Beck frowned. “Think he’ll push back?”
Seth shrugged. Danny by himself? Probably not. But he and Maggie were a package deal. Her opinions mattered to him…and she was a lot like his mom.
Beck grimaced.
“You’ll find the right words,” Heavenly murmured softly, squeezing his hand.
Seth’s heart swelled. The people he loved wanted to help; he could see that plainly. But this was his job alone. No way around that.
“I hope you’re right.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I just need an opening.”
And fast. If Danny rejected Seth and the future he had planned…Mom might never come around.
His younger brother was the lynchpin.
As the waiters cleared the last of the appetizers, Danny stood and excused himself, heading toward the restrooms.
Beck raised a brow at him. Heavenly gestured to Seth with a little nod.
He waited exactly thirty seconds, then rose. “I’ll be back.”
“You got this,” Beck insisted.
“Good luck,” Heavenly whispered.
Seth crossed the room, then turned down the narrow hallway. He’d barely reached the bathroom when Danny pushed the door open and reared back in surprise.
“Going in?”
“No.” Seth shook his head, then dragged in a deep breath. “Can we talk for a minute?”
Danny’s brow furrowed. “Sure. What’s up?”
Seth scanned the hallway. Other than the muffled sounds of the reception drifting in, it was empty and quiet. But the clock was ticking.
“I need you to hear me out before you say anything, okay?”
Danny’s expression turned cautious. “Okay...”
“There’s no easy way to put this.” Seth took another deep breath. “Straight up? Beck and I share Heavenly. We’re all planning to get married next year. I’m telling Mom on Monday.”
Danny stared at him in silence for long, excruciating moments. Then he rubbed the back of his neck, clearly processing. “You’re serious?”
“As a heart attack,” Seth said firmly.
Danny’s gaze dropped to the floor. “I mean… On the one hand, I’m shocked. You were married to Autumn and—wait. Did you share her with someone, too?”
“No.” Autumn could barely handle one man, much less two. Beck would have completely overwhelmed his late wife.
“I didn’t think so, but after that conversation we had last month after Mom caught the twins fucking Gia in her family room… I kind of wondered. You were more supportive of Jack and Connor wanting to share than I thought you’d be. I never imagined you’d actually want that kind of situation permanently, but…” He looked back up. “I caught some looks between Beck and Heavenly, looks you saw and didn’t seem to mind. So, on the other hand, I’m not super surprised.”
“And how do you feel about that?” Seth’s voice was tight.
Danny was quiet for another beat, clearly turning it over. “Not my life. I’m just worried… I mean, does being with them make you happy?”
“Honestly? Happier than I’ve ever been. Happier than I thought I could ever be after…everything.”
Danny nodded slowly. “What you three do as consenting adults is none of my business. But I’m not gonna lie. It’s outside the box. People will point, stare, and talk shit.”
