Page 8 of One Baddie for Three Daddies

Bianca’s gaze softens, curiosity etched in her eyes. “So, what have you been up to?”

I lean against the bar letting her question settle on me. “I was in New York for a while,” I begin slowly. “Working for a big real estate firm there. It was... intense, but a good experience.”

Her eyebrows raise slightly. “New York? That sounds exciting.”

“Yeah, it was.” I nod, recalling the fast-paced life I left behind. “But after a few years, I realized I missed home.”

Bianca’s eyes meet mine, and there’s a flicker of understanding there. “So you’re working solo now?”

“Yeah,” I confirm, finishing my drink. “I’ve got my own clients and projects here in San Diego. Keeps me busy.”

She smiles, and it's as if a bridge between the past and present is slowly being built. “Sounds like you’ve done well for yourself.”

“I try,” I reply with a shrug, trying to downplay it.

I’m quiet for a moment, letting the comfortable silence settle between us. The noise of the bar fades into the background, and all I can focus on is her. Finally, I steady my breath and decide to go for it.

“Why did you ghost us, Bia?” My voice comes out softer than I intend it to.

She looks down at her drink, her fingers tracing the rim again. The easygoing smile she wore moments ago fades. I watch as discomfort washes over her.

“It was just too hard,” she admits after a beat, her voice barely audible. “Saying goodbye to all three of you... it was too much for me to handle.”

She looks up, and our eyes meet. There's vulnerability there, something I don’t remember ever seeing before.

“I get it,” I say, surprising myself with how genuine I sound. “We were young.”

Her shoulders relax slightly at my words, and she gives me a small, grateful smile. “Yeah, we were.”

I lean in a little closer, trying to bridge the gap that’s formed over the years. “I’m not mad at you, Bia. I don’t hold anything against you.”

She blinks, looking a bit taken aback. “Really?”

“Really.” I nod, letting out a breath. “It’s just... good to see you again.”

Her smile widens this time, and for the first time tonight I think we might be on solid ground. “It’s good to see you too, James.”

I lean in closer, grasping to the pull between us as it grows stronger. “You know,” I say, my voice dropping a notch, “we never really got to finish what we started back then.”

Her eyes widen slightly, but there’s a spark of mischief in them now. “Oh? And what exactly did we start?”

I smirk, enjoying the game. “You remember those nights we spent together, don’t you? You know the ones.”

She laughs softly, her fingers brushing against mine on the bar. “How could I forget? Those were some of my favorite nights.”

“Mine too,” I admit, letting my gaze drop to her lips for just a second before meeting her eyes again. “But I think we’ve got some unfinished business.”

Her smile turns coy as she leans in, her voice barely above a whisper. “And what kind of business would that be, Mr. Eriksen?”

“How about you come back to my place and I can show you?”

Bianca’s eyes flicker. She bites her lower lip again before nodding slowly.

“Alright, James. Lead the way.”

5

JAMES

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