Page 70 of Playboy

I’ve just hitsubmit on my article when the alarm on my computer chimes, signaling it’s time for my Zoom meeting. When I finally load the app—which, of course, needs updating, when does it not?—the squares are all filled with familiar faces.

The dads.

My stepdads, to be more precise. The four I sent the meeting invite too. My mother is supposed to be on the call, but as usual, she’s late.

I smile and say hi, all the while holding my phone beneath the desk and furiously typing a reminder text to my mother. Every other person who’s logged on has an actual job. They have better things to do than sit around and wait after being summoned like this, but my dads have never once blown me off when I ask to talk. I see them all individually here and there, but during the summer when I have no free time, we normally group chat. It’s better than nothing.

The text I sent shows that it’s been read, but when she doesn’t respond, I sigh and focus on my dads. Looks like she doesn’t plan to make an appearance. It’s not really a surprise.

“Is Langfield working you too hard?” Pierce asks. He’s Riggs and Ash’s father. He knows Beckett’s family, though I don’t remember how.

“No, I’m fine.” I wave a dismissive hand. “Just my mother.”

In unison, all four men nod. They know the reality of life with Marilyn almost as well as I do. I’m honestly not convinced Marilyn is the name her parents gave her. My suspicion is that she changed it when she turned eighteen, but she’ll never admit to it.

“You should come with Noah and Oliver the next time they come for dinner,” Noah’s father, Liam, says, his gaze assessing. “You look like you could use a good meal.”

“Yes, I probably could. And I’ll take you up on that.”

“Is there a reason for the call, or did you just miss us?” Kevin, Matt and Tim’s father—Ryot—teases. He’s a lawyer, and his firm is extremely busy. He’s not rushing me—or he doesn’t mean to—but his time is valuable, so I get right to it.

I clear my throat and sit straighter. “Uh, yeah. The reason I set up this call is?—”

“Oh, hello, boys!” My mother’s flirtatious voice drowns mine out as she appears on the screen. Her picture appears smack dab in the middle of the group of them. I know the layout is Zoom’s default, but it makes my eye twitch either way.

“Marilyn,” Pierce says, his tone firm. “Hannah was just filling us in on what’s going on in her life.”

My heart squeezes at the way my dads always show up for me. Even small things like putting my mother in her place mean so, so much.

“Oh, Hannah, darling, of course we are so excited to hear about your life.” Though she’s speaking to me, her gaze is wandering. Clearly, she’s more interested in checking out all of her ex-husbands than actually listening to what I have to say. The woman is shameless.

I let out a quick breath and paste on a smile. “I wanted to tell you all that I’m having a baby.”

Like with my brothers, the dads speak at once. The questions echo the ones my brothers asked almost verbatim. After assuring them that I’m happy and that the father is a good man who wants to be involved, Pierce reminds me that he’ll make him be involved—he is prior military and scary as fuck, just like Ash. Ryot says he’ll set me up with the best family law attorney in Boston so I can make sure he pays child support and then some. Liam tells me he’ll sit that boy down for a chat right away.

Hands held up, I reassure them that none of that will be necessary.

Bryce, the only man in the group who doesn’t have his own kids, tears up, going on and on about how excited he is to be a granddad and how he can’t wait to visit when the baby is born.

I’m not an emotional person, but my eyes get hot, and I have to blink away the mist clouding my vision.

Ryot is headed into mediation—the timing couldn’t be more perfect—so we say our goodbyes. I promise to send them all the next sonogram picture and to keep them updated when I find out the sex. If Daniel and I decide we want to know. My guess is that he’ll be eager to find out, and I’m a planner, so the more information I have, the better.

The second I log out of the meeting, my phone rings. To my surprise, when I see my mom’s name on the screen, relief settles over me. She didn’t say much on the call, and to say that didn’t hurt would be a lie.

I accept the FaceTime request and smile. “Hey, Mom.”

“Oh, Hannah, a baby!” she coos.

“Yes, I know it’s unexpected, but I’m really excited.”

Though I may still be terrified, it’s true. I never planned to be a mom. Never played with dolls when I was a little girl. Never imagined holding a baby who looked anything like me. And Icertainly didn’t sleep with Daniel with any intention of becoming his baby mama. But as I splay a hand over my stomach, something I find myself doing more and more often, I can’t help the excitement that bubbles up at the thought of our child.

“Yes, quite unexpected. Liam looked good, didn’t he? Do you know if he’s still single? Maybe I should come visit you.” Her eyes light up. “You probably need my help, right?”

“Because of the pregnancy?” I ask, choking back a huff. “I’m okay, Mom. I’m traveling a lot. No need to come anytime soon.”

Shoulders back, she humphs. “That can’t be good for the baby.”

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