Page 52 of Daddies' Holiday Toy

Wow, that…is actually incredibly surprising.

“Why not?”

He shrugs, moving to lean against my doorframe and crossing his arms loosely over his chest.

“Married my job young. Never looked back. Also never really thought about settling down since I never found the right person to do it with.”

“Do you…ever, regret it?”

His answer takes a beat to form, eyes squinting slightly in thought.

“Maybe…but like I said, I never really thought about it. I guess I just figured if it was meant to be, it would happen.”

The way he says it makes me wonder, but it’s not really my business to be asking him personal questions anyway.

It’s not like he owes me anything.

I’m nothing more than his best friend’s daughter and some girl he’s had the unfortunate luck to be sharing a cabin with.

He pushes off the doorframe before I can pry any further.

“Better make sure Reece isn’t eating all the breakfast I made before the rest of us get some. Come join us when you’re ready.”

I thank him again before closing the door, settling down on the edge of my bed.

I sip the tea and throw back the pills, trying to let the warmth from the liquid unknot my stomach.

It doesn’t really work, but then again it’s better than nothing.

Because under all the embarrassment is the echo of that dream and Liam’s voice in my ear accompanied by his hand sliding lower and lower…

Fuck. I can’t face him.

I’m going to die alone in this room from starvation and sheer embarrassment because I refuse to leave it.

At least, that’s what the childish part of me wants.

Eventually I have to adult-up and face the music.

When I finally pad into the kitchen, Jack’s at the stove making another batch of pancakes while Reece sits at the table with hisphone next to him, scrolling it while his other hand is wrapped loosely around a mug of coffee.

Thankfully, Liam is nowhere to be found.

That makes my shoulders sag in relief.

The smell of bacon and freshly brewed coffee wraps around me, and it’s almost enough to make me forget all about the knot in my stomach.

“Morning,” I say, forcing a smile.

“Tea help at all?” Jack asks.

“A little. Thank you for bringing it to me again. And the pills.”

“You’re welcome. Take a seat, I’ve almost got the second batch done.”

Reece grins, looking up from his phone as I take the spot directly across from him.

“Missed the first round of pancakes, but don’t worry Jack’s a whiz with the griddle. He makes ‘em perfectly.”