Zinn knew his shock was misplaced. By any measure, they’d moved fast, but he’d been around the three men often enough to understand their love was genuine.
Assa glanced worriedly at Zinn, clearly sensing his reaction. The beta read his moods better than Calder sometimes.
He shifted to sit next to Zinn on the couch, twining their fingers together. “I know it seems sudden, but Wes and I spent a decade being with other people before meeting Valentin. That made it easy to tell when the right one came along.”
Assa peered over to where Valentin and Wes shared the loveseat before turning back to Zinn.
“Wes has always understood my desire to love big, after growing up starved for affection. And for a long time, going to bed with other men worked. It gave me something I needed and made Wes feel like he was taking care of me. Then it stopped working, I guess. Because I’d grown as a person. So had Wes. For me, it wasn’t worth it to be with anyone who didn’t have the same deep need for connection that I did. From the beginning, I recognized Valentin’s ache to be loved.”
“I get it.” Zinn knew the ache in Valentin that Assa described. There had been a time when he thought he’d be the one to fill it. In another life.
Assa squeezed Zinn’s palm. “Precious, you and I are kindred spirits, but the scars we carry are different. You had to learn to trust again, like with your alpha.” He winked at Calder. “I had to learn that I’m worthy of love… So did Valentin. The two of us together, with Wes to strike that match—it’s unexpected, but perfect. So, yes, it’s fast. But it’s also right.”
Zinn exhaled. “You’re my best friend, and while I appreciate you saying all this, you don’t owe me an explanation.” Zinn looked over at Valentin and Wes. “None of you do. Calder and I have both seen how much you love each other. I’m happy for you and wish you all the best.”
Calder brought out a strawberry cake from Felton’s to celebrate. Zinn didn’t want to be someone who begrudged his friends and ex-lover their happiness. He hated that he couldn’t totally banish the brick from his stomach.
“I’ll bake you a special cake for the commitment ceremony,” he declared, inwardly making amends.
“We’d love that.” Wes clapped him on the back. “Although I can’t imagine how you’re going to top Ryde’s birthday cake.”
The tightness in Zinn’s body eased. He excused himself to the kitchen, hoping the task of doing the dishes might force it away completely.
He’d just finished loading the plates when he heard footsteps behind him.
Valentin’s footsteps. He recognized them without looking.
They hadn’t been alone together very often since reconnecting. One of the other men, or Ryde, was usually present.
“Are you sure you’re okay with all this, Zell—Zinn?”
Zinn gripped the sink’s edge, keeping his back to Valentin. “You can call me Zeller if you want. It’s probably hard to remember.”
Valentin came up beside him, turning around to lean his back against the counter, forcing Zinn to meet his eyes.
“No. You’re right that it’s a habit, but a bad one. You’re not the same man. I want to honor the person you are now. Zinn Parker. Rolls off the tongue.”
“I’m going to change it to Rosen,” Zinn said carefully. “Before the baby comes. I told Calder I don’t want to get married, but I want us all to have the same last name.”
“Just like mine will be the same as Assa’s and Wes’s.”
“And Ryde.”
“Yes.”
“I wonder if that’s the hardest part about this. It’s crossed my mind since you three have been dating, but now you’ll be living with Ryde. You’ll get to raise our baby, like you always should have.”
Valentin smiled. “Ryde is upstairs right now in your house. And he loves his Daddy Z. You will always have a place with him. Assa and Wes are committed to that, and so am I. You never need to worry about being left out.”
Zinn wasn’t so sure of that, but he supposed only time would tell.
“If it makes you feel any better, I still spend most nights at The Cracked Heart,” Valentin continued. “They’re not quite ready to function without me. So even if we are living in the same house, you’re probably spending as much time with Ryde as I am. If not more.”
Zinn pursed his lips. “That doesn’t make me feel better. Assa worries about how hard you work.”
“At least I don’t have Bergam to deal with anymore.”
“The Low Court case wrapped up?”
