Chapter 6 Threesome Trap (1)

I sat at the long, polished mahogany table in my uncle’s sprawling Los Angeles mansion, surrounded by the familiar chaos of family. Aunties chattered over each other, their voices rising like a flock of excited birds, while uncles laughed deep and loud, the kind of laughter that rattled the crystal chandeliers overhead. Cousins darted between seats, teasing and bickering, their spoons clinking against plates piled high with mashed potatoes and glistening roast chicken. The air smelled of rosemary and red wine, and every now and then, the sharp clack of a fork hitting porcelain cut through the din. It was the usual family dinner—everyone here, except Mom and Dad. They’ve been gone for years now, leaving me as the only piece of them left, the lone child navigating this noisy, sprawling clan. Yesterday, I turned 28. The birthday cake’s candles were still a faint memory flickering in my mind as I leaned back in my chair, feeling the smooth silk of my brown gown slide against my skin. It hugged me just right, dipping low to show off my cleavage—a little gift to myself after surviving another year. I caught my cousin Derek sneaking a glance across the table, and I smirked, adjusting the neckline just to mess with him. The gown flowed down to my hips, clinging to what I like to brag about: my ass. Not too big, not too small, but—God help me—it’s the softest in the world. Beside me sat Hailey, my cousin with her perfect blonde curls and that smug little grin she always wore like a crown. She’d been fidgeting with her napkin all night, and I was about to lean over and ask what her deal was when she suddenly grabbed her wine glass and tapped it with her spoon. The clink-clink-clink cut through the clamor of the dinner like a gunshot, and the room went quiet, all eyes swinging toward her. “Everyone, can I have your attention for a sec?” Hailey said, her voice bright and teasing, like she was about to drop a bomb and couldn’t wait to see the fallout. She stood up, holding her glass high, and I caught the glint of something shiny on her left hand. “So, yesterday… I got engaged!” The table erupted. Aunt Marla squealed, “Oh my God, Hailey, congratulations!” Uncle Ted slammed his fist on the table, laughing, “About damn time, girl! Who’s the lucky guy?” Cousins started clapping, and little Sophie, all of ten years old, yelled, “Does this mean I get to be a flower girl?” Even Derek, still red-faced from staring at my cleavage, grinned and shouted, “To Hailey and—what’s his name? Tell us everything!” Hailey beamed, soaking it all in. “His name’s Ryan, and he proposed at the pier—down on one knee, the whole cheesy deal. I said yes, obviously.” She flashed the ring, a fat diamond that caught the chandelier light and threw it back in a dozen directions. “I’m so happy, you guys.” “Congrats, Hailey!” Aunt Linda called, already tearing up. “You deserve it, sweetheart.” “To Hailey and Ryan!” Uncle Paul boomed, raising his glass, and the whole family echoed him, a messy chorus of “To Hailey and Ryan!” Glasses clinked, laughter rolled, and someone started pouring more wine. I smiled, clapping along with the rest of them, the buzz of Hailey’s big news still humming through the room. The wine was hitting just right, loosening me up, and I leaned over toward her, resting my elbow on the table. My brown gown shifted, giving Derek another eyeful across the way—I swear that boy was going to choke on his mashed potatoes if he didn’t quit staring. “So,” I said, nudging Hailey with a grin, my voice dipping into that teasing lilt I knew she’d catch, “that’s why you ditched my party, huh? Here I was, blowing up balloons all by my lonesome, and you’re out getting a rock put on your finger. Rude, Hails.” Hailey laughed, swatting my arm like I’d caught her stealing cookies from the jar. “Oh, come on, Stacy, don’t guilt-trip me! It wasn’t planned, I swear. Ryan just… surprised me. I didn’t even know he had a ring until he dropped down on the pier. I’d have been at your party otherwise, you know that.” “Yeah, yeah, sure you would’ve,” I shot back, smirking as I took a sip of my wine. “I’ll forgive you this time, but only ‘cause that diamond’s blinding me from here. You owe me a dance at your wedding—or at least a slice of cake bigger than your head.” “Deal,” she said, still giggling, her curls bouncing as she leaned back in her chair. “You’re the best, Stace. I’ll make it up to you, promise.” I winked at her, letting the moment hang light and easy between us. The family was still buzzing—Uncle Ted was already asking Hailey when Ryan was gonna show up to “face the inquisition,” and Aunt Marla was rattling off wedding venue ideas like she’d been planning this for years. Me, I just sat there, feeling the silk of my gown against my skin, the soft curve of my ass pressing into the chair. Hailey was still rambling about wedding colors—something about blush pink and gold—when the double doors to the dining room swung open, and in stepped Ryan. Oh. My. God. My wine glass froze halfway to my lips, and I swear the air in the room thickened, like someone had cranked the heat to a million. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a jawline so sharp it could cut glass. His dark hair was tousled just enough to look like he’d rolled out of bed after a night of sin, and his eyes—hazel, piercing—scanned the room before landing on Hailey. He wore a black button-up, sleeves rolled to his elbows, showing off forearms that made me wonder what else he could do with those hands. The way his jeans hugged his thighs? Illegal. Absolutely illegal. This man wasn’t just hot—he was the kind of handsome that made you forget your own name and thank the universe for it. “Ryan!” Hailey squeaked, jumping up to throw her arms around him. He grinned, pulling her close, and the family erupted again—more cheers, more clinking glasses. But me? I couldn’t move. My brown gown suddenly felt too tight, my cleavage too exposed, my pulse too loud in my ears. I shifted in my seat, that softest-in-the-world ass of mine pressing into the chair, and I caught his gaze flick toward me for half a second. Just half a second, but it was enough to send a jolt straight through me, pooling heat somewhere it shouldn’t. “Everyone, this is my fiancé!” Hailey chirped, dragging him toward the table. “Ryan, meet the chaos—I mean, the family.” He chuckled, deep and low, and said, “Hey, good to meet you all.” His voice was smooth, like whiskey over ice, and I swear it brushed against my skin. Then his eyes locked on mine again, longer this time, and I smirked, adjusting my neckline just to see if he’d notice. He did. “Stacy, right?” he said, tilting his head, and my name on his lips felt like a dare. I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could— The chandelier flickered, and a loud crash echoed from the hallway.