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 nodded and glanced back through windows, watching as waiters began moving through the room with plates, before they headed back inside together.
He collected Heavenly from where she stood with Beck near the dance floor. Together, they retrieved Hudson, who had taken up with the twins again. They made their way to the family table. Heavenly sat between him and Beck—a deliberate choice, meant to unconsciously prepare others to accept them as a trio. Hudson sat on his other side, a little put out that his dad and Beck the hard-ass had hauled him away from hearing some likely inappropriate frat-party story.
Appetizers appeared. Casual expression locked in place, Seth pushed stuffed mushrooms around his plate.
Across from him, Jack and Connor wolfed theirs down, then announced that they were heading back to the bar.
“Not without me.” Matt followed, leaving them alone with Danny, Maggie, and Anna.
As the server cleared his plate, Beck leaned over Heavenly and whispered, “What’s wrong? Seems like everything has gone well so far.”
“Yeah, but one more conversation to go.” He glanced Danny’s way. “And he’s the wild card.”
Beck frowned. “Think he’ll push back?”
Seth shrugged. Danny by himself? Probably not. But he and Maggie were a package deal. Her opinions mattered to him…and she was a lot like his mom.
Beck grimaced.
“You’ll find the right words,” Heavenly murmured softly, squeezing his hand.
Seth’s heart swelled. The people he loved wanted to help; he could see that plainly. But this was his job alone. No way around that.
“I hope you’re right.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I just need an opening.”
And fast. If Danny rejected Seth and the future he had planned…Mom might never come around.
His younger brother was the lynchpin.
As the waiters cleared the last of the appetizers, Danny stood and excused himself, heading toward the restrooms.
Beck raised a brow at him. Heavenly gestured to Seth with a little nod.
He waited exactly thirty seconds, then rose. “I’ll be back.”
“You got this,” Beck insisted.
“Good luck,” Heavenly whispered.
Seth crossed the room, then turned down the narrow hallway. He’d barely reached the bathroom when Danny pushed the door open and reared back in surprise.
“Going in?”
“No.” Seth shook his head, then dragged in a deep breath. “Can we talk for a minute?”
Danny’s brow furrowed. “Sure. What’s up?”
Seth scanned the hallway. Other than the muffled sounds of the reception drifting in, it was empty and quiet. But the clock was ticking.
“I need you to hear me out before you say anything, okay?”
Danny’s expression turned cautious. “Okay...”
“There’s no easy way to put this.” Seth took another deep breath. “Straight up? Beck and I share Heavenly. We’re all planning to get married next year. I’m telling Mom on Monday.”
Danny stared at him in silence for long, excruciating moments. Then he rubbed the back of his neck, clearly processing. “You’re serious?”
“As a heart attack,” Seth said firmly.
Danny’s gaze dropped to the floor. “I mean… On the one hand, I’m shocked. You were married to Autumn and—wait. Did you share her with someone, too?”
“No.” Autumn could barely handle one man, much less two. Beck would have completely overwhelmed his late wife.
“I didn’t think so, but after that conversation we had last month after Mom caught the twins fucking Gia in her family room… I kind of wondered. You were more supportive of Jack and Connor wanting to share than I thought you’d be. I never imagined you’d actually want that kind of situation permanently, but…” He looked back up. “I caught some looks between Beck and Heavenly, looks you saw and didn’t seem to mind. So, on the other hand, I’m not super surprised.”
“And how do you feel about that?” Seth’s voice was tight.
Danny was quiet for another beat, clearly turning it over. “Not my life. I’m just worried… I mean, does being with them make you happy?”
“Honestly? Happier than I’ve ever been. Happier than I thought I could ever be after…everything.”
Danny nodded slowly. “What you three do as consenting adults is none of my business. But I’m not gonna lie. It’s outside the box. People will point, stare, and talk shit.”
“They already do.” Seth shrugged. “We’re used to being judged. We just don’t care what strangers think.”
“But you do care what the people you love think.”
“Exactly.”
“I don’t have a problem with it. And if knowing you have backup to watch your woman and your kids gives you peace…I don’t blame you.”
Seth blinked. He’d never consciously thought about it like that, but yeah. That was at least part of the appeal. Mitigating the risks of losing the people he loved again. The comfort of knowing he wasn’t alone in protecting the ones who mattered most to him.
“I appreciate that. But we both know it’s not that simple. You have Maggie to think about, and her opinion matters to you. As it should.”
“Yep, and that’s my only hesitation.” Danny nodded slowly. “She’s probably going to be a little weird about it at first. But she already adores Heavenly. So far, she seems to like Beck. And she thinks you’re the best. She would never want you estranged from the family because of who you love. She’ll come around. I’ll help her. But…it may take time.”