“How old were you when you first had sex?”
“Fourteen. But I got my first blow job the year before.”
Seth felt his stomach clench. Hudson had been getting blow jobs at thirteen, younger even than Seth himself. Where the hell was his guidance? His supervision?
Seth raked a hand through his hair. His son’s answer wasn’t shocking…but a potential problem. They fucking didn’t need consequences. “Since you said you have sex regularly, do you always carry condoms with you?”
“Always. Yeah.”
At least the kid was being safe. That was something, but that didn’t make Hudson’s behavior okay.
Seth studied his son’s face, seeing echoes of his own teenage recklessness staring back at him. “What you did tonight was incredibly stupid. You’re sixteen. You don’t have the emotional maturity to handle sharing someone, especially not someone else’s girlfriend.”
“Beck already gave me this lecture?—”
“And now you’re getting it from me,” Seth cut him off. “Your choices tonight showed poor judgment, disrespect for Brielle’s relationship with Casen, and a complete lack of understanding about the possible repercussions of your actions.”
Beck stepped forward. “Sharing a woman isn’t a game. It’s complicated, emotionally demanding, and requires a level of maturity you don’t possess.”
“You and Seth do it?—”
“We’re adults,” Seth said sharply.
“Beck gave me that part of the lecture.”
“Then I’ll give you the rest. We’ve both been through hell and back, learned how to communicate, how to handle jealousy and insecurity and all the other shit that comes with a relationship like ours. We know how to listen, compromise, and put each other first. What we have with Heavenly is a lifelong commitment based on love. You’re a kid who thinks a three-way is just for shits and giggles. You’re not prepared for the difficulties of keeping a relationship like ours together.”
“He’s right,” Beck added. “And trust me, kid. You have a lot to learn before you’re ready for anything serious with another person, much less two.”
Hudson shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not looking for forever with Casen and Brielle.”
“Good. You’re grounded for the next two weeks. No video games, no TV, no movies, no going out with friends. You can have your phone for school and football, in case there’s an emergency. You’ll hand it over as soon as you get home, and you’ll get it back before you go to school the next morning. You can swim laps, work out, read, or help around the house. That’s it.”
“That’s bullshit!” Hudson exploded, jumping to his feet. “You can’t just?—”
“I can. If you don’t like it, I’ll put you on a plane back to Connecticut—after I tell your mother what happened tonight.”
After the ultimatum left his mouth, Seth felt a moment of pure panic. Letting Hudson feel the consequences of his actions was the right thing to do, but…what if the kid called his bluff? What if he actually chose to leave?
That possibility wrecked Seth.
He’d found his son a week ago. They were just starting to build a relationship. And now he might lose Hudson? The kid clearly needed structure, needed a father figure who would hold him accountable. If Hudson went back to Connecticut...
God, please don’t let him choose to leave.
Hudson paled, his bravado crumbling. “What if I stay?”
Relief flooded Seth. The kid would only ask that if he wanted to remain.
“I won’t tell your mother about this incident unless you give me a reason to. And once you turn eighteen, I can’t control what you do. But for the next eighteen months, you either follow our rules or you go back to your mom and Ted. Those are your two choices.”
Hudson fell quiet, his gaze darting between Seth and Beck. Finally, he nodded. “All right. Fine. Just...don’t send me back there. This school is better. I like my new friends. And I…” He swallowed hard. “Living with you three is better.”
Seth had to work to keep the relief off his face. He wanted to be Hudson’s father, wanted to help shape him into a good man.
That realization hit him with unexpected force.
“Good choice,” Seth said simply. “But understand this: in the future, Casen is welcome to come over, but if he’s here, Brielle better not be. And any girls you date will meet the family before you’re allowed to take them out. Your curfew is midnight. And if you get anyone pregnant, there will be hell to pay.”
