Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Mentally walling off his memories, Seth dragged in a breath as he made his way to Zach, repeating one important litany: He’s Beck’s brother. He’s Beck’s brother.
The mantra was still spooling through his brain when he and Heavenly entered the apartment where Zach sat on the sectional, yelling at a game show contestant on the big screen. “Pick the cake mix. It’s less expensive than the cold medicine.”
As the door snicked shut behind them, Zach whirled around with fear-filled eyes as he launched off the couch.
“Easy,” Heavenly murmured softly. “It’s just us.”
“Sorry,” Seth added. “We didn’t mean to scare you.”
Zach let out a pent-up breath. “It’s fine. I just wasn’t expecting you two. I always worry it’s—”
“The Chosen can’t find you here, and I should have knocked.” Seth offered an apologetic smile.
“No. It’s your place and I’m really grateful that you’re letting me stay here. Sorry I’m jumpy.”
“It was just sitting here empty. But…” Seth cringed. “Um, it’s going to be kind of full now. I know you’re trying to get your life together, and I hate to invade your peace, but my twin brothers, Jack and Connor, just arrived from New York. They didn’t tell me they were coming because they wanted to surprise me. They don’t have anywhere else to stay, so I hope you don’t mind some roommates.”
“I don’t mind.” Though he kind of looked like he did. “But are you sure you don’t mind me staying? If you need me to, I can pack up my stuff. Just give me a few minutes and—”
“You don’t need to leave. In fact, I don’t want you to. It might be a little tight, but there’s room for all three of you here since the sectional makes into a king bed. The twins can suffer the sofa, and you can keep the bedroom so you still have privacy.”
“Are they all right sharing space with me?”
“If they’re not, too bad. Otherwise, they can find someplace else to stay on their dime.” Seth smirked, hoping to reassure Zach. “Where they sleep is a minor problem. The bigger one is that my family thinks Heavenly and I are a couple. Just a couple. They don’t know about Beck yet. They’re not ready for that.”
“Oh.” Zach’s brows slashed as he digested Seth’s words.
“I’m not asking you to lie for me, and they have no reason to ask about Beck since they haven’t even met him yet. I simply need you to not say anything about the three of us being a throuple.”
“That’s what it’s called?”
“It’s slang, but yeah.” He gripped Heavenly’s hand. “Will you do it? Will you keep the information about Beck and me being in a relationship with Heavenly to yourself?”
He hesitated, then nodded. “Sure. No problem.”
“Thanks, man. I really appreciate—”
A loud knock interrupted him.
“I got it.” Heavenly hurried to the door and pulled it open.
“We gotta make one more trip,” Connor announced as he and Jack each dumped two large suitcases in the tiled entryway.
“Hold up a sec. Let me introduce you two clowns, then I’ll help you haul in the rest.” Seth waved his brothers into the room.
Zach, a few years older, eyed the twins, as if sizing them up.
“Jack, Connor, this is Zach.” Seth forced a smile, hoping this shit didn’t blow up in his face. “Zach, these are my boneheaded brothers Jack and Connor.”
As the trio shook hands, Zach scowled. “How am I supposed to tell who is who?”
“I’m Jack.” He pointed to himself. “I’m the nice one. Connor is the asshole.”
“Fuck you,” Connor groused. “We both know I’m the one with the bigger dick.”
At Heavenly’s soft giggle, Seth scowled. “Hey. Knock it off. There’s a lady present.”
“Sorry,” Connor mumbled. “In all seriousness, Zach, don’t worry about telling us apart. People have called us by the wrong name our whole lives. We’re used to it.”
“Okay.” Zach’s expression softened with visible relief.
“Let’s go get the rest of your luggage, boys,” Seth prompted. He really was trying to get used to being around Zach…but Beck’s brother made him anxious.
As he herded the twins out the door, he glanced over his shoulder to find Heavenly sinking beside Zach on the sectional, focused on the game show.
When he stepped outside, Seth dragged in a deep breath and slowly released it.
“Hey, um…is there something wrong with Zach?” Jack asked as the three strolled toward the parking lot.
That didn’t take long. “What makes you think something’s wrong?”
“He’s quiet. Like, he’s upset or…I don’t know. Something.”
“Have either of you seen the coverage on the news about the FBI busting up a cult in a place called Messiah City?”
“I think I saw something about it on TikTok.” But Jack didn’t look convinced.
Connor elbowed him. “Yeah, it was on the TV while we were packing.”
“Zach is Zacharias Kimball, the guy who helped orchestrate the FBI raid after the cult killed his wife and daughter.”