Page 89 of Detention with Daddies

“No. I won’t let him lose his shit. He will understand. You know him. Man of few words. Only worries about your happiness.”

“You give them the third degree?”

Her grin is telling. “Of course. It’s my prerogative. Had to make sure of their intentions.”

“Oh God.” I try not to spiral again, rubbing my forehead against the oncoming headache.

Mom laughs. “Come on. Go put them out of their misery.”

I bite my lip and nod, taking the lead inside to see Waylen, Matteo, and Nick sitting in my living room. On the couch beside my dad’s chair. Seeing them there is insane. I’m reminded of how much closer they are to his age than to mine.

Fuck, I’m insane.

I flash back to what we did on that couch only a few weeks ago. Heat spreads across my skin.

They all stand at once, and so does my dad—maybe a little slower but not by much—and he’s the first to come hug me.

“I warned them that I keep my shotgun upstairs. Do I need to get it?”

I sink into his embrace and laugh against his shoulder. How did I know? “No, Dad. But thank you.”

“Anytime, honey.” He rubs my back and squeezes me hard. Man, I love him.

“Enjoy your show. We’ll go out back.” I turn to Mom. “No snooping.”

She holds her hands up, not even feigning innocence. She was totally going to snoop. I know her too well.

I meet each of my men’s gazes and wave them all to the back porch. I’m still a little queasy and trying not to worry so much.

I mean. They’re here. They were sitting with my parents for who knows how long. What did they talk about? Why are they here like this?

The moment we’re outside, I take a big breath to explain, to tell them what’s happened, but Nick pulls me into his arms, and the words get stuck. He plants a kiss on my forehead before Matteo steps in to wrap me up too. Kisses feather across my temple as he rocks me a little. Then Waylen has me, a hand in my hair, rubbing the back of my head. Somehow, the stress headache starts to wane, and I sink into him a little.

“We know,” Waylen says into the top of my head, and his arms tighten when I stiffen in his embrace.

“Someone spread it around the center right after you left.” Nick’s voice sounds harder than I’ve ever heard it before.

I keep my face hidden in Waylen’s shoulder. I had my results on the center’s database. How easy I made it for someone to find that information.

I sigh and pull back a little, wrapping my arms around myself and feeling stupid. “I?—”

Matteo unravels my grip on myself, and I see the fire in his brown eyes. He’s seriously pissed. Another first. As upset as I’ve seen him before, I wouldn’t be surprised if he murdered someone. “I fired them. Completely beyond unprofessional. It should have happened a long time ago.”

Ah. I’m guessing he’s referring to the trio. I’m not at all surprised. They’ve been trying to tear me down since I arrived.

I press my lips together and nod. “And you guys? How do you feel about this?”

Nick laughs, and the weight on my chest lifts a little. Those dark blue eyes reflect joy back at me. “Having a kid has been the best thing in my life.”

Matteo squeezes my hand. “Agreed.”

Waylen smiles too, brushing his thumb over my cheek. “Agreed.”

“So, you guys aren’t upset?”

Waylen tucks my hair back behind my ear. “No.”

Matteo gathers my face in his hands and plants a kiss on me. It’s soft and sweet and everything. “Not at all.”

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