“Of course you did.” Seth’s face was full of pity, the same sort mirrored on Beck’s.
“I never heard from her again. To this day, I have no idea where she is.”
The two men exchanged a glance, then Beck took her hand. “And your mom taught you that people don’t stay, so you tried to get rid of us before we could walk away from you.”
“No.” She shook her head as she gathered her thoughts. “Mom taught me that when you give people your problems, they disappear.”
“Oh, Christ.” Seth set his fork down and reached for her other hand. “That’s why you kept everything to yourself? Angel, neither of us is leaving. You need us, and we’re going to be here for you.”
“Whatever problems you have, we’re going to help you,” Beck assured.
She withdrew her hands from theirs. “I appreciate the help. I really do—”
“There better not be a ‘but’ in that speech of yours.” He raised a brow at her.
Seth looked equally displeased by the notion.
“Thanks, but I don’t want a handout. I needed help with my father. I admit. His meds, coupled with the rent, got too expensive for me to keep up with and—”
“We know. I’m taking care of your fall tuition in the morning,” Seth cut in. “There’s no way you’re not going to school come September.”
“I’ll pay you back.”
He shook his head. “If you’re able to pay for your schooling next spring, great. If not, you and I will figure something out.”
That would be a huge load off her shoulders. Taking from Seth made her feel more than a little guilty, but she couldn’t afford to skip school and put her future on hold indefinitely. “Thank you.”
He acknowledged her with a nod, then she turned to Beck. “I’ll move out of your condo as soon as I can find somewhere—”
“Stay.”
“I can’t do that.”
“You won’t be in my personal space. My house is ten miles away. This is just a place to crash when I’m too tired to make the drive home.”
“It’s still too much to accept.” She shook her head. “I can’t freeload.”
“You are so infuriating.” Beck gritted his teeth. “All right. I’ll rent it to you for ten dollars a month. Does that make you feel better?”
Heavenly gaped at him. “If you take less than three thousand a month, you’re crazy.”
“It’s my condo to do with as I wish. So if I want you to have it for ten bucks, that’s my right. All you have to do is say yes. C’mon. Make us feel better, would you? We don’t like worrying about your safety, and that shithole you lived in…”
“I’m going to be seeing it in my nightmares for a long time. You don’t need another Sanchez to deal with,” Seth insisted. “Say yes.”
“Why are you doing this? Any of this?” She gave up on food and pushed her plate away. “I already told you that I don’t know what I want my future to look like, but I’m not ready for anything serious. I’m not even ready to choose between you and—”
“You don’t have to,” Seth said. “We are willing to just…date you. Together.”
She reared back, stared. “You mean the way Raine is with both Liam and Hammer?”
“Yes,” Beck supplied. “You don’t have to choose before you’re ready, and we mean that this time. We’re not going to fight or escalate the pranks. We just want you to keep an open mind and an open heart, to accept both of us in your life…and see where it leads.”
Heavenly blinked. She wasn’t sure whether shock or excitement won out. They were offering her not just a solution to most of her problems but her fantasy. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes,” Beck pressed. “You can stay here while your dad gets better. You’ll be safe while you focus on school and figure out your feelings for us.”
She wanted to agree so badly… “The arrangement seems awfully one-sided. You’re giving me so much and—”
“You’ll get what you need. We’ll get what we want. Win-win for everyone,” Seth added.
“All right.” A tremulous smile spread across her lips. “I feel like I’m taking advantage of you when I can’t give you any assurances for the future, but if you’re willing to see what happens, I’m willing to try.” She reached for their hands again. “It hurt me to walk away from you, and living without you both has been awful.”
She glanced between them. Something told her they were inclined to pull her into their laps and kiss her. Instead, Seth pushed her plate in front of her again. “Eat. If you’re going to be on your feet all evening, I want to make sure you’ve had enough food.”
Beck gave her a considering glance. “I don’t suppose you’d consider quitting so you can concentrate on school and we can spend more time with you?”
Heavenly had been employed since the day she turned sixteen. She needed the income. She certainly didn’t expect Beck and Seth to support her. “I can’t.”
“Of course.” He sighed heavily. “Dig in.”
A few more silent minutes passed. She finished another pancake. Seth started the dishes. Beck took a call from the
