The smell of pizza hits me like a brick as I flip open the cardboard box, my stomach growling so loud it's practically having a conversation with me. Nothing beats that first post-sex meal when your body is desperately trying to replace all the calories you just burned.

"Fuck, I'm starving," Rose announces, grabbing the biggest slice before I can even offer. She's wearing nothing but a t-shirt, her auburn hair a wild mess that somehow still looks perfect.

Lilly wrinkles her nose, watching her sister devour the pie with animal-like ferocity. "Could you at least use a plate?" She's already neatly arranged her slice on one of my mom's fancy plates, the ones we’ve never used before.

"I'd use a plate if they weren't so far away," Rose mumbles through a mouthful of cheese, rolling her eyes. "Besides, we just had our mouths all over him. A little pizza grease isn't going to kill anyone."

I laugh and grab my own slice, following Rose's lead and skipping the plate. The pizza tastes even better than it smells, and I wolf down half of it in two bites. It's weird how mom is hardly ever around, but she always makes sure the kitchen is stocked with food and the credit card has plenty of money on it. Like somehow that makes up for her absence.

"Your house is really nice," Lilly comments, looking around my kitchen. "Those marble countertops must have cost a fortune."

I shrug, swallowing a bite. "Yeah, Mom renovated last year. She throws money at everything, new appliances, fancy furniture, whatever. I think in her mind, as long as we have nice stuff, she's doing her job as a parent."

Lilly sets her half-eaten slice down on her plate and studies me with those analytical green eyes of hers. "Seth, do you have mommy issues?" she asks, her tone completely neutral, like she's inquiring about the weather.

The question hits me like a bucket of ice water. I nearly choke on my pizza.

"I don't think so..." I start automatically, but then I replay what I just said about my mom throwing money at problems and her constant absence. "Actually, I guess I do?"

Rose wipes pizza grease from her lips with the back of her hand and looks at me with excited eyes. "If you want, we can be your new mommies."

My face burns hotter than the sun as I choke on my pizza. "Mommies? What? No! I don't… That's not…" I sputter, unable to form a coherent sentence while my brain short-circuits.

Rose cackles at my reaction, clearly delighted by my embarrassment. She leans across the table, eyes gleaming with mischief.

Lilly shoots her sister a disapproving look before turning her attention back to me. "Ignore her," she says, her voice softening. "What I'm more interested in is what you like, Seth. What makes you happy?"

"What I like?" I echo stupidly, still recovering from Rose's mommy comment.

"Yes," Lilly says patiently. "This weekend is for us to get to know you better. All of you. Not just the physical parts." She gives Rose a pointed look that her sister completely ignores.

"Oh." I fidget with my pizza crust, suddenly feeling like I'm under a microscope. "Well, uh, I love video games. Been playing since I was like five."

Rose nods encouragingly, actually seeming interested.

"I love watching YouTube videos of people falling down," I continue, gaining a little confidence. "There's something weirdly satisfying about seeing someone eat pavement while just walking."

"Uhhhh, I also love..." I trail off, my mind suddenly blank as both twins stare at me expectantly. Why is this so hard? It's like being asked to name your favorite movie and forgetting every film you've ever seen.

"Take your time," Lilly says softly, reaching across the table to place her hand on mine.

"Oh! I like movies too," I say, the words suddenly tumbling out as my brain finally kicks back into gear. "And I love hanging out with Chris. He's a really good kid, you know? Smart for his age."

I take another bite of pizza, feeling more comfortable now that I've found my voice. "Though he really struggles with science and math. Can't seem to focus on those subjects no matter how hard he tries."

Lilly tilts her head, her mind clearly working. "Perhaps Evelyn isn't the best person to help him with those subjects? Different teaching styles work for different children."

"No, it's not that," I shake my head. "He even struggles in school with the same stuff. I think it's honestly like... he's intimidated by the idea of the subjects more than the actual content. Like he has trouble believing in himself when numbers are involved."

Rose snorts, grabbing another slice of pizza. "You should let Lilly give it a shot with him. She's literally the only reason I've never failed a class in my life."

I glance at Lilly, who straightens up slightly at her sister's praise, a small smile playing at her lips.

"I don't mind at all," Lilly says, her voice softening. "There's no way he could be harder to deal with than Rose."

"Hey!" Rose protests, flicking a pepperoni at her sister. It lands perfectly in Lilly's cleavage.

I'm about to laugh when Lilly's expression suddenly shifts. Her usual composed demeanor gives way to something playful, almost coy, an expression I've only seen on Rose's face until now.

"Seth," she says, her voice dropping to a sultry purr that makes my stomach flip. "Would you mind helping me with this?" She gestures toward the pepperoni nestled between her breasts, her eyes never leaving mine.

She hooks a finger in the collar of my shirt, gently pulling me toward her. "Please, baby?" she whispers, the pet name sounding somehow filthier coming from her usually formal lips.

I lean forward, heart hammering against my ribs as she guides my head down. The scent of her skin mingles with the spicy aroma of pepperoni as I hesitantly extend my tongue, lapping up the piece of meat from between her breasts. The salt of the pepperoni mixes with the subtle sweetness of her skin, creating a flavor that's utterly intoxicating.

Lilly watches me intently as I pull back, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "How was it?" she asks, her voice soft but expectant.

"Exquisite," I reply, the word tumbling out before I can think of something less pretentious. The taste of her skin lingers on my tongue, making it hard to form coherent thoughts.

Rose makes a disgusted noise from across the table. "God, you two are gross," she mutters, though I catch the flash of jealousy in her eyes. She straightens up suddenly, clearly wanting to change the subject. "So what games do you actually play?"

"Oh, uh..." I rack my brain, trying to remember what I've been playing recently. "Elden Ring is probably my favorite right now. And the Metal Gear Solid series is…"

"That's weird," Lilly interrupts, her brow furrowing. Her playful demeanor vanishes, replaced by that analytical look that makes me feel like I'm being dissected. "I didn't see any consoles in your room, and we haven't noticed them anywhere else in the house."

My stomach drops. I forgot that this version of Seth apparently doesn't play video games.

"Actually," Lilly continues, her eyes narrowing slightly, "all I saw were those romance novels on your bookshelf.”

"I, uh..." I swallow hard, feeling caught in a lie I didn't even realize I was telling. "I guess I mostly just watch gameplay videos on YouTube, to be honest. Never really had the money to buy my own systems."

Rose's eyes light up. "Oh! That's totally fixable. I've got tons of games we could play later. I can even go grab my Switch if you want?"

The excitement in her voice is contagious, and I find myself nodding eagerly. "That could be a lot of fun."

"And what's in the safe in your closet?" Lilly asks, her voice casual but her eyes razor-sharp.

My blood turns to ice. The journal. The collection. All my years of obsession with them, documented and preserved like some kind of shrine.

"How did you see the safe?" I manage to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper.

Rose shrugs, completely unfazed. "When you went to the bathroom earlier, we looked around. Natural curiosity."

I wait for anger to rise in my chest, they invaded my privacy, after all, but strangely, it doesn't come. Maybe because they're here, in my house, in my life, when for years they were just distant objects of desire. Or maybe because part of me always wanted them to be interested in me the way I was interested in them.

"Let's... let's leave the safe out of this," I say finally, staring down at the half-eaten pizza crust in my hand. "It's embarrassing."

Lilly reaches across the table, her fingers gently wrapping around mine. Her touch is warm and tender, so different from the possessive grip I've come to expect.

"Seth," she says coldly, those green eyes holding mine hostage, "we'd really like to know what you're keeping in that safe."

I swallow hard.

“Okay, but don’t be mad.”