Page 51 of One Baddie for Three Daddies

Bianca’s sobs gradually subside into quiet sniffles as she takes deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. She pulls back slightly to look at all of us, wiping her tear-streaked face with the back of her hand.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you guys,” she whispers.

I look down at Bianca, her tear-streaked face still wet but calmer now. "Without us, you'd be bored with one man for the rest of your life, and probably having mediocre sex."

She lets out a small laugh despite herself, the sound like a balm to my ears. "You do have a point," she says, her lips curling into a smile.

Liam and James both chime in, their laughter filling the room. "You're such an idiot," Liam says, shaking his head.

James grins, shaking his head. "Always one to lighten the mood, huh?"

I shrug nonchalantly. "Someone's gotta do it."

Bianca wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. Despite the joke, it’s obvious she’s still upset. Tears stream down her face, and I hate the way those tears make me feel.

A pit slowly forms in my stomach. I do my best to ignore it, but the feeling only gets worse.

Fuck.

22

LIAM

Bianca breaks down again and collapses onto the couch, her body trembling with sobs. The sound tears at me, making my chest feel like it’s in a vice.

"Hey, it's gonna be okay," I say, moving closer. My hand hovers over her back before I rest it there, rubbing small circles.

Alex kneels in front of her, his voice softer than usual. "Bianca, your mom loves you. She’ll come around."

"No, she won't!" Bianca cries out. "You don’t understand. She threatened to never speak to me again if I continued seeing three men at once back in college."

James sits beside her, a firm yet gentle presence. "We’re not the same people we were back then. Maybe she’ll recognize that."

Bianca shakes her head vigorously. "You didn’t see her face just now. She looked... disgusted." Her words cut through the air like a knife.

"People change," Alex insists. "She might need time to process this."

"Or maybe she'll never get over it," Bianca snaps back, wiping her tears furiously with the back of her hand.

I lean forward, capturing her gaze with mine. "Bia, your mom’s opinion doesn’t define who you are or what makes you happy."

"But it matters to me!" she shoots back, eyes blazing. "She’s my mother! I can’t just ignore how she feels."

"We get that," James says calmly. "But you also can’t live your life based on someone else’s standards."

Her shoulders slump as fresh tears fall. "I just... I don’t know how to make her understand."

Alex reaches out, taking one of her hands in his. "You don’t have to do this alone. We’re here for you."

She looks at him, then at me and James, searching our faces for something—reassurance, hope, maybe both.

"You all say that now," she mutters, voice cracking. "But what if this gets too hard? What if I have to choose between you and my mom?"

Pain is etched on Bianca's face, and it rips through me. I lean closer, trying to reach her. "Bianca, you know this is worth fighting for. We all do."

She shakes her head, fresh tears spilling over. "It’s not just that," she whispers. "I’m scared. Scared of losing her and of losing you all again."

Alex grabs her hand. "We won’t let that happen."

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