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“I’ve got it,” I say, handing the tart to Killian.

I head for the door, squinting as I open it to the cold, dark night. And my heart plummets into my stomach at the sight of Dom standing on my doorstep. Shit.

Before anyone sees who it is, I make the split-second decision to step outside and close the door behind me. It brings me a foot closer to Dom, but he closes the rest of the distance, pulling me into his arms and squeezing me tight.

“There’s my girl. Happy birthday, sweetheart.”

I cringe at his words, at the feel of him all over me. Though it’s been years since we were anything more than co-parents (if you can call someone who’s never around a co-parent), my body has never opposed the proximity of him quite like it is now. Emotions flood through me, but anger is the loudest. Anger at how he’s treated me, how he’s treated the kids, his wife, Killian, Ronan, and Fallon. Anger that he pursued me, anger that he came back looking for me all those months later.

But for the first time since I saw the blue line on the test, I’m angrier at him than I am at myself. How it should be.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, practically wrenching myself out of his grip. If he notices how little I want to be near him, it doesn’t seem to faze him. “I thought you couldn’t make it for Christmas.”

His calls to the kids have dwindled from every few days to once a week lately, and I don’t think they’ve even noticed. But the last time we spoke, he made it clear he would be working in New York over Christmas. Maybe Sally decided to spend the holidays with her own husband, instead of someone else’s.

“I wanted to surprise you.” He says it like he’s doing me a favor. Like I should be bending over backward to thank him for taking the time to see me.

It’s been a long time since I was attracted to Dom, but how have I never noticed how cold he is? His smile feels cool and intentional, but not genuine. His hair has grayed in the years since we met, but he hasn’t changed much otherwise. I just see him differently now that I’ve seen his adult children. He’s about the same height as Ronan, just slightly shorter than Killian, and he has the same dimples. Killian and Fallon have his nose. And, of course, the eyes.

There’s a warmth, a sparkle, to his children’s that he doesn’t have. They’re the same green I’ve watched discovering the world for the past eight years, and I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to see the difference. He might have passed on the color, but that’s it.

I cross my arms and lean against the door. “You can’t just show up here, Dom. You have to give me some notice. The kids don’t handle surprises well.”

He scoffs, and for the first time, I think I actually hate him a little. “I’m not allowed to come and see my girl on her birthday?”

“I’m not your girl.” It’s the first time I’ve ever pushed back against him calling me that, even though I called things off between us years ago. His expression hardens. “You know you’re always welcome to come and see the kids. I just need a day or two to prepare them for a disruption to their routine.”

I’m proud of the way I keep my voice completely level, but Dom’s brow crinkles.

“What the hell has gotten into you? Just let me come in, for Christ’s sake.”

“It’s not a good time. You can see them tomorrow for Christmas.”

He looks like I’ve backhanded him across the face. I’m not sure I’ve ever said no to him before, not like this.

“Excuse me?”

I can’t stop myself from sighing in frustration. “If I’d known you were coming, I would gotten them ready to see you. But since I didn’t, it’s really not—”

“Is there someone in there you don’t want me to see?” His voice is even chillier than the freezing night air.

“What?”

“I knew you were lying when you said you weren’t seeing anyone. Do you have some man in there around my kids?”

It’s not fair of me to hate the way he calls them his kids as I much as I do. “The kids you last saw in person ten months ago?” I ask before I can stop myself. “I can have whoever I choose around them. It’s none of your business.”

“I might not see them often, but they’re still my kids,” he bites out. “And this is still my house. So, you don’t really have a choice. I’m coming in.”

He doesn’t push me aside, but he nudges past me, opens the door, and strides straight into the living room before I can stop him.

Fuck.

If my babies weren’t in there, I might just have left. But they are, and there’s no more avoiding the finding-out part of Dom’s fucking around. I walk in behind him and close the door. The room is in complete silence, other than the Christmas music playing from the TV. Dom is looking at the crowd of people in front of him with an expression of shock, but everyone else looks pissed. Except the kids, who are looking warily at me.

I clear my throat and force a smile on my face. For them, I can pretend everything is perfectly normal. “Look who’s here! Come say hi to your dad, guys.”

Carrie lifts James down from her lap; Killian hesitates but reluctantly helps Caitlin down. They both walk over, and Dom pastes a practiced smile on his face as he bends down to hug Caitlin.