The morning light filtered in through the curtains of the luxury hotel suite, the soft glow creeping across the room. I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, my head still fuzzy from all the drinking the night before. The faint sound of waves crashing in the distance mixed with the low hum of air conditioning, but it was my own thoughts that I couldn't shake off.
Last night had been... wild, to say the least. The memory of the dares—skinny dipping with Alessa, Leila's lap dance, Vanessa kissing her sister—flashed through my mind, and I felt my face heat up as I pulled the covers tighter around me. I couldn't believe some of the things we'd done. How had I gotten wrapped up in all that?
I groaned, burying my face in the pillow. What the hell even happened? One minute, we were playing Truth or Dare, and the next, we were all crossing lines I hadn't even imagined we'd approach.
Vanessa stirred next to me, her soft breath brushing against my neck as she shifted in her sleep. I could feel her arm draped across my chest, and I knew she must have sensed I was awake because, after a few seconds, she mumbled sleepily, "Good morning."
I turned my head, looking at her. Her dark hair was tousled, and her eyes were still heavy with sleep, but she smiled at me, the kind of smile that made everything else seem small and insignificant. Still, the memories of last night were too fresh to ignore.
"Morning," I muttered, my voice a little hoarse from the late-night drinking. I cleared my throat, trying to shake the awkwardness I was feeling. "You, uh... remember last night?"
Vanessa chuckled softly, her eyes still closed as she pulled the blanket up higher. "Yeah, I remember. You look a little embarrassed."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "A little? I'm still trying to process half the shit that happened. That game got... intense."
She opened her eyes and turned to face me, her expression still relaxed. "Yeah, it did. But that's just how it goes with my sisters. Especially Bella."
I raised an eyebrow, trying to wrap my head around how casual she was being about it. "So, this kind of thing is... normal for you guys?"
Vanessa laughed softly, sitting up and leaning against the headboard. The sheets fell around her waist, and even though she looked incredibly comfortable, I was still feeling the aftereffects of the chaos. "It's not that normal, but yeah, Bella tends to push the boundaries when she drinks. And Alessa, well... she's full of surprises."
I stared at her, still half in disbelief. "I mean... it was pretty wild. I've never seen anything like that."
Vanessa smiled, brushing a lock of hair out of her face. "Yeah, you looked pretty shocked a few times. You're not used to it, but trust me, they're not always like that."
I let out a nervous laugh, sitting up next to her and rubbing my temples. "I'm still trying to figure out how I ended up skinny dipping with Alessa."
Vanessa smirked, nudging me playfully with her elbow. "You should've seen your face when Bella dared you. You looked like you were about to pass out."
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "Yeah, well, I wasn't expecting that."
She chuckled, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer. "Don't worry, Tristan. That's just Bella being Bella. She loves to stir the pot, especially when there's alcohol involved. And Alessa... well, she doesn't back down from a dare, even when Bella pushes the limits."
I nodded, still feeling the warmth of embarrassment creeping up my neck. "Yeah, I noticed. I mean, they're fun, but I didn't realize how... extreme things could get with them."
Vanessa sighed, her tone softening. "I get it. It's a lot to take in. But honestly, you handled it pretty well. I know it's not easy being around them sometimes. They're... a lot."
I looked over at her, grateful for the reassurance. "Yeah, I just didn't want to make an idiot out of myself. I'm still trying to figure out how to fit into this whole... world."
Vanessa gave me a small, knowing smile. "You're doing fine. Better than most people would, actually."
I let out a breath, leaning back against the headboard and staring up at the ceiling. "Yeah, but it's a hell of an adjustment. One minute, I'm just trying to keep up with everyone, and the next, I'm getting dared to strip down and jump into the ocean."
Vanessa laughed, shaking her head. "Well, you did it. And I have to admit, I'm impressed."
I chuckled, finally starting to relax a little. "Yeah, I guess I did. But Bella's relentless."
Vanessa nodded, a hint of fondness in her voice. "She is. But that's just how she is—wild, carefree, and always pushing the boundaries. It's how she's always been. And Leila's the same when she's with her. They just feed off each other's energy."
I sighed, feeling the tension leave my body as I leaned back against the pillows. "Well, I'll need a drink just to get through the memories of last night."
Vanessa laughed again, her hand trailing down my arm as she settled back beside me. "Or maybe just some coffee. Let's keep it simple for now."
I nodded, grateful for the moment of calm. "Yeah. Coffee sounds good."
As we lay there in silence, the memories of the night before still swirling around in my mind, I couldn't help but smile. It had been chaotic, wild, and a little overwhelming, but somehow, in the middle of all that madness, I was starting to feel like maybe—just maybe—I could handle being part of Vanessa's world. Even if that world came with its fair share of crazy nights and over-the-top dares.
Vanessa shifted beside me, her fingers tracing small circles on my arm. "I promise, it's not always like this. Sometimes, we're just... normal."
I raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Normal? With your sisters?"
She laughed, resting her head on my shoulder. "Okay, maybe not normal. But not every night ends with dares and skinny dipping."
I smiled, feeling the tension slip away. "Well, that's a relief."
Q: Do you have crazy family members?