Page 38 of One Baddie for Three Daddies

Alex raises his glass of wine. “To honesty then.” We all clink glasses, the sound oddly reassuring.

Dinner starts and as the wine flows and the plates empty, we slip back into an easy rhythm. It's like old times except with better food and more expensive wine.

James leans back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. “Remember that time we almost got kicked out of that bar because Alex tried to serenade the bartender?”

Alex grins. “Hey, she loved it! She just had a weird way of showing it.”

Liam rolls his eyes. “Yeah, by calling security.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “You guys were such troublemakers.”

James raises an eyebrow at me. “Were?”

“Okay are,” I concede, taking a sip of my wine. I lean forward, curiosity piqued. “So, any other crazy stories?”

Alex exchanges a look with Liam before answering. “Well, we did try dating someone else together a couple of years ago.”

James looks surprised. “Really? How’d that go?”

Alex shrugs. “Not great. It just wasn’t the same.

A warmth spreads through me at his words. “Wow,” I say softly, feeling a mix of emotions—guilt for leaving them and something warm for being remembered so fondly.

“San Diego’s been good to me,” James says after a while. “But damn, I missed you guys.”

Alex reaches over and claps him on the shoulder. “We missed you too, man.”

Liam nods silently, his eyes meeting mine across the table with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine.

The night progresses with ease. It feels like slipping into an old comfortable sweater. We laugh, reminisce, and for a while, it’s as if the years of separation never happened.

“So, Bianca,” Alex starts, leaning in with a mischievous glint in his eye. “Remember that time you convinced us to streak across campus?”

I groan, covering my face with my hands. “Oh God, I thought we agreed never to speak of that again.”

James chuckles, shaking his head. “Yeah, well, some things are too good not to revisit.”

Liam’s hand brushes against mine under the table, lingering just long enough to send a shiver up my spine. “I think we should make new memories tonight,” he says quietly, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that makes my breath hitch.

I nod slowly, a familiar heat spread through me. “New memories sound good.”

Alex grins and nudges James. “What do you think? Up for some new adventures?”

James leans back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over me in a way that makes me feel like the only person in the room. He reaches over and gently tucks another braid behind my ear. His touch lingers on my neck for just a moment longer than necessary. “We’ve had some wild times,” he murmurs.

The tension builds as the night goes on. Liam’s touches grow bolder, his hand now resting possessively on my knee. Alex’s fingers lightly graze my arm whenever he leans in to talk. James’s eyes never leave mine, his gaze promising things I can barely wait to explore.

The stolen touches become more frequent and more daring. A brush of fingers here, a lingering hand there. The room is charged with unspoken desire.

Liam stands suddenly and extends a hand towards me. “Dance with me?”

I take his hand and let him pull me up from the table. As he draws me close, I can feel the heat radiating off him. Alex and James join us, each claiming a side of me.

“You’re not monopolizing her all night,” Alex says playfully.

James’s arm snakes around my waist from behind, pulling me against him. “Yeah, share the wealth.”

I’m surrounded by them now—each touch sending sparks through me.

---