Page 18 of One Baddie for Three Daddies

She sighs heavily on the other end of the line. "Do you still have feelings for them?"

The question hangs in the air between us, and my heart races in response. I stare at the wine glass, the light reflecting off its surface creating tiny rainbows on my coffee table.

"I don’t know," I admit quietly, almost to myself.

Aliyah doesn’t push further, but her silence speaks volumes. She’s giving me space to process, something I desperately need right now.

I slump back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. "I still find them attractive, Aliyah. God, do I find them attractive. And I miss what we had... but it can never be the same. Not after the way I left things."

Aliyah sighs on the other end. "You know what your problem is, Bia?"

"Oh, please enlighten me," I say, rolling my eyes even though she can’t see it.

"You overthink everything," she says. "Sometimes you just need to act."

"Act? And do what exactly?" I ask, exasperated.

"Maybe this is the only way. If you're seeing all three of them, none of them can be jealous. It levels the playing field."

I let out a humorless laugh. "That’s... insane."

"It’s not insane. It’s practical," she insists. "Think about it: if you're involved with all three of them again, they won’t have a reason to fire you. They’ll be too busy trying to win you over."

"They’re not that petty," I argue weakly, but even as I say it, I know there’s some truth to her words.

"They might not be petty, but they’re definitely competitive," Aliyah says pointedly. "And if they think they have a shot with you again, they’ll behave."

"And what if it backfires? What if they think I’m just playing games?"

"Then at least you tried," she says simply. "Better than sitting around waiting for them to make a decision about your job and your life."

I take another sip of wine, mulling over her words. The idea is crazy—absolutely bonkers—but there’s a strange kind of logic to it too.

"You’re really something else, you know that?" I say with a half-smile.

"I’ve been told," she replies smugly. "Now go show them who’s boss."

I hang up and sit there, letting myself imagine what it would be like to be with all three of them again. It’s reckless and maybe even stupid, but when have they ever made me think straight?

“Fuck it,” I mutter, setting my now empty wine glass down with a decisive clink. Aliyah’s right. I’m not going to sit around and let them decide my fate without taking control.

I grab my phone after doing some digging in the documents Jessica sent me, I find their numbers and start a group chat with Liam and Alex. My fingers hover over the keyboard for a moment before I start typing.

Bianca: We need to talk. Can you both meet me tomorrow morning? It’s important.

I hit send before I can second-guess myself and throw my head back into the couch. The adrenaline from making the decision courses through me, mixing with the leftover buzz from the wine. It's strangely liberating.

I let out a nervous sigh after sending the text. My hands shake slightly as I set my phone down, the enormity of what I just did settling in. What if they think I’m being unprofessional? What if they think I’m trying to manipulate them?

My phone chimes, and my heart skips a beat. I grab it, expecting a response from Liam or Alex. Instead, it’s James.

James: Hey Bia, I really enjoyed last night. I want to see you again…soon.

I bite my lip, excitement coursing through me. Seeing James again last night felt good—too good.

I text back immediately: Yes.

The moment I hit send, I slump back on the couch, staring at the empty wine glass in my hand.

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