“Jen!” I whisper-growled.
“Sorry,” she whispered back, then happy-danced and quickly closed the door.
I shook my head and headed to my room.
Our family home had three spare bedrooms, all of which belonged to us kids when we had lived here. So Jen, Steve, and their kids slept in the room that was once Jen’s, Jake slept in his old bedroom, and Nate, Charli, Bryce and I accommodated mine. Bryce and I had been sharing a room for quite some time now, so it was no longer awkward for Nate and Charli to see us share a bed.
While the kids brushed their teeth, Bryce and I got changed into our sleepwear, me in my usual long satin nightie and Bryce in a pair of boxer shorts.
“So, this was your bedroom when you were young?”
“Yes,” I replied, smiling after registering his adorably sneaky grin.
He looked around, scanning the area and seemingly taking in every surface. “I wish I’d known you when you were young. I would’ve snuck into your room and had my fucking way with you.”
I heated at that thought of it. “I’m not sure my dad would’ve liked that.”
“No...he wouldn’t have.” Bryce winked at me just as Nate and Charli entered the room.
“This is just so cool,” Charli squealed, while jumping onto her makeshift bed on the floor. “We are having a slumber party. I know, I know! Let’s play truth or dare!”
“No. That’s for you and your friends to play,” I answered while smiling at her attempt.
“No it’s not,” Bryce said with a smirk. “I’ll play.” He had an elated smile on his face which was infectious.
“It’s your funeral then,” I warned him.
Charli happy-clapped and sat crossed-legged. Nate, who was now lying in his bed, propped his head on his hand with an amused look on his face.
“Well?” I gestured to Bryce, “What will it be, truth or dare?”
“Dare,” he said confidently, standing beside the bed in all his boxer short glory.
Nate scoffed and put his hand over his eyes. “You’re nuts, Bryce.”
Charli happy-clapped again.
“Slap yourself across the face,” I commanded, smiling with the knowledge that he would do it.
He smiled back and obliged, giving himself a decent whack. I burst into laughter and fell back on the bed as he raised his eyebrow satisfactorily then pulled back the bed covers, climbing in beside me.
“It’s your turn, Mum.” Nate said, sitting up and crossing his legs like his sister. Crap! How did I get roped into this again?
“Fine,” I contemplated my choice for a split second then decided I would follow Bryce, not wanting to be outdone, of course. “I choose dare,” I huffed.
“Fart,” Nate blurted out, my typical nine-year-old son seeming quite pleased with his suggestion.
“No. I can’t,” I shrieked, embarrassed and honestly telling the truth. Suddenly a bottom rumble sounded within the room. Nate and Bryce looked at me, their eyes widening. “That wasn’t me,” I exclaimed, hands in the air in surrender. Bryce chuckled so loudly that I had to playfully punch him in the arm. “It wasn’t me, I promise.”
“No, it was me,” Charli chimed in. “I took Mum’s dare.”
“What?” I asked astounded and now laughing as hard as Bryce. “This game is stupid.”
“No it’s not. If you can’t do a dare or tell a truth, someone else can do it for you. So, I did it for you, Mum, us girls have to stick together.” Charli was the only one deadly serious and not laughing.
“Oh...thanks Sweetheart,” I choked out, trying to be as serious as she. “So...what happens next?”
Quite proudly, she answered. “You get another turn.”
“Oh, okay.” I breathed in and looked at her purposely. “Fire away.” And I mean from your mouth, not your rear-end.
“You have to pick truth or dare, Mum.”
“Oh, sorry. Truth then.”
Charli smiled. “Are you going to marry Bryce?”
Charli-Bear, we’ve been over this. I looked at Bryce who had placed both his hands behind his head, a smug smile protruding from his face. “He has to ask me to marry him first.”
“Bryce, are you going to ask—”
“Hey, hey,” I interrupted. “That’s cheating. It’s not his turn yet, it’s yours. Truth or dare, which one?” I successfully diverted her pending question.
“Dare,” she answered excitedly.
Nate quickly jumped in again. “Fart.”
“Nate!” I exclaimed. Charli let off another one. “Geezus, Charli!” How does she freakin’ do that?