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I envy them, too.
Those three had come through the worst in life and emerged stronger, more committed, and irrevocably in love.
He studied Zach, who didn’t seem like a threesome kind of guy. “Because…?”
“They have family, purpose, a sense of belonging. I’d give anything to have all that again.” Zach sighed.
Seth dissected his words, then nodded slowly. When he’d lost Autumn and Tristan, he’d still had his mom and four brothers to fall back on, not to mention good friends like Liam and Hammer. Who had Zach had, except the brother he hadn’t seen in a decade and a half?
“After the kind of loss you’ve endured, it takes time to find yourself. Believe me, I know. You’ll get there,” Seth assured. “Hell, you might even find love again, too. At the very least, you should have more privacy for romance now that my brothers are back in New York.”
“They were a lot of fun and a good distraction when I needed one. But the past few weeks have been blessedly quiet. And I’ve learned a few things on my own.”
“Yeah?”
Zach nodded, his stare direct and disparaging. “I’ve figured out how to spot a fool.”
Seth bristled. “Are you calling me a fool?”
“I am.”
What the fuck was up with everyone tonight? This was supposed to be a happy occasion. Or had everyone gotten the fuck up Seth’s evening memo? “You know I could kill you with one punch, right?”
“Probably,” Zach conceded with a shrug. “But that wouldn’t change what you are.”
“Look, you and I made our peace. I apologized for the way I behaved when we first met. Why the fuck are you piling on me now?”
Zach leaned across the table. “Because you lost the people most precious and you didn’t learn anything from it. In the weeks of solitude since your brothers left, I’ve been so lonely. Sure, I can find company for a night, but it’s meaningless. I’d give anything to spend five minutes with someone who truly loves me. You’ve got two who would walk through fire for you—without question. Without blinking.” He glanced at Beck and Heavenly. “Yet you sit here on the sidelines, watching, removed, because you’re too afraid to embrace a future with them.”
Seth gripped the table to stop himself from laying Zach out in a single punch. “Who the fuck told you that?”
“I overheard Beck and Heavenly talking after dinner last week. They want kids. You don’t.”
That made his blood boil. It didn’t matter if it was true. “Do you always eavesdrop on people’s conversations?”
“No. I’m simply a concerned brother, trying to navigate the same road you’ve been walking for years. I’m worried Beck will miss his chance at happiness because you’re too scared to accept the unconditional love he and Heavenly are dying to give you. I want to shake you, tell you to pull yourself together and stop being afraid of losing everything again.”
Seth wanted to argue Zach’s observation, but he couldn’t. “How about you mind your own fucking business?”
“Beck is my fucking business,” Zach shot back, then shook his head. “I can’t believe you told me that if I had any questions about grieving and healing, I should come to you.” He scoffed. “At least I’ve already figured out what’s important. If I ever have a chance at love and happiness again, I won’t waste a second on fear.”
With that, Zach rose and found his way to a couple of the only other people he knew at the party, Dean and Jericho.
Seth stood, chest heaving as he tried to bring his temper back under control. It was too fucking loud here. Too fucking happy.
He had to get out.
Before he could fish the keys of his SUV out of his pocket, slap them in Beck’s hand, and call an Uber, Heavenly and the surgeon came off the dance floor, hand in hand, all smiles.
Their girl sidled up to him, wrapping her hands around his arm and her warmth around his cold heart. “You want to dance?”
Beck saved him from answering. “Hang on a second. They’re cutting the cake.”
And Seth would have to walk right past the celebrating trio to get out the fucking door. He was trapped in this loud, crowded room. It felt like the walls were closing in, the ceiling caving in. It was claustrophobic. He couldn’t breathe. He could only watch happy people feed each other cake, share kisses, and talk about their amazing future.
He was going to lose his shit.
Thankfully, they wrapped up the festivities shortly after that. Raine tossed her bouquet. Of course Heavenly caught it, then looked at him with adoration and hope in her eyes. Then the love-drunk trio left.
