Chapter Twenty-Two
Their stares met. Beck’s entire body went rigid. Dread slammed into Beck’s chest like a freight train.
He’d fucked this up. Seth had specifically asked for one thing: no drama on his mother’s wedding day. And here Beck was, about to deliver it in spades before the sun had even risen.
Carl approached on silent feet, his brow lifted. “Everything okay?”
Beck scrambled for a reply, something logical. Anything believable that would explain why he was standing in the hallway outside Seth and Heavenly’s door at five in the morning, looking like he’d just rolled out of their bed.
Heavenly had a headache. I was checking on her.
No. Why would he look sleep mussed if he’d been seeing to her medical needs? Besides, Seth could have found her a fucking aspirin.
Seth was sick. He needed a doctor.
Nope. The minute he rolled out in his tux to walk his mom down the aisle, Carl would see right through that BS.
I couldn’t sleep. Went for a walk. Got turned around in the house.
Even worse. The house was hardly a maze.
They were busted. Completely, utterly busted.
Fuck.
Seth appeared in the doorway of his bedroom—wearing only sweatpants— and saved Beck from gaping like a fish on shore. His gaze swept to Carl and back to Beck. Understanding flashed across his face.
Seth moved to stand beside Beck, shoulder-to-shoulder, his gaze locking on Carl’s. “This isn’t how I wanted to do this, but…we should talk. About me and Heavenly. And...Beck.”
Beck’s heart stopped.
Holy shit. Seth was doing this now, the morning of the wedding? Before anyone had even had coffee?
What terrible fucking timing. If Carl lost it, raised his voice, woke Grace—this would blow up in Seth’s face and destroy everything. The wedding. Grace’s happiness. The fragile lie they’d been so carefully trying to preserve.
Beck had no one to blame but himself. If he’d left when he was supposed to and hadn’t fallen asleep, none of this would be happening. Guilt twisted in his gut.
Yes, he wanted the truth out in the open, but not like this. Not on Grace’s wedding day. Not in a hallway at barely five in the morning with disaster looming.
Beck braced for Carl’s face to flash red with fury. For his booming voice to rise and wake the entire house. For the inevitable destruction of peace.
Seth didn’t flinch. His jaw was set, his shoulders squared. He looked determined to plow ahead no matter what happened next. Beck stood beside him in solidarity and hoped to hell this wasn’t about to become a complete shit show.
“I’m listening,” Carl said finally. “Something you want to tell me?”
Seth kept his voice barely above a whisper. “Beck and I are friends…who are both in love with Heavenly. We’re partners in her care.”
Carl’s brow crept higher. “Meaning?”
Seth’s jaw clenched. “Meaning we…share her. Beck and I aren’t romantically involved with each other. We just happen to love the same woman and realized we’re all happier together.”
Beck’s heart hammered against his ribs as Carl listened, arms folded. His gaze moved between them, studying their faces. His expression was terrifyingly impossible to read. Silence stretched on, every second seeming to last an eternity.
Suddenly, Carl’s mouth curved into a soft smirk. “Tell me something I didn’t figure out days ago.”
Beck’s breath caught. He and Seth exchanged a startled glance. What the fuck?
He’d been so careful. Maintained his distance. Played the role of Seth’s friend perfectly. Heavenly had done the same—barely a word between them beyond a few stolen whispers about how hard the facade had been to maintain.
Despite all that, Carl had seen straight through them.
“What gave us away?” Beck asked, his voice rough.
Carl’s expression turned knowing. “The way you and Heavenly looked at each other when you thought no one was watching. And Seth...” He glanced at his soon-to-be stepson.
“That speech you gave your mother at Batter Up? You were too invested to just be talking about the twins. You sounded like you spoke from experience.”
Carl didn’t yell. He didn’t judge. He just quietly accepted them.
Cautious relief spread through Beck. Another glance at Seth said he felt the same.
“Does Mom suspect?” he finally asked.
Carl shook his head. “That woman has been so busy with wedding planning that Bigfoot could stroll through her living room and she wouldn’t notice.” His tone turned serious. “But after this weekend, if you don’t get honest with her…she will.”
The message was clear. They were on the clock.
“Duly noted,” Seth said carefully. “I won’t apologize.”
Carl nodded. “You shouldn’t. Your love life is none of my business. If Heavenly and Beck make you happy, as far as I’m concerned, that’s all that matters.”
But his opinion wasn’t the one that mattered. Grace’s was. At least Carl wasn’t going to be a roadblock.
“If you knew,” Beck said slowly, “why didn’t you say something?”
“Didn’t want to start drama before the wedding,” Carl replied easily.
“Same reason we didn’t,” Seth offered. “She deserves to focus on her own wedding without worrying about us. I had Beck come because I wanted Mom to meet him before I sprang the truth on her. It would have been worse trying to convince her to accept a stranger.”
“You’re right. So…which of you two is engaged to Heavenly? Or was that a lie for your mother’s benefit?”
“No,” Beck put in so Seth wouldn’t feel so put on the spot. “We’re both engaged to her, and we’re looking for ways to cement our bond—legally, spiritually. Whatever we can manage.”
“Exactly.” Seth nodded. “Obviously, we’ll never be married in the Church, and I know that will be tough for Mom to take.
But that’s our reality, and I’m okay with it.
” His voice was steady, resolute. “I’ve done the big church wedding once.
I don’t need that again because I know in my heart that what we have is real.
Mom is going to have to be okay with that.
One of us will marry Heavenly legally, but we haven’t decided who yet. ”
Carl looked thoughtful. “Sounds like you three have thought this through.”
“Carefully,” Seth assured. “And…we’re trying to have a baby.”
Carl’s eyes widened with surprise. “You ready for that?”
Seth’s jaw tightened, but his gaze didn’t waver. “It’s been a struggle at times. I won’t lie. But I’m determined to embrace the future. This is the way forward.” He paused. “I hope my mom and my brothers can accept that—and the children we plan to have.”
Beck stood silent beside him, relieved to hear Seth laying his feelings bare without bullshit or reservation.
Seth outlined the rest of his plan—talking to his brothers during the reception, then sitting down with Grace on Monday.
“Have you had a chance to talk to her since my visit last month? Has she softened any after the twins’ situation?”
Carl hesitated. “Some, just enough for me to realize the wedding has consumed most of her waking thoughts. She’s barely thinking about Jack and Connor now. But once the distraction is over, she’ll start thinking about them again.”
Seth nodded like that was a fact. “Thank you for trying.”
“Sorry I couldn’t do more, but you know when that woman gets focused…”
“She’s singularly fixated, yes.” A smile tugged at Seth’s lips.
“Once you tell her, she’ll need time. But she’ll come around.
” Carl clapped Seth’s shoulder, a tinge of a smile curling his lips.
“Even Grace Cooper—soon-to-be-Mahoney—won’t be able to deny you’re building a life based on love—especially when the babies come.
Your mother has been dying for more grandchildren. ”
Seth smiled. “Yep. She hasn’t been shy about that.”
“Not even a little. So if she’s not okay with this threesome right now…well, a bundle of joy just might solve everything.”
Beck had to grin. “Trust me. We’re working on that. Judiciously.”
Carl winked. “I’m sure you are.”
Beck turned to Seth, and they fist-bumped. Relief was all over the big PI’s face.
Grace’s acceptance wasn’t guaranteed, but having Carl on their side… That was more than they’d had ten minutes ago.
“Thanks for listening,” Seth said solemnly. “And not judging.”
“Anytime. And if you’re going to…make more inroads toward that baby this morning, keep it down, huh? I’m getting married to a beautiful woman today.”
Then Carl started down the stairs, heading for the coffeemaker. As soon as he disappeared around the corner, Beck let out a pent-up breath. Beside him, Seth did the same.
“Holy shit,” Beck muttered. “That…went better than expected. At least you’ll have an ally.” Since Seth intended to face Grace without him or Heavenly by his side.
He understood the woman, but her beliefs couldn’t be the reason Seth became estranged from his family. He hoped like fuck she loved her son more than she hated the life he’d chosen.
“Thank fuck.” Seth slumped against the wall.
Behind Seth, Heavenly cracked the door to Seth’s room wrapped in a towel, water droplets beaded on her shoulders. Her gaze darted between them, concern creasing her brow. “What’s going on? I heard voices.”
Seth crossed to her and cupped her face, his voice quiet and steady. “Carl knows. About us.”
She gasped. “Oh, no. How did he find out?”
Beck winced. “He caught me leaving your room. But…he’s okay with it. In fact, I think everything is going to be all right.”
And for the first time since they’d arrived in New York, he actually believed that might be possible. At least he hoped so. Carl was in their corner. But after Seth confessed all, would that be enough?
Seth sat alone in Grace’s kitchen, cradling a cup of coffee between his hands. Upstairs, he could hear the house coming to life—water running through the pipes, footsteps creaking across floorboards. But for now, he had a few minutes of quiet.
He needed them.