After Dinner

MADISON

“Smooth. Very smooth, little sister.”

“What do you mean, Liam?” Madison asked.

But she was afraid that she knew ~exactly~ what he was talking about.

She grabbed the beers and turned around, then bumped the fridge closed with her hip.

He didn’t ~look~ upset. So…he was probably talking about something else?

She started to step around him, but he wrapped his arms around her.

“Don’t go. It’s true what Ezra said, you know. We’ve barely seen you lately, and we miss you.”

He stepped back and looked her right in the eye. “And I figure you could probably use some help from someone that knows all three of them.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as Liam took the beers from her and kissed the top of her head.

“You…you know?”

“I’ve known you my entire life,” he said simply. “I was there when you came into this world, and I’ve been with you for almost every step of your life.

“I have to admit, I didn’t expect it to be ~both~ of them—that might take a little getting used to. But then, knowing them, it was probably the most rational thing to do.”

Madison finally found her voice. “How long have you known?”

“I’ve suspected for a while. But the night at the club, the way the three of you looked at each other, that was when I knew for sure.”

“Does Ezra—”

“No. He won’t take it well, but he’ll come around soon enough. I’ll help.”

“Liam, I’m…I’m sorry.”

“For what? Like you just said, if you’re all happy, who am I to stop you? But be careful. I know how much you care for them, and vice versa, but this is something out of the norm, Maddi. People might not be kind.”

He sighed. “And you know the twins are like brothers to me, but they can be quite a handful sometimes.”

Happy tears ran down her cheeks. She’d run through a million scenarios since she’d begun dating the twins but had never imagined this one.

“So I guess what I am trying to say is, it will be hard. People will talk, and you’ll see a side of them that you never saw before. But if you’re happy, I’ll be here for you.

“And if those jokers hurt you, ~I’ll~ be the one to murder ~them~,” he finished.

“Murder who?” Ethan asked as both twins walked into the kitchen. “And what’s taking so long with those beers?”

“Those two are making out, and you two disappeared—” Levi stopped talking when he saw Madison looking at them with teary eyes.

“Both of you,” Liam said, pointing at the twins as he headed for the door. “You hurt her, you’re dead men.”

Ethan was the first to recover. “He knows?”

“Yes,” she murmured, still stunned by the turn of events.

“So…why aren’t we dead yet?” Levi asked.

“I don’t know. But I was never too worried about Liam. It’s Ezra…” She shook her head, then kissed Ethan’s cheek before doing the same to Levi.

She handed Ethan the beers, and the three of them went back out together and took their places at the table.

***

Liam went to bed not that long after dinner, claiming exhaustion, and Ezra and Sam weren’t far behind.

Finally, Madison was alone with the twins. It was amazing how much she’d missed being able to express her affection for them openly. And it had only been half a day!

Levi wrapped his arms around her waist.

“How are you feeling about Liam knowing, ’Flake?” His low whisper brushed lightly against the exposed skin of her neck as she leaned back to rest her head against his shoulder.

“I don’t know,” she sighed, resting her hands on his and drawing invisible circles on his fingers with her thumb.

“I’m confused, too,” Ethan said. “But he asked Levi and me to lunch tomorrow, so I guess that’ll clear some things up.”

“He didn’t seem mad at all. He was more…worried. But he also seemed happy for us.” She shrugged. “I guess this is just the tip of the iceberg though. I don’t dare to think about when we’re going to tell Ezra.”

Her words caught in her throat as the contact of Levi’s silky tongue against her skin made her gasp. When he started to suck and nibble on her neck, she squeezed her thighs together.

“It’ll be hard, but we’ll be there with you,” Ethan promised. His eyes locked with hers before he leaned forward like he was about to kiss her—

The sound of the slider door opening made them freeze.

“Hey, guys. Anyone seen my phone?”

Ezra walked out, looking grouchy and tired, and both twins straightened. Madison tried to look casual, like leaning against Levi was just their usual platonic affection.

“I think I might have left it down here.”

She yawned and stretched her arms over her head as she scooched away from Levi. “Nope. Maybe it’s in the kitchen.”

“Looks like someone didn’t get enough sleep this weekend,” Levi said quietly, smirking.

Ezra quickly searched the table, grumbling to himself, then left to look in the kitchen.

“Found it!” he called after a minute.

She started to think through the logistics of how to spend the night with the twins without getting caught by Ezra, but Ethan’s next words shut the idea down.

“I think we all could do with some rest. And it’s probably not a good idea for us to sleep in our room tonight either. Having you so close by is too much of a temptation, and sneaking around is just asking for trouble.

“So as much as it pains us, this is where we say good night, little ’Flake.”