Page 66 of One Baddie for Three Daddies

Aliyah is leaning against the kitchen counter with a knowing smile.

“Hey Bia,” she greets her sister before turning to us. “Hey guys.”

“Aliyah.” I nod.

“You holding up okay?” she asks Bianca quietly.

Bianca nods. “Yeah. So far, so good.”

Aliyah gives her a supportive hug before looking at us again. “I’m glad you guys are back in her life,” she says sincerely.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Liam replies with a grin.

A young cousin runs up to us, tugging at Bianca’s dress. “Who are these guys?” she asks innocently.

“These are my boyfriends,” Bianca explains with a patient smile.

The girl’s eyes widen in surprise. “You can have more than one?!”

Alex kneels down to her level and winks. “Only if you’re very special.”

She giggles and runs off, probably to spread the news to the rest of the kids in the house.

By now, most of Bianca’s family has been introduced to us, and despite a few awkward moments and strange comments, things seem to be going relatively smoothly. As we make our way back towards the living room, I catch sight of Bianca’s mom watching us from across the room with an unreadable expression on her face.

Aliyah sticks close to us all night, like a lifeline. Her laughter and chatter weave a protective cocoon around Bianca, who seems more at ease with her sister nearby. Bianca's mom keeps her distance, skirting around the edges of the gathering, never making eye contact.

"Did you see Aunt Mary's face when you told her about the boyfriends?" Aliyah teases, nudging Bianca with her elbow.

Bianca chuckles. "Yeah, I thought she was going to drop her pie."

Liam leans in. "I think she handled it pretty well. No pie was harmed."

Alex snorts. "Always a good sign when the pie survives."

Aliyah grins at Alex. "You guys are quite the trio. How do you manage without stepping on each other's toes?"

Alex winks. "Years of practice and a strict 'no elbowing in bed' policy."

Bianca laughs, her shoulders finally relaxing a bit. The sound is like music after a tense silence.

"So," Aliyah says, shifting the conversation smoothly, "what's your next big project after this resort?"

Bianca lights up. "I've got my eye on this old warehouse downtown. I think it could be transformed into an amazing mixed-use space."

"Warehouse?" Liam raises an eyebrow. "Sounds gritty."

Bianca nods enthusiastically. "Exactly! Exposed brick, open floor plans—it's going to be incredible."

James chimes in. "I'd love to see your plans for that. Gritty can be sexy if done right."

Aliyah smirks. "Gritty and sexy—sounds like your specialty."

I shoot her a grin. "Guilty as charged."

The conversation flows easily from there, touching on everything from work to favorite TV shows. Aliyah keeps things light, but there's an undercurrent of solidarity that bolsters Bianca.

At one point, Aliyah pulls Bianca aside to get more punch, leaving me with Alex and Liam.

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