Page 21 of Hard Ruck
Storm and Dallas scowled at Atlas.
“Looks like your boyfriend is jealous.” Atlas jerked his thumb towards Storm.
Frost and Storm glanced at each other, but they didn’t deny that either.
Storm cleared his throat. “If you’re going to sit with us and spend time with our woman, you have to take part in our ice breaking ritual.”
Atlas gave him a flat stare. “The fuck?”
Storm met his gaze, unwavering. “Truth or dare.”
Atlas looked like he thought the fullback was out of his mind. He glanced at me, then back at Storm. “Fine, whatever.” He shrugged.
“You can go first,” Frost said. “Truth or dare?”
Atlas rolled his eyes. “Truth.” He clearly didn’t trust the others not to dare him to do something stupid.
“Let’s start with something easy,” Storm said. “What’s your middle name?”
“Dante,” Atlas said reluctantly. “Yeah, my initials are ADU, move on.”
Frost chuckled. “Additional dwelling unit.”
Dallas elbowed him. “What’s yours?”
Frost’s smile faded. “Gerald, after my grandfather.”
It was Atlas’ turn to chuckle.
“Mine is Elizabeth,” I said. “Nothing too embarrassing, lucky for me.” I raised my eyebrows at Storm. He’d started this, he might as well participate.
“Patrick,” he said with no hesitation. “Also not embarrassing.”
All eyes turned to Dallas, who sighed heavily.
“Ian, after my father. Yeah, my initials are DIG. No, I don’t like digging.”
“That was painless,” Storm said. He frowned briefly. “The last time we played this, we also did truth. We shared who we lost our virginity to. As I recall, Chelsea never answered the question.” He turned a raised eyebrow to me.
“Isaac!” I shot up out of my chair. I hurried around to the other side of the table as my brother pushed through the crowd to us.
As usual, he was smiling, even as he was taking in the guys sitting around the table. He gave me a hug before slipping into the last empty chair, between Dallas and Atlas.
“So, you’re fucking my sister,” he said cheerfully.
I’d just sat back down and took a sip of my wine when he spoke. I almost choked as the liquid went down the wrong hole. Storm and Atlas both started to pat my back. One ended up patting the hand of the other. I couldn’t tell which.
“I’m fine,” I said when I managed to get my breath. “Isaac, for love of fuck.”
“What?” he asked, undeterred.
I shook my head at him. He was never going to be anything or anyone other than himself. No matter who he embarrassed.
“Call me Ice.” He offered his hand to each of the guys in turn. “So?—”
“I am,” Dallas said with no hint of shame. “So are Storm and Frost. They’re also fucking each other, but they don’t want anyone to know yet.” He ignored the looks they both gave him. “Atlas is new here. His status is currently undecided.”
“Atlas wants to,” Atlas said.
