Page 68 of One Baddie for Three Daddies

Bianca leans into Alex's embrace. "I can handle my mom if it means having you guys in my life."

Liam clinks his glass against mine. "Here’s to surviving the night."

"Cheers," Alex adds, lifting his drink.

We toast quietly, the weight of the evening easing off our shoulders bit by bit. As we gather our things and prepare to leave, I can’t help the sense of triumph that rises despite the night’s challenges. We faced it together, and that makes all the difference.

29

ALEX

As the night winds down, I keep Bianca close, my arm wrapped around her waist. Her family has been surprisingly chill about our relationship, thanks in no small part to Aliyah's support. We head toward the door, ready to call it a night when Bianca stops short.

"What's up?" I ask, sensing her hesitation.

She bites her lip, glancing around before locking eyes with me. "I want to talk to my mom before we leave. With all three of you."

A collective pause settles over us. Liam and James exchange glances, and I can almost hear the gears turning in their heads.

"Are you sure about that?" Liam asks, his tone cautious but supportive.

"Yeah," she says firmly. "It's now or never."

James shrugs, stepping forward. "Okay, let's do it."

We follow her lead, trailing behind as she makes her way through the house. The smell of baked ham and cinnamon still lingers in the air from dinner, mingling with the scent of pine from the Christmas tree. We find her mom in the living room, staring at an old family photo on the mantelpiece.

"Mom," Bianca calls out softly.

Ayanna turns, eyes narrowing as she takes in the sight of us standing together. The room's warmth contrasts sharply with the coldness of her gaze.

"What do you want, Bianca?" she asks, her voice devoid of warmth.

Bianca steps forward, squeezing my hand for strength. "I need to talk to you about us—about my relationship with Alex, Liam, and James."

Her mom's eyes flicker between us before settling back on Bianca. "I thought I made myself clear."

"You did," Bianca replies, lifting her chin. "But this is important to me. They are important to me."

Ayanna crosses her arms over her chest. "So what? You think parading them in front of me will change my mind?"

"No." Bianca squares her shoulders, her voice steady. "But, if you can't accept me, then I can live with that. But can you?"

The room seems like it's holding its breath. Ayanna's lips press into a thin line, her eyes flashing with hurt and anger. For a second, I think she might say something cutting, but she stays silent.

Bianca turns on her heel, heading for the door. Liam, James, and I follow suit, ready to leave this tense atmosphere behind.

But just as we reach the threshold, Ayanna's voice slices through the silence. "Bia, wait."

We all stop in our tracks, turning to face her again. Bianca's back is straight, but there's a slight tremor in her hands.

"What is it?" Bianca asks, her voice calm but tinged with weariness.

Ayanna’s hesitation is palpable. She swallows hard, her eyes darting between Bianca and us. Her fingers drum against her crossed arms as if she’s trying to summon the courage to speak.

"I’ll try," she says, the words almost a whisper, forced out like they physically pained her.

The silence that follows is deafening. Liam, James, and I exchange quick glances but remain silent, waiting for Bianca's response. She opens her mouth, but Ayanna continues, her demeanor still tense and unyielding.

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