Page 39 of Daddy Issues

“You two are totally in love. Dad looks at you like this . . .” Mila puts her hands clasped together under her chin and blinks rapidly like a sweet cherub. “And you look at Dad the same exact way. So are you guys in love or what?”

Well, shit. This went easier than I thought it would.

“Yeah, we’re in love,” I confess.

“Yay! I knew it! I so totally knew it! Hailey, are you going to be my mom? I’ve never had one and you’d make such a good mom. I mean, you practically already are my mom because you do all the mom things with me. Like when I started my you know what, and we can do all the girl things together. No offense, Dad, but it’s way better to do them with a mom. So?”

Hailey sniffles next to me, wiping away her tears.

“Honey, don’t cry. Mila, yes, Hailey is going to be in your life as a mother figure, and when I marry her someday, she’ll officially be your stepmom, but we can figure out all of that. But the most important thing is that we’re a family above all else. There’s one more thing we have to tell you.”

“Okay, as long as we aren’t moving. I’m okay.”

“Hailey is pregnant with your little sister or brother.”

My talkative daughter’s mouth falls open while she looks at Hailey, completely speechless for the first time since she learned to talk.

“Mila, I love you so much, and I’m so excited to expand our family. This doesn’t change anything,” I say in comfort, my heart pounding against my ribcage.

“I’m gonna have a sister or brother? For real?” Mila whispers in awe.

“Yeah, sweetie. I’m growing your sibling in here,” Hailey answers, her hand going to her small belly.

Instead of saying anything else, Mila jumps up from where she’s sitting on the coffee table in front of us and right into Hailey’s arms. Hailey rearranges herself so that Mila’s body—which is just a few inches shorter than Hailey’s—can fit next to her. The two of them hug for a while, and I’m overcome with emotion.

For more than a decade, it was just me and Mila. We were so happy just the two of us, but we also had no idea what we were missing. Hailey came into our life unexpectedly and fit in like she should have been here all along. I’ll do everything I can to keep her safe and happy so we can build this life together. Hailey, Mila, and our baby are everything I didn’t know I needed.

epilogue

One Year Later

“Happy Father’s Day, Daddy,”Hailey purrs from where she’s spread out on top of our bed. My mouth drops open at the sight of her. She’s wearing a familiar baby blue lacy bra with matching G-string panties. For a moment, I’m frozen, my eyes roaming her perfect body.

My mind conjures up the photo of her on the hookup app, her sexy body on display for me to dream about. It feels like a lifetime ago that I swiped right on her, that we shared our first night together in the hotel room. How it’s only been a year is beyond me.

Hailey’s breasts are much fuller now, bursting from the tops of the cups of her bra. Her hips flare out slightly more, her thighs thicker. Pregnancy changed her body in the best, most alluring, seductive way. Hailey had some complications during birth that resulted in a longer healing time. We haven’t had intercourse in almost three months, and I can’t wait to get my hands on her right now.

“Honey . . . you looksofucking sexy. But you’re playing with fire here.” I run my palm against the thick pipe lying heavy against my leg behind my sweatpants. My cock always aching for my beautiful girl.

“I need you, Graham. I need you to take what you need, what we both want.Please.”

Ripping off my clothes as quickly as possible, I crawl over my girl, gently laying myself on top and cradling her head between my palms.

“Tell me you’re healed, tell me it’s okay. I don’t—I can’t—hurt you.”

“I was cleared last week. The doctor said there were no more restrictions. It may feel like I’m losing my virginity all over again, but it’ll be worth it. I need you. It’s been too long.”

My eyebrows shoot upward, her words surprising me. My dick bucks against her thigh, precum already leaking from the tip. Fuck if I don’t want to get inside her. But for the first time since we started sleeping together over a year ago, we need to be careful. Especially because we decided to only have one child together, wanting to raise a small family of just the four of us.

“I don’t have a condom, honey. I didn’t know?—”

“Shh. I’m not using a condom with you, Graham. There’s no way.” I arch a brow at her, confused. I’m not gambling with the pill. Not after the surprise pregnancy and delivery she had. “I had an IUD put in at my appointment. I wanted to surprise you. My doctor said to give it a week before I had unprotected sex. It’s good for ten years.”

While I wish she had told me because I love to be involved, her surprise lifts the concern about having sex without condoms, even though nothing is ever one hundred percent—as we well learned—it still makes me feel better.

“Oh fuck yes, baby. You’re so goddamn perfect. I just want us to be safe.”

“We are. Now let me feel you inside me, daddy,” she whispers with a playful smile toying at her lips.

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