Page 84 of Their Perfect Daddy

Merry scoffs. “Did you think we wouldn’t want to do this? We’re always happy to volunteer, especially when it comes to the kids. Plus, Cherise will love us for it. Makes her job easy. The woman still isn’t sleeping great thanks to a night owl newborn.”

I smile as I think about our PR coordinator. She keeps us in line, all while balancing her own chaotic life. It’s probably good I’m no longer partying like before. She has enough to deal with. I would only add to her troubles.

“Let’s go over the details we need to know now. Once we square it away, we’ll get a better picture of the plan. From there we can decide the next step.”

“Deal,” I tell Bellport.

An hour and a million questions later, my cheeks hurt from smiling for so long. Bellport didn’t lie when he said he could make it all happen on a rapid timeline. Things moved at lightning speed to the point I had to get Grizzly in on the call to help me keep up.

All of it will be worth it when we see the smiling kids who finally feel like they have a place to fit in. Merry even made the suggestion to include special needs children since they’re often overlooked as well. Anytime they're included, it’s meant to be about the press behind it rather than simple for the kids to enjoy themselves.

Once we get it all settled, I’m worn out enough to need a nap. Skye and Danny have been running errands for the day, which is the only reason I managed to get through the phone call without any distractions. As if thinking of them is enough for the universe to make them appear, my men come into the room with their arms loaded down.

“What is all this?”

“We went shopping!” Danny cheers as he drops onto the couch beside me. The bags rumble as he lets them slide off his arms onto the floor.

Skye shakes his head from where he’s easing his own armloads down onto the chair. “I took our boy out to spend his gift cards.”

“The ones I gave him?”

“Yeeeeeppppp. It was so much fun. I missed you though.”

Danny nuzzles his face against me as he wraps his body around mine. I chuckle as I grab hold of him. He’s like a koala when he’s cuddly like this. I don’t dare say how much I enjoy it aloud. No need to encourage him. It’s better when he wants to give affection on his own.

I never want either of my guys to think they’re required to care about me. The minute I become a burden is the minute this no longer works.

A knock at the door has us all confused. “Did you invite someone over?” Skye asks as he takes off to answer it.

Danny stays wrapped around me, not a care in the world about it. He knows our Daddy will take care of everything.

The sound of Chadwick’s voice has my brows rising. What is he doing here??

“You’re the guy from the picture.” Hearing Mintz is here too lets me know something is up.

Sure enough, when Skye reappears, he’s being followed by several of my teammates. Chadwick, Mintz, Wilson, Fellowes, and Daughtler are far too comfortable in my space. Logically, I know it’s because they’ve been here several times. I’ve always said my home was open for them to visit and hang out.

But that’s changed.

Now I have two men in my life who I want to keep to myself. We deserve to have some peace and privacy instead of hosting guests — even men who I consider friends.

“Why are you here?” I ask when none of the guys say anything.

Chadwick steps forward first, his hand moving across the back of his neck. “We, um… we wanted to talk to you.”

“Talk to me about what?”

“About the thing you texted me. The sobriety stuff.” He looks to the guys who all give him a solid nod. “We’ve all spoken, and we’d like to join you. Maybe not going totally sober, but we want to slow down.”

“C’s right. We’re all tired of being hungover,” Daughtler adds in.

Fellowes grimaces. “Especially on game days. It’s fucking brutal.”

“Would anyone like some water or an electrolyte drink? I have a feeling this visit might go a bit long.” Skye moves around the group to smile at me. I can tell from his expression he’s not mad about the surprise visit. He looks almost proud of me.

I’m warm all over thinking of the praise he’ll extend my way later when it’s only us three again. He might even find another way to show his appreciation.

No, wait. Can’t think of that right now. It’s serious discussion time, not sexy times.

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