“I do,” Beck drawled. “Troublemakers through and through.”
“Aww, you’re just being nice,” Jack returned to more laughter as they shared fist bumps and bro hugs.
“Or honest,” Heavenly quipped, pretending to roll her eyes before she hugged them both fondly.
“How’s Zach?” Connor asked. “Haven’t talked to him in a while.”
“He’s doing well,” Beck replied. “Still adjusting to his new life, but he’s finding his footing.”
“Good to hear. Tell him we’re going to come visit him again for spring break.” Connor winked.
“You mean threaten,” Jack returned. “We put him through the wringer last summer. But he learned a thing or two.”
Beck snorted. “Yeah, about keggers and hookups, whether he was ready or not.”
“Valuable life skills, my friend,” Jack protested.
Everyone laughed, then Seth turned to Hudson. “This is the terrible twosome, Jack and Connor.”
“The college boys, right?” Hudson said with obvious excitement.
“That’s us.” Connor grinned. “If you want, we’ll show you around campus while you’re here.”
Hudson perked up. “Yeah? That would be cool!”
Seth winced and made a mental note to have a serious conversation with the twins about appropriate influences on his sixteen-year-old son. “And that’s everyone… Or is Gene coming?”
His mom shook her head. “He couldn’t make it tonight. Work called. You know how it is.”
“Oh, I do.” Seth turned to Beck and Heavenly. “I’ve told you about Gene, my dad’s former partner. Friend of the family.”
Beck nodded. “I remember.”
Heavenly’s eyes softened. She knew Gene had saved his life at sixteen. “I’m looking forward to meeting him.”
“You will.” Seth turned to see Maggie shaking hands with Hudson, remarking on how tall he was for his age.
When Anna started fussing, his sister-in-law plucked the girl from Heavenly’s arms. “I’ll take her. She’s hungry. Be right back.”
“She’s adorable,” Heavenly called to Maggie as she headed for the kitchen.
She grinned over her shoulder. “Thanks. Danny and I think so, too.”
With the introductions concluded, the family room buzzed with energy as everyone settled in their seats, voices overlapping in the familiar symphony of Cooper family dynamics. His mom exclaimed at least twice more how much Hudson resembled Seth.
Hudson handled all the attention with surprising poise. His mom had claimed the spot on the couch beside the boy, frequently ruffling his hair. On Hudson’s other side, Heavenly fielded questions with her natural sweetness, and Seth could see his mother was already impressed.
Beck sat across the room, deep in conversation with Danny and Carl, playing his role of platonic friend to perfection.
Relief wedged between Seth’s ribs as he watched Beck fit in. His easy confidence, sharp intelligence, and genuine warmth would win over everyone in time.
But time was the one thing they didn’t have much of. He had four days to integrate the people he loved most into his family…or he’d risk splitting up the Cooper clan forever.
Beside him, Matt whistled. “Damn, you lucky bastard. Heavenly’s not just gorgeous, she’s sweet as hell. Are you sure she doesn’t have a sister? A cousin? A bestie?”
“Sorry, she’s an only child. No cousins that I know of. And her bestie is taken.” He slanted his brother a glance. “I’ve never known you to be hard up. You slipping?”
“Bite my ass. I’m busy. In case you haven’t read the reports I’ve sent you, the PI business out here is hopping.”
