48

Four weeks later

Vincent

I watched as Jennifer shifted uneasily on the couch. Her eyes met mine for a brief moment, revealing the anxiety brewing within them. She was nervous, and honestly, so was I.

Today was the day Bella was coming home from her program abroad, and we had to tell her about us. It was something we were both dreading, and for good reason. Bella was fiercely protective, and the thought of explaining everything to her felt overwhelming. But I knew I couldn’t keep something this important from her for too long.

We weren’t that type of family.

I moved closer and sat next to Jennifer , gently taking her hand in mine.

“We should tell her together,” I said softly, squeezing her hand. “She deserves to hear it from both of us.”

“I know, but I’m scared, Vincent . I’m afraid she’ll hate me,” Jennifer admitted, her voice shaky as she bit her lip, her gaze dropping to her fingers that were intertwined with mine.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

“Bella can be intense sometimes, but she loves you. We just need to be honest and hope she understands. That’s all we can do. She might be upset at first, but I know her. She’s a good kid.”

Jennifer let out a small, nervous laugh.

“Easy for you to say. You’re her dad. She can’t stay mad at you forever,” she said, her voice betraying the slight tremor in her words.

I cupped her face, gently urging her to look at me.

“She’ll come around. She has to. But until then, we’ll face this together, alright?”

“Alright, together,” Jennifer agreed, though her voice still quivered despite my reassurances.

The sound of the front door opening startled both of us. Bella’s cheerful voice echoed from the hallway, and my stomach dropped.

“Dad! I’m home!” she called.

Jennifer ’s grip tightened on my hand, and I felt her pulse racing. I squeezed her hand back, silently reassuring her before letting go.

“Stay calm,” I whispered. “I’ve got this.”

Bella entered the living room, her face lighting up when she saw us.

“Hey, sweetheart!” I greeted, pulling her into a hug. After a moment, Bella stood up and gave Jennifer a hug as well.

“Hey, you two! What’s going on?” Bella asked, grinning, her gaze shifting between us.

“Hey, sweetheart,” I replied, standing up. “We need to talk to you about something.”

Bella’s smile faltered, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked between us. “What’s going on? You both look like you’ve seen a ghost—or worse, pineapple on pizza.”

Jennifer stood up, still holding my hand. “Bella, there’s something we need to tell you. It’s… important.”

Bella crossed her arms, her expression cautious. “Okay, but I’ve got something to tell you too, and you can’t be mad…” she started, her eyes pleading. Before either of us could respond, she took a deep breath and blurted out, “I’m dating Damon.”

I froze, taken aback. Damon had been her bodyguard, a man I trusted with her life. To say this was unexpected was an understatement. A soft gasp escaped me, but I quickly swallowed it down and forced myself to stay composed.

“You’re dating Damon?” I asked, still processing. “How long has this been going on?”

“A few months,” Bella admitted, her voice tinged with embarrassment. “I know it’s a lot, but… I love him, Dad. He’s good to me. He treats me well. I promise.”

I tried to keep my composure, knowing I had my own bombshell to drop.

Stay calm. You can deal with Damon later—when your daughter isn’t here.

“That’s… exciting,” I said, blinking and quickly sorting through my emotions. I knew I had to stay calm and understanding since I still needed to tell her about me and Jennifer .

Bella’s eyes widened, and for a moment, she seemed stunned. Then, suspicion crept in. “Wait. You’re not mad? You’re supposed to be mad. What’s going on? What’s the catch?”

“You’re my princess, sweetheart. As long as he treats you well and makes you happy, I’m okay with it,” I said, shaking my head with a laugh.

I was definitely going to have a word with Damon—metaphorically speaking. That was still my little girl.

“Thanks, Dad. That means a lot,” Bella said, a grin spreading across her face. Relief was written all over her, but a hint of suspicion remained in her eyes as she glanced between us. “So, what do you have to tell me, Dad?”

“Actually,” Jennifer interjected, glancing at me with nerves. “There’s something we need to tell you.”

Bella looked at us, curiosity clearly piqued. “What is it?”

I took a deep breath, deciding to get it over with. The longer I waited, the more upset Bella was going to be.

Here goes nothing…

“I’m dating someone too,” I started casually.

“It’s okay that you’re dating again. I’ve been expecting that for a while now,” she smiled, her eyes warm and soft, her big heart as clear as ever.

“It’s Jennifer ,” I blurted out.

Bella’s face shifted through various emotions—shock, confusion, and finally, a mix of resigned frustration. She opened and closed her mouth a few times before speaking.

“Wait, what? I don’t think I heard you right… Did you say Jennifer ?” she finally asked.

I nodded, feeling a bit uncomfortable under her intense gaze. I’d always valued Bella’s opinion, so I hoped this conversation would go better than I anticipated.

“Yes. I fell in love with her, Bella. It just happened.”

For a moment, Bella just stared at us, her expression unreadable. Then she exhaled deeply, clearly irritated.

“Dad, you’re seriously dating my best friend? This is ridiculous,” she complained, flopping down onto the couch with her arms crossed.

She wasn’t thrilled.

“Yeah, I know it’s a lot to process, but—” I nodded again, bracing myself for her reaction.

“Do you love her?” Bella interrupted, her tone softer but still serious.

“Yes,” I said firmly. “I love her a lot.”

Bella looked at Jennifer , her gaze searching. “And you? Do you love my dad?”

Jennifer nodded, her voice steady. “I do, Bella. More than anything.”

Bella’s lips curled into a small smile.

“Well, this is definitely awkward. But… if you both love each other, I guess I can eventually get used to it and maybe be happy for you.”

I exhaled, relieved. “Thank you, Bella. That really means a lot.”

She raised an eyebrow, her tone playful. “But don’t think you’re off the hook. I’m going to be grumpy about this for days, and you can’t even be mad about it,” she said, smirking.

“We wouldn’t expect anything less,” I laughed, feeling a lot more at ease with the situation.

Bella sighed dramatically, shaking her head and giving Jennifer a pointed look.

“Seriously, Jennifer ? My dad? I mean, I know he’s got that brooding, mysterious vibe, but couldn’t you have chosen someone a little less… well, related to me?” Bella teased.

I laughed, shaking my head. “It’s not like we planned this.”

She rolled her eyes in a way that only my twenty-year-old daughter could.

“Yeah, yeah. Just promise me you won’t get all mushy and romantic in front of me. I really don’t need to see that,” she joked.

“Deal,” Jennifer said, blushing but smiling.

Bella walked over and hugged me tightly. “I just want you to be happy. Both of you.”

As Bella pulled away, she glanced at Jennifer with a playful sparkle in her eyes. “But seriously, if you ever break my dad’s heart, I’m coming for you. Got it?”

Jennifer laughed and nodded. “Got it.”

“Same goes for you, Dad. You better not hurt my best friend,” Bella warned, giving me a stern look. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I won’t,” I grinned.

“Pinky promise?” she asked, holding out her pinky, and I linked mine with hers.

“Pinky promise,” I said with a grin.