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“It’s fine, Mom.” It wasn’t, but nothing she said was going to change the fact she’d spoken about him like he was dead. Shit, he’d been gone three weeks, not three fucking years.
“I just don’t want you to feel like your obligations to the family or your job take precedence over your happiness.” She darted a firmer look. “Why didn’t you bring this girl home with you for the holidays?”
“Because she’d rather be with another guy.”
“Oh.” Finally, his mother looked as bewildered as he felt.
“Yeah. I only saw her a handful of times. We had one date. After all these years, my gut told me I’d met someone, but…”
In his mind’s eye, he could still see Heavenly, fingers clutching plastic grocery sacks and plodding toward a bus stop, head bowed. A part of him had itched to pull to the curb, drag her into the car, and kiss her until she forgot about Beck. The other part had been too shocked—and pissed—to do anything but drive away. No matter how many times he replayed their conversation, what he heard above everything else was that she didn’t want him. Oh, she’d been willing to have sex with him…but her heart belonged to Beck.
Fuck that. And fuck her, too.
“I understand. Your father and I took one look at each other and fell in love, but our relationship wasn’t without its trials. If you thought this girl was special—”
“I was wrong. End of story.”
“So that’s the reason for the long face. Who is this other guy?”
“Beck. He’s a pal of Hammer’s, a surgeon—and an asshole—way beyond Heavenly’s speed. I knew he was her friend,” he drawled. “I just didn’t know she wanted him to be more.”
And didn’t he feel like a fucking fool?
“Heavenly… Is she as beautiful as her name?”
He’d given her the whole speech, and that’s what she wanted to know? “Mom…”
“Is she?”
He groaned. “And then some. But it doesn’t matter now.”
“Seth James Cooper, if you thought she was important, it does. You’re letting stupid male pride overrule your heart and backing down from a challenge. It’s unlike you.” She tsked. “What would your father say?”
He glared at her. “Don’t bring Dad into this.”
“I’m not trying to upset you. But when you find someone, you stay and fight. You know that.”
Seth was over this conversation. He was still shocked, not to mention bone-tired, disgruntled at all the changes, and fucking furious that everything had gone so wrong. “There was no reason to stay and nothing to fight for. Heavenly chose Beck. Game over.”
Grace pursed her lips together. “Tell me about her.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m your mother and I asked you to, young man.”
Great, now she was going to get stubborn. Since disrespecting her wasn’t in his genes, he sighed. “She’s a tiny little thing with blond hair. I’ve never met a woman so innocent. I enjoyed making her blush with just a few words.”
“Innocent and blushing?” She raised a brow. “That’s a departure from the women you’ve spent time with these last few years.”
How the hell did his mother know who he dated? Well, screwed. He never brought women home or talked about them. One of his brothers had obviously turned snitch. He held in a resentful sigh. Probably Matt.
“Heavenly is only twenty-two. She’s a baby inside a thoroughly gorgeous woman’s body. She cares about people. She’s studying to be a nurse. She’s kind and funny, and she has this pure heart…”
Just listing out her qualities crushed him again. Should he have tried harder? Done more? Said something else? Thrown caution to the wind and kissed her? Or just taken her to bed, despite her feelings for Beck?
“Oh, honey. She sounds wonderful, and the fact she made you feel hopeful and alive again is…” Pity lined his mother’s face. “Is there any chance you left too soon?”
“No, Mom.” He scrubbed a hand through his hair as his mom pulled the car into the driveway. “Let’s drop it, okay?”
The glow of the Christmas lights strung around his childhood home brought a bittersweet smile to his lips. Then a scowl replaced it. The snow had been cleared, not only from the driveway but from the front steps as well—a job Seth had always been responsible for. No doubt, Matty Poppins had taken care of that, too.
Your duty to us is done.
Shoving aside his mother’s words, he stepped out of the car. The front door opened, and the whole family rushed out to greet him. Danny grabbed Seth first, clutching him in a bear hug before he’d even left the driveway. He stared over his brother’s shoulder, smiling at sweet Maggie, who waited patiently with one hand at the small of her back and the other cradling her heavy belly. She really did look ready to burst. How was it possible her pregnancy had progressed so much in a few short weeks? Seth wrapped her in a gentle hug, then carefully released her before the twins, Conner and Jack, latched onto him in a boisterous hug that nearly tumbled him to the snow.
