Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 182255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 911(@200wpm)___ 729(@250wpm)___ 608(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 911(@200wpm)___ 729(@250wpm)___ 608(@300wpm)
Seth knew they understood precisely what was at stake, even if they weren’t taking the situation seriously.
“Thanks,” Seth said quietly.
“We’ll be rooting for you—from a safe distance of course.” Jack winked.
Seth shook his head, biting back a grin despite the weight pressing on his chest. “Asshole.”
“Always,” Jack said cheerfully.
Blowing out a breath, Seth made his way back to Beck and Heavenly, who stood near the dance floor. As he approached, Heavenly caught his eye, her expression silently questioning.
“How’d it go?” Beck asked quietly.
Seth rolled his eyes. “About as expected. Jack’s still a smart-ass who doesn’t appreciate the fact that I’m taking a risk that will help them when they finally grow the fuck up. But they’re in my corner—as long as it’s from a safe distance.”
Beck snorted. “Sounds about right. Hopefully they’ll lie low for a while.”
Seth lifted his glass in a mock toast. “We can only hope.”
“You pulling Matt aside next?” Heavenly asked.
“Yeah. Before dinner.” Seth glanced across the room to where Matt stood with Danny, Maggie, and little Anna.
Beck nodded. “You got this. We’ll hold down the fort.”
Seth took a breath, steeling himself, then caught Matt’s eye across the room and tilted his head toward the terrace. Matt’s brow furrowed slightly, but he nodded and excused himself.
Seth’s throat tightened. Out of all his brothers, he was closest to Matt. They’d been through hell together after their father died—Seth stepping up to help raise the younger boys, Matt right there beside him, shouldering the weight.
Together, they stepped outside, into the cool evening air. The terrace overlooked a small courtyard, decorated with strings of white lights that cast a soft glow. Through the windows behind them, Seth could see the reception in full swing—guests mingling, laughter rising and falling.
Matt leaned over the railing, elbows braced on the ornate metal. “What’s up?”
Seth exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. He’d rehearsed it in his head a dozen times, but now that the moment had come, the speech stuck in his throat. “I need to tell you something. About Heavenly and me. And…Beck.”
“You mean the fact that you and Beck are both with her?” Matt said calmly.
Seth froze. “You knew?”
Matt’s mouth quirked up into a wry smile. “C’mon. I’m a PI. Of course I figured it out. It’s my job to look for clues.”
“Shit. What gave us away?”
He shrugged. “Nothing overt. Just…the way you three are when you’re together. You’re comfortable. You speak each other’s languages. You move like a unit. The chemistry between Beck and Heavenly is the same kind of chemistry you have with her. It wasn’t hard to put together.”
Seth stared at him. “If you knew, why didn’t you say something?”
Matt shrugged again. “Figured if you wanted to talk about it, you’d bring it up.”
Seth exhaled roughly, filled with something between relief and concern. “Damn.”
“Who else knows?” Matt asked.
“Jack and Connor caught us together in the backyard one night last summer.”
Matt’s laughed. “Jesus. So when Mom asked you to talk to them last month about their lifestyle…”
“Peak irony,” Seth admitted dryly. “Then, this morning…Carl caught Beck sneaking across the hall, back to his room. Surprisingly, he’s okay with it, though. I’m hoping that’ll make a difference when I break the news to Mom on Monday.”
“You know she’s going to lose her fucking mind.”
“Yep,” Seth said quietly. “But I can’t keep lying to her. And we can’t keep pretending. It’s not fair to Beck.”
Matt nodded slowly. “I get it. And for what it’s worth, you’re doing the right thing. It won’t be easy, but you deserve to live your life the way you want, without hiding.”
“You really feel that way? You’re not weirded out or disappointed?”
Matt studied him for a long moment, his expression serious. “Seth, I don’t care what your love life looks like. You’re my brother, and I love you no matter what.” He paused, then his mouth curved into a wry smile. “But I do want to know what kind of flowers you want on your grave.”
Seth huffed out a laugh despite himself, the tension breaking slightly. “Asshole.”
“I am.” Matt nodded with a grin. “But I’ve always got your back.”
“Thanks, man,” Seth said, his voice rough.
Matt’s support meant the world to him.
“Think Danny has any inkling?” Seth asked.
“I doubt it. If he’d figured it out, he would have said something to me.”
Seth nodded, his chest loosening slightly. “True that.”
“You telling him next?”
“I’ve got to.”
Matt tensed. “Yeah. But Maggie—”
“I know. She can’t find out before Mom. I’ve got a plan.”
“Thanks for trusting me enough to come clean,” Matt said. “I miss having you around, but now that I’ve met Beck and Heavenly…you’re where you belong.”
“I miss you, too, bro.”
Just then, the emcee’s voice rang out over the speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, dinner is now being served. Please find your seats.”
Matt straightened, gesturing toward the doors. “Guess that’s our cue.”