Page 11 of My Secret Santa Daddies

I head back to the door, pulling it open without hesitation.

But it’s not Susan.

I’m face to face with Wyatt.AndCody.

My breath catches in my throat, my pulse kicking up. They both stand there, bundled up against the cold, their broad frames taking up nearly the entire doorway. Wyatt’s green eyes meet mine with that same unreadable look, while Cody stands just behind him, hands stuffed into his coat pockets, offering his usual easy grin.

I blink, trying to catch up with reality. “What… What are you guys doing here?”

Wyatt shrugs, leaning casually against the doorframe like he doesn’t have a care in the world. “Thought we’d check in. Make sure you’re alright after the whole car thing.”

“I… I’m fine,” I manage to say, though my voice comes out a little more brittle than I intended. “Thanks for asking.”

The air between us crackles, heavy with unspoken words and memories best left buried. Four years of anger and hurt, threatening to break the dam I’ve worked so hard to build around my heart.

“Is that it?” I ask.

Wyatt tilts his head to the side, eyeing me up then down, shaking his head.

“Nah, that’s not the whole thing.

4

WYATT

Standing on Sierra’s doorstep, with the cold wind at my back and Cody shifting beside me, I can’t help but be hit with the same thought that’s been lingering since I had pulled her out of that snowbank; Sierra Bennett is still stunning. More than stunning, really.

She’s changed since college, but not in a way that dulls anything. If anything, time’s only sharpened her. Her blonde hair falls loose around her face, a little wild from the day, the strands catching the light from the hallway behind her. Her blue eyes, even more vivid against the soft shadows of the evening.

She’s not dressed up—just wearing a sweater, and jeans. It’s her usual casual look—but it fits her so perfectly it almost catches me off guard. She doesn’t need the makeup, or the fancy clothes. Sierra’s always been the kind of woman whose beauty goes beyond the surface. It’s in the way she moves, in the way her eyes lock on you, like she’s always thinking five steps ahead. Like she sees straight through your bullshit.

She crosses her arms, leaning against the door frame.

“What is it then?”

I lean against the doorframe, mirroring her, trying to play it cool even though my heart’s doing that thing it always does whenI’m around her—beating a little faster, like it’s remembering something I’ve tried to forget.

Her eyes meet mine, and for a second, something flickers there. Something that reminds me of the past, of how we were so close before everything got complicated. How badly I wanted to be the one she loved. Not Griffin. But then she nods, her expression firm, and that flicker disappears behind the wall she’s built.

Fuck this is awkward.

“So…” Cody speaks up, rubbing the back of his neck like he’s not sure where to begin. “Long time, huh?”

Sierra’s eyes flick between us, cautious and unsure. “Yeah. Long time.”

It doesn’t help that the last time we saw her was at Anna’s funeral. None of us were in a good place back then, and seeing her now, after all this time, feels… strange.

“You, uh… surprised Griffin didn’t come with you. Figured the three of you would still be inseparable.”

Cody laughs, but it’s forced. “Yeah, well, things change. Griffin’s with Jack, doing the dad thing. You know how it is. We figured we’d use the downtime to come check on you.”

She nods slowly, processing the information, but there’s something in her eyes—like she’s still wrapping her head around the fact that it’s just us standing here on her front porch.

“I’m fine, Wyatt. Like I told Susan, I don’t need anyone to check on me.”

I smile, but it’s strained. “I know you. You’ll say you’re fine even if you’re buried in snow. Just wanted to make sure.”

“You’ve checked. I’m fine. You can go.”

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