, Sia. Her facial expression was to die for, and I would've laughed if I hadn't been going through the turmoil I was.

"What the fuck!" She exclaimed not bothering to hide the shock I gave her— her mouth agape as the floored called her jaw to it, and her orbs popping out of its socket.

I looked at everyone one else's expression, Eva wasn't surprised, Dawn had an unreadable expression, Alex and Nat both had their jaw-dropping to the floor. Lari looked half surprised and half-amused. So her.

''One?!" Nat and Sia exclaimed in unison.

No, one and one- eleven, I thought as I rolled my eyes inwardly.

''Why don't we make it two for you? Right now. Deila I dare you to kiss Nat," Alex deadpanned, mischief was written over his face. He was obviously up to something.

If he wanted to mock me and have me, sissy, out, I wasn't going to give him the pleasure. I maintained my cool demeanor because, why not?

Maybe I was too choked up in my world of fears anyway. Then come out for a second. Oh no, don't. The turmoil increased with my subconscious talking.

Forcing a grin on my face, I looked at James. He held my eyes and my breath caught when I saw what his eyes held. He's pleading.

I dragged my gaze away from his. "Dare accepted," I directed to Alex with a boldness I couldn't fantom its source.

I stood up to my feet, ready to kiss Nat. It's just a kiss.

Nat sprung up to my feet his feet immediately and stood with a smirk on his face. He walked to me and stopped when he was in front of me, then he grabbed my hand and tugged me forward.

Phew! Might as well get this over and done with, I thought in a hurry to get it over with.

He dipped his head and started to close his eyes.

I gasped when I was suddenly yanked away from him into a very muscular chest. I looked up to see James, but I already knew it was him. His smell. His chest. Yes, I knew it was him, and yes I was glad it was him. I couldn't lie to myself.

He looked down at me, his face expressionless. Then he looked away, holding me tighter to him before he spoke. "Hell no"