He’d been dead fucking wrong.
Walking through that house had been haunting. Wrenching. It had taken every ounce of his control not to break down.
By some miracle, he’d kept his shit together.
And when he’d finally closed the door behind him for the last time, he had exhaled. Let out his pent-up grief.
The most tragic chapter of his life was almost closed. Yeah, he had to call Carl, who had kindly offered a construction crew from his company to handle the house repairs. After that, other than signing the escrow papers, he’d never have to deal with that house again.
But Seth wasn’t bullshitting himself. Despite the years, the counseling, the praying, and him doggedly doing everything he could to move on?
He still wasn’t healed.
There. He’d admitted it. No matter how much he fucking hated it, he was still paralyzed by his past.
Maybe admitting it was the first step to healing?
He doubted it would be that simple.
When they reached the hotel, Beck suggested they clean up and head to dinner. The last goddamn thing Seth felt like doing was pretending to be jovial, but this was their last night in the city together. And hiding in the suite wouldn’t fix anything.
So Seth strapped on his fake-as-fuck smile and went through the motions.
Dinner at a steakhouse. A Broadway revival. Cannoli and espresso at a late-night bakery Heavenly declared the best thing she’d ever tasted. Then a long walk back to the hotel, city lights blurring around them, Heavenly tucked safely between him and Beck.
Being with the people he loved helped. It distracted the grieving beast inside him. His smile came easier. His jokes felt more natural.
But he recognized now that he was limping along. Surviving.
He had no idea how to actually heal.
Seth was exhausted—mentally and physically—by the time they made it back to their room. After all the danger and upheaval today, his body gave out. He fell asleep almost immediately, Heavenly sandwiched between him and Beck.
The following morning, he woke feeling…if not lighter, at least bolstered so he could handle everything on the agenda today.
As Heavenly stirred, he began kissing her awake. Beck roused in more ways than one and joined in. Their lovemaking was slow and unhurried in the early dawn light, waking as the city did. Seth lost himself in Heavenly’s silken mouth, his cock muffling her cries as he watched her shatter between them while Beck spilled inside their girl unprotected.
Afterward, they showered, dressed, and grabbed coffee in the hotel restaurant before heading to the house to have breakfast with Mom, Carl, and Hudson.
As usual, she went all out, even making her world-famous waffles before they all climbed into Carl’s Mercedes SUV to start their afternoon of errands. Seth and Beck sat in back with Heavenly between them, Hudson in the third-row seat, and his mom rode shotgun next to Carl, with her color-coded wedding binder in her lap.
Carl headed into the city, driving with the patience of a man who’d figured out that wedding planning required surrender to forces beyond his control.
Mom flipped through her notes frenetically. “On our way back home, we’ll pick up the tuxes. Then I’ll gather up everything that needs to be packed for tomorrow—the guest book, the cake knife, the card box?—”
“Don’t worry, Mom. We’ll get it all done,” Seth promised from the back seat in a reassuring voice.
“I know. I’m just nervous. What if I forget something?”
“With all the lists you’ve made?” In the rearview mirror, Carl looked like he was suppressing a grin. “I don’t think that’s possible. If I had known getting married was going to put you in a tizzy, I’m not sure I would have asked.”
She sent a saucy grin his way. “Too late. I just can’t believe the wedding is tomorrow!”
Carl reached over and squeezed her hand. “Stop stressing. This is supposed to be a happy occasion. You got this.”
“I know. You’re right,” she whispered, gripping his hand in return. “And you’ve been such a rock. Thank you.”
The depth and certainty of their love was palpable.
