Page 15 of Bliss: Part 2
He looked surprised, but he wasn’t confused. And he didn’t pull away. He just kissed me back, because he clearly still felt the same, too.
It was the same with the others after that. We didn’t plan or talk about it. There were just small moments of closeness when I needed comfort, and they gave it without asking questions.
Their kisses didn’t erase the pain or fix what had happened, but they did something else. They reminded me that I wasn’t broken. That I was still wanted and loved. And that I was still allowed to feel something good.
Dad had made something simple for dinner earlier. Grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. It was the kind of comfort food I needed. After insisting on helping Dad with the dishes, I headed upstairs to take a shower. I lingered in the bathroom longer than I needed to, then I finally dried off, pulled on a clean pair of pajamas, and headed downstairs.
At the bottom of the steps, I saw Dash by the front door. He was bent down, untying his shoes. He smiled when he looked up and saw me.
I smiled back. “What are you doing?”
He kicked one shoe off and straightened up. “Just got back from the barn. The guys are over there setting up the projector. They want to watch a movie.”
“Are you not going?”
He shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. “Nah. I’m tired. Figured I’d crash early. You?”
I nodded and shrugged. “I’ll stay here. Hang out with Dad and Odin.”
Dash didn’t try to change my mind. He just stepped closer and cupped my face with both hands. His thumbs brushed lightly over my cheeks, and then he leaned in and kissed me.
“Alright,” he whispered against my lips. “I’m in my room if you wanna come up later.”
He kissed me again, soft and slow, then turned and headed upstairs. I watched him for a second, then walked into the living room.
Odin was already on the couch. He looked relaxed, one arm thrown over the backrest, remote in hand. When he saw me, his face lit up a little.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“Hey,” I said, sitting down beside him. “What are you watching?”
“Nothing. Just flipping through random stuff.” He held out the remote. “You wanna pick something?”
I nodded. “Sure.”
While I scrolled through the streaming options, Dad came in and sat down on my other side. He leaned back slowly, his body finally relaxing. I picked something random—an old Adam Sandler movie that probably wouldn’t hold my attention but might at least make me laugh a little.
Dad glanced at the screen and gave a soft grunt. “That’s a good one.”
I smiled and leaned into him a bit, tucking my legs under me on the couch.
“You want a blanket?” Odin asked. Before I could even answer, he reached over, grabbed one off the back of the couch, and spread it over my legs.
“Thanks.”
I pulled it tighter around me and tried to focus on the movie. I really did try. But after a few minutes, I wasn’t watching it anymore. My eyes were on the screen, but my thoughts were somewhere else entirely.
I could feel their bodies next to mine. Their warmth and protection. And it stirred something in me I’d tried to ignore.
Though, these feelings didn’t start after what happened to me. They weren’t some twisted byproduct of trauma. They were there long before I was ever touched by a stranger. Before therapy. Before I even had words for the way I loved them.
The things I did with my cousins and brothers…I used to believe they were wrong. I told myself I needed help. That I was messed up. But now, I wasn’t so sure. Those moments were real. And in some ways, they were the only thing that made me feel whole again after everything fell apart.
So I started wondering if getting close to Dad and Odin would help even more. If letting myself feel that kind of love from them would fill the space I couldn’t fix on my own. It wasn’t lust or some act of desperation. I just wanted closeness and safety. I wanted them. All six of them.
I turned my head and looked at Odin. His hands were clasped in his lap. His shoulders were relaxed, his attention on the TV. I watched him quietly, then I turned to Dad. His eyes met mine right away.
His face softened when he noticed something was up. Then he looked concerned.
