“I didn’t grow up in the city. We lived in the suburbs. It’s quieter there.”
“But you grew up in New York?”
“Born and raised.” Seth watched a group of kids about Hudson’s age navigate the sidewalk with casual confidence. “Never really thought about leaving until I met Heavenly.”
“Do you miss living here?”
“I miss my family. But California is home now.”
Hudson nodded thoughtfully, then went back to staring out the window. Seth wondered if or when his son would consider LA his home.
As they left the city behind and headed north, Seth felt his anxiety shifting into a different gear. Soon they’d be pulling into his mother’s driveway—and everything would change.
“Almost there,” he said, as much to himself as to the others.
Hudson straightened in his seat, suddenly looking younger and more uncertain. “What if they don’t like me?”
“Impossible. They’ll love you,” Seth said firmly. “You’re a Cooper. That’s all that matters to them.”
“But what if?—”
“Hudson, I know this is scary. But they’re going to be so excited to meet you that you’ll probably get sick of the attention.”
That earned him a small smile. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
As they turned into the quiet neighborhood where Seth had grown up, he dragged in a deep breath. The charade had to start now. The three of them had a plan. Seth would control the narrative and handle all family interactions, managing what information got shared and when.
“Heavenly?” He bobbed his chin in the direction of her engagement ring.
Her face fell. Beck’s expression tightened. But she slipped the diamond off her finger and slowly handed it to Seth. He almost hated himself as he pocketed the ring and met her big blue eyes. “I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “It’s fine. I knew this was coming.”
“You’ll have it back soon.”
But they both knew that when she slipped it back on, his whole family would think she was merely engaged to him.
That reality brought down the mood in the car, except for Hudson who was too busy watching the suburbs fly past the windows.
Finally, the SUV slowed and turned into the familiar driveway of Seth’s childhood home—a white colonial with black shutters. It looked exactly like it had when he’d left here a few weeks back. The carefully maintained flower beds now sported mums instead of the colorful petunias. But the place had the same sense of warmth and permanence that had shaped his understanding of family and home.
“This is it,” Seth said, his voice coming out rougher than he’d intended.
The driver began unloading their bags from the back. Seth jumped out and caught movement behind the front windows—his family no doubt watching their arrival with the same mixture of excitement and anxiety he was feeling.
Hudson climbed out next, looking up at the house with curious eyes. Heavenly followed, smoothing her clothes and hair nervously. Beck emerged last, his expression settling into the carefully neutral mask he’d wear for the next four days.
Seth shouldered his bag, looking up at the house where he’d learned what it meant to be part of a family. Where he’d been taught that love was worth fighting for, even when it scared you.
Especially when it scared you.
“Ready?” he asked, looking at the three people who had become his world.
Heavenly straightened her shoulders. Beck nodded grimly.
Hudson took a deep breath and stepped closer to Seth’s side. “Ready.”
