Page 201 of Bossy Hero

I aggressively massage my forehead, wishing I had a time machine and could go back to about a half hour ago when Maddie had my dick in her mouth and I had no knowledge of Tomer’s fluid levels.

Hold up.

My hand flops to the table, replicating the movement of Tomer’s head from a second ago. “Son of a bitch,” I murmur as the mental dots align.

Maddie’s unexpected seduction was calculated, likely in an attempt to put me in an agreeable mood. Lettie probably did the same with—nope, not thinking about themtogether.

The whispering in the corner is probably them readjusting their plan based on how shitty things ended with Maddie and me.

It must be bad if they’re working this hard to butter us up.

“I’ll get the salad,” Maddie announces in an artificially chipper tone, feigning normalcy.

Transparent.

She opens the fridge while Lettie heads to the oven.

After removing a tray of garlic bread, Lettie holds out an oven mitt toward us. “Tomer, will you get the lasagna out of the oven for me? Pretty please?”

He springs to his feet, dashing over to assist her.

She puts her hand on her barely visible bump, batting her eyelashes with gusto. “Thanks, babe. It’s a bit heavy for me.”

That was extra sweet even for her, which is really saying something.

She’s as transparent as Maddie.

A few minutes later, the four of us gather around the table with food piled high on our plates. The mood isn’t tense, but it’s... off.

Maddie hasn’t said anything to me since she left the office. Tomer’s silent, which is par for the course and appreciated, especially since the last thing he said involved him having sex with my daughter. And I don’t know what to say to anyone, so I’m gonna just eat and wait for them to start on their bullshit. It won’t be long now.

Unless they’ve decided against whatever they’re planning, which would be fine with me.

Lettie breaks the silence, brushing her arm against Tomer’s. “Babe, did you show Boss Dad yet?”

He puts down his fork and wipes his mouth. “Not yet.”

“Well, go on. You have them, don’tcha?”

Her precious twang brings a reluctant smile to my face. This time, it’s genuine, unlike the earlier forced one.

Tomer reaches into his back pocket and retrieves two small folded pieces of glossy paper.

“What’s this?” I ask, taking the offered pages.

Lettie beams at me, her smile stretching like the horizon. “The very first pictures of your very first grandbaby.”

Gravity suddenly feels more profound, and the weighty sensation spreads throughout my chest as I slowly unfold the first page.

It’s an ultrasound photo.

Despite the mouthwatering meal, my tongue thickens like it’s parched and latches to the roof of my mouth.

Seems to be a profile view. I can make out the head and body, but not much more than that.

This is the baby growing inside my... daughter.

A new life. One I’ll be able to be a part of from the beginning.

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