Beck stretched out against Heavenly’s side and stroked his fingers through her hair. She felt their combined releases pooling inside her. She was fertile this weekend. They all knew it.
Tonight felt momentous—at least in her heart. Time would tell if the same held true for her womb…
Long minutes later, Seth gently eased from inside her and rolled to her other side. Beck grabbed a pillow and slid it under her, elevating her hips before he settled in alongside her again.
Finally, Seth looked at her, his stare direct, almost hopeful as he placed his hand on her belly. Heavenly smiled as more tears gathered, then she threaded her fingers through his. Without a word, Beck cupped his hand around theirs.
They stayed like that—connected to one another—for long, silent minutes, the moment aching yet complete.
And Heavenly knew with bone-deep certainty that they were finally whole. No matter what happened with Grace Cooper, the three of them had each other. And they always would.
Lying there between them—filled with their love and their seed, their hands protectively draped over her womb—Heavenly smiled. She’d accomplished what she set out to do; she’d healed them. And she’d brought herself more joy than she could ever have imagined.
Seth woke to the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the window of his childhood bedroom. For a moment, he was disoriented—caught between the past and present, between the boy who’d once slept here and the man he’d become.
Warm curves cuddled against him. He turned his head to find Heavenly, asleep between him and Beck, her face peaceful and unguarded in the early morning light. He smiled at the sight of Beck pressed against her other side, one arm draped protectively around her waist, his breathing deep and even.
Last night had been perfect.
Seth savored the memories of their passion before they’d collapsed—completely sated, spent, and exhausted. Something like peace infused him—welcome after days of pretending, of careful distance and half-truths. This quiet moment felt like oxygen. Tomorrow, he’d tell his mother the truth, then nothing else would get in his way.
Fears aside, Seth refused to let it. He’d embrace the future with both arms and?—
His and Beck’s phones simultaneously buzzed on the nightstand.
Seth plucked his up while Beck groped for his, both careful not to disturb Heavenly. He squinted at the screen and found a text from Liam to them both.
Then he read the message, his grip tightening on his phone with every word.
Congratulations, Daddies! Heavenly conceived last night. Mum and I both saw it. Well deserved.
Seth’s heart stopped. An icy rush surged through his chest—joy and terror colliding so hard he couldn’t breathe for a second.
Heavenly conceived.
She’s pregnant.
A baby.
That reality threatened to close his throat. His vision blurred. Frantically, he blinked to clear it, then glanced over at Beck.
The surgeon stared at his screen, his expression gaping. A long second later, the corners of his lips turned up in a slow, unfiltered grin before he gave Seth a fist bump and mouthed two words that summed up the situation.
Holy shit.
Even as his chest tightened, Seth flashed him an answering smile.
Beck had stepped into the future, already seeing diapers, first steps, late-night feedings, and everything that came with fatherhood.
While Seth…he knew he stood trapped between past and present, unable to let go of what he’d lost long enough to embrace what he was gaining. Instead, the fucking fear had returned to choke him with the reminder that happiness was fragile and safety an illusion.
Where was all the certainty he’d felt last night? Gone, as if it had never existed.
But he didn’t say that. He couldn’t. Instead, he did his best to lock down his hesitation and only show joy.
Their phones buzzed with another message from Liam:
Want to know the biological father? The baby’s gender? I know...
