Truths

“As the game master for tonight’s TODD, I shall spin the bottle first!” Viv announces to the group.

The quick turnaround from uninterested to excited was palpable, as everyone in the room just had dollar signs in their eyes at the prospect of winning fifty thousand dollars off of a stupid game of truth or dare. Viv didn’t even ask if any of you weren’t down to play since no one was passing up this opportunity, including yourself.

Viv takes the first spin of the bottle and it points to Cassie. “Okay, for the first question, just to set the standard for how naughty or personal our questions should be… between Stella and Tanya, who would you rather have as the other girl in a threesome with you?”. Cassie immediately blushes at the question, but gives the question a few seconds of serious consideration before answering.

“Umm… I’d definitely rather have both of them—” Cassie starts.

“No diplomatic answers! You must choose!” Viv tells her.

“I will! I just wanted to preface it.” Cassie defends herself.

“Answer!” Viv says still in character.

“Um… I think I’d rather have Stella as the other girl in a threesome with Jay since—”.

“Okay. Spin the bottle. No need to explain. Otherwise, we’ll take all night.” Viv tells her.

Cassie looks at Tanya, a bit concerned at her choice, but Tanya gives the ‘OK’ hand signal and nods at Cassie to comfort her and tell her that she understands her choice. Cassie spins the bottle and it lands on you.

“Um, what’s your fetish?” Cassie asks you.

“It has to be about someone else in the group. It can’t be their thoughts about you either.” Viv tells her.

“Oh, right. Um… what’s something you’ve wanted to do with Tanya sexually, that you haven’t done yet?” Cassie asks.

“I know the answer to that.” Tanya says with a chuckle, making the other girls more curious.

You’re kind of weirded out that you’ll have to share a particular sexual fantasy you have about your girlfriend to people outside your relationship, especially your cousin; but, thankfully, it’s not too weird that it would be super embarrassing to admit. “Anal.” you answer while rubbing the back of your neck out of habit.

The other girls just give an expression of complete understanding as to why that would be what you want to do with Tanya if you haven’t yet. Tanya takes the opportunity to cuddle next to you and whispers seductively in your ear, “How about next weekend?”.

Oof. You definitely have an erection now.

You try to hide it by leaning forward and spinning the bottle, which lands on your cousin.

“Go easy on me, Jay.” Celeste asks you nicely, and even though you’re reminded she brought up your childhood nickname, and you’re definitely curious regarding how Viv can silence her like she did earlier, you still give in to her request and ask what you think is a softball naughty question.

“Have you and Viv ever hooked up?” you ask, assuming it was a safe question.

“Goddammit. Of all the questions to ask! I can’t drink to escape that since the answer would be obvious. Yes! We’ve hooked up before.” Celeste answers, to yours and everyone else’s surprise.

“Oh my god! You’re not ex-girlfriends are you?” Brooke asks Celeste.

“Ah-ah-ah. Not your turn, and she’s already been asked.” Viv says to Brooke.

“Spin the bottle, Sweetypie.” Viv instructs Celeste. “That used to be our pet names for each other.” Viv adds teasingly.

“We were never together, we just had the occasional fun after my divorce. You’re gonna give them ideas!” Celeste admits, and admonishes Viv, before spinning the bottle.

It lands on Viv, and Celeste is really looking to get some payback against her friend. Knowing Viv though, it’s not like she can ask Viv something sexual and assume Viv will be embarrassed about it.

“Would you say yes to Jay asking you out on a date?” Celeste asks Viv; and Viv smiles at the question, but her eyes are signaling murderous intent.

“That’s not an acceptable TODD question.” Viv tells her.

“Oh, what was it again you said before? ‘It depends on the date. So I’ll allow it.’ Vivian Nguyen, circa three years ago.” Celeste tells her, and Viv still has the same smile on her face but **** in her eyes, as she knows she’s been played. “So, would you say yes to Jay asking you out on a date?” Celeste asks her again smugly.

“Yes.” Viv answers quickly before spinning the bottle herself.

“Wait, what?” you couldn’t help but ask aloud, and Viv just answers you with, “That’s not an acceptable TODD question, and it’s not your turn. It’s mine.”

“Just take the hint, Jay.” Celeste tells you with a smirk.

“More like ‘open invitation’.” Tanya adds. Viv spins the bottle and it lands on Brooke, and Viv has a gleam in her eye as she looks at Brooke.

“Would you say yes to Jay asking you out on a date?” Viv asks Brooke.

“Uh… I guess? Sure.” Brooke answers, in such a hush tone it was almost drowned out by the music.

“No diplomatic answers.” Viv remarks.

“What do you mean? I said yes, didn’t I?” Brooke replies a bit uncomfortable, and she keeps glancing at you, nervous.

“Say it then. You’d want to go out on a date with Jay.” Viv goads her.

“I’ve played this enough with you to know when you’re bullying newbies. Follow your own rules Viv. She answered the question and she’s not doing a dare.” Celeste tells Viv, who smiles guiltily.

Tanya nudges you and tilts her head in Brooke’s direction. Brooke is obviously flustered having had to answer the question. She glances back at you again and you give her a reassuring smile, causing Brooke to blush. “You can spin it, Brooke.” Celeste says, snapping Brooke back into reality. Brooke spins the bottle and it lands on Stella.

Brooke takes her time to think of a question, glancing back at you every once in a while before going back into deep thought.

“Ugh. You want me to ask for you?” Viv asks Brooke impatiently.

“Huh?” Brooke reacts.

“She wants to know if the three of you would be okay with her going on a date with your boyfriend.” Viv says to Stella, Cassie, and Tanya in particular.

“Viv!” Brooke reacts in embarrassment, but is easily relieved after hearing your girlfriends’ answers.

“Definitely.”, “Yup.”, “We would’ve asked you out for him if he didn’t do it soon.” Cassie, Stella, and Tanya answered respectively. Brooke has a reaction of shock, but her blushing since the question was asked hasn’t gone away, and she still looks uncomfortable despite the reassurances of your girlfriends.

So you decide to do something about it.

“With my girlfriends’ permission, I would love to go on a date with you, Brooke. How about next Saturday?” you ask Brooke with the same reassuring smile you gave her earlier, and she returns it with a beaming smile that you honestly haven’t seen from her before. “Yes. Definitely!” Brooke answers excitedly.

Cassie and Tanya clap giddily at the outcome while Stella tells you, “I told you so.”

“Okay. I’ll just cry in the corner for a bit.” Viv suddenly says.

“My cousin honestly doesn’t know what he’s missing.” Celeste says to Viv with a laugh, signaling that she knows Viv intended what she said as a joke.

“She did say she wanted to date you first, papi.” Tanya points out. If her quick answer was her admission to feeling that way, then that’s not enough for you. She had the confidence to ask for Brooke, she should have even more confidence to ask for herself.

“I want to hear her say it.” you reply to Tanya.

“Say what?” Viv asks you.

“If you want to date me, say it.” you tell her with authority, trying your best to channel Becca Hoffman.

“I want to date you, Daddy.” Viv says flirtatiously.

“No.” you answer to a chorus of negative reactions.

“Jay!” Tanya and Celeste shout in shock, while your daughter shouts “Dad!” in equal surprise.

“I won’t say yes, unless you ask me seriously. I want to know you genuinely want to, and not as a tease or a joke.” you explain.

“Ugh. Can I not be afforded my defense mechanisms?” Viv says in irritation before taking a deep breath to calm herself down.

Viv looks at you seriously, but definitely softer than when she’s in professional mode. “Would you like to go out with me?” Viv asks you, in the shyest tone you’ve ever heard from her. You’re not sure if it’s the ****, but you think she’s blushing, something you find very endearing.

“I’d love to.” you reply.

Viv immediately shakes her body upon hearing your answer.

“Ugh. I hate being all serious. I feel like I’m at work.” Viv remarks. “Okay, can I be flirty again, Daddy?” Viv asks you teasingly.

“Don’t push your luck. I could still change my mind.” You say jokingly, and it actually makes Celeste snort.

“Way to hit the right buttons, Jay.” Celeste remarks.

“Let’s set the date up later? So we can go back to the game?” Viv asks you, still a bit shy, and you nod with the same reassuring smile you gave Brooke; a smile that Viv affectionately returns.

“Okay! Enough of this! There is too much sugar in the TODD when what it needs is more spice!” Viv announces, back in her trying to be epic voice.

“Ask your question Brooke.” Viv instructs Brooke.

“Oh, is it still my turn?” Brooke tries to clarify.

“Yeah. Technically, I asked the question, not you. So it’s still your turn.” Viv answers.

“You know what, I’m going to own my curiosity. Is Jay really that good in bed?” Brooke asks Stella.

“You’ll see soon enough.” Stella answers Brooke with a wink.

“Not a direct answer, but I’ll allow it.” Viv announces, making Stella laugh.

“That’s not fair! I thought we can’t do diplomatic answers?” Brooke complains.

“Fine. Yes or no, Stella? Is your Dad really that good in bed?” Viv repeats the question.

“You know what. I’ll take a drink to that. I don’t want to set you up for disappointment.” Stella says before downing a shot.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, baby.” you jokingly tell your daughter.

“I undersold so you can overperform.” Stella tells you with a wink, then clicking her tongue.

“It’s been five spins, everybody take a drink!”