Page 70 of One Baddie for Three Daddies

“Room service menu is here,” James announces, waving a laminated booklet. “What’s everyone feeling?”

“Anything but ham,” I joke, dropping onto the couch next to Bianca. “Had enough of that at dinner.”

Bianca chuckles and leans into me. “How about something simple? Sliders? Fries?”

James nods and grabs the room phone, dialing for room service. “A dozen sliders and a mountain of fries coming right up.”

Liam uncorks the wine and pours it into four glasses. He hands one to Bianca first, then to James and me. We clink glasses, the sound crisp and clear in the cozy room.

“To making it through family drama,” Bianca says with a wry smile.

We all drink deeply, savoring the rich taste of the wine. The tension from earlier starts to melt away as we settle in.

The doorbell rings, signaling our food’s arrival. James gets up to answer it, tipping the bellhop generously before bringing in trays piled high with sliders and fries.

“Dig in,” he says, setting everything down on the coffee table.

We dive into the food like we haven’t eaten in days. The sliders are juicy and flavorful, and the fries are perfectly crispy. Between bites, we banter back and forth, laughter filling the room.

I catch Bianca's eye and see her smile widen, her earlier tension all but forgotten. It feels like old times, the four of us together, enjoying the simple pleasure of good food and even better company.

The wine flows freely, making us all more relaxed and open. Bianca leans more into me as she laughs at another one of Liam’s jokes.

“This is nice,” she murmurs after a while, her voice soft but content. Her head rests gently on my shoulder, and the warmth of her breath is soft against my neck.

“It is,” I agree, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. The moment is almost surreal, like we’ve stepped into another world where nothing but us exists.

Liam, always the sentimental one when he’s had a few drinks, lifts his glass again for another toast. “To us,” he says, his eyes gleaming with that familiar spark of determination.

“To us,” we all echo, raising our glasses in unison before taking another drink. There's a shared understanding in the air, a sense that we’re reclaiming something we thought was lost forever.

It feels right; it feels like home.

For tonight at least, everything is perfect.

30

BIANCA

Sunlight filters through the thin hotel curtains, bathing the room in a soft, golden glow. I stretch and yawn, savoring the rare luxury of waking up with no immediate obligations. My moms words from last night replay in my head. She said she’d try. It’s better than nothing, and if it doesn’t work, then at least I still have the guys. That’s what matters the most.

I stretch again, shaking those thoughts from my mind. It’s Christmas I think as I roll over, half expecting to find an empty bed. Instead, I’m met with the delicious aroma of fresh coffee and something sweet.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” Alex says, grinning as he balances a tray overflowing with breakfast foods. His light brown hair is tousled, but his dark eyes sparkle with mischief.

I sit up, rubbing my eyes. “What’s all this?”

“Christmas morning surprise,” Liam replies from behind him, holding another tray. He places it on the bed, revealing a spread of pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and even a small stack of wrapped presents.

James follows, carrying a steaming pot of coffee and a plate of pastries. “You deserved a special breakfast,” he says, his hazel eyes locking with mine for a moment and holding my gaze before he looks away and pours a cup of coffee.

“This is amazing,” I say, my voice tinged with awe as I take in the feast before me.

Liam smirks. “It’d better be. We woke up at the crack of dawn for this.”

Alex chuckles. “More like Liam dragged us out of bed because he can’t function without breakfast.”

“Hey, I just know what’s important,” Liam retorts, giving Alex a playful shove.

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