Page 148 of Daddies' Holiday Toy

“I don’t know yet. But I do know I’m not going to abandon her.”

Reece’s eyes narrow slightly. “You saying you want to step up? Be the dad, whether it’s yours or not?”

I meet his gaze.

“I’m saying I don’t want her going through this alone. She didn’t get here by herself, remember? We were all part of it.”

“That’s not the same thing,” Reece mutters. I can tell he’s already tired of this conversation, but I’m refusing to let him walk away from it.

“Maybe not,” I agree, but I keep my eyes locked on him so he knows I’m not just rolling over. “But it also doesn’t change the fact that she’s ours. She’s not just…some girl we had fun with, Reece. You can’t tell me if that baby is yours you wouldn’t want to be in its life. You’re not a deadbeat. That’s not the kind of man you are.”

His beer makes a softthunkon the carpet as he sets it down, but his other hand stays curled loosely around the neck of the bottle like he’s not ready to let it go completely.

His shoulders tense up, practically near his ears.

“I can’t be a dad again, man. I’ve got three kids…I’m stretched thin as it is. Plus, how will that be fair to them? They’re in another state while I’m over here having a new family. That doesn’t seem right.”

“I’m not asking you to raise the kid,” I tell him evenly. “But you don’t have to disappear, either.”

Before Reece can even form a reply, Liam’s voice cuts in.

“What about Carson? You think he’s just going to sit back if we step up? He’s going to make her life hell. And ours.”

“Then we deal with him.” I shrug, because to me it’s not even a question. “The alternative is letting him scare her into doingwhateverhewants. I’m not letting that happen. Neither should either of you. He’s been doing this her entire life. It’s enough.”

The room goes quiet again.

The hum of the fridge fills the gap, and through the cracked kitchen window I can hear the faint rumble of a car passing on the street outside.

I can tell they’re both turning it over.

The way Reece stares at a spot on the floor, brow furrowed, like the answer might be written there.

The way Liam’s thumb taps against his knee, in a steady, restless rhythm.

They’re weighing the cost, same as me.

Finally, Liam looks up at me.

“So you’re in? With her, I mean.”

I don’t hesitate. “I’m in.”

He studies me for a second longer, like he’s looking for any sign of uncertainty, then he nods. “Okay. Me too.”

Reece exhales, looking away.

“I’ll…figure something out. I can’t promise more than that right now.”

It’s not much, but it’s something.

A distant siren adds to the sounds of the city sounds bleeding in through the window, adding an additional feeling of urgency.

The tension between us all is still there.

It’s not going anywhere tonight, but there’s something else now, too, among it: a quiet agreement, fragile but real.

We’re not done figuring this out.