He was used to coming home to an empty house, but his place was a minimalist two-bedroom condo. It seemed happy to be empty. But Aubrey and Landon’s house seemed lonely and sad without its family. Suddenly missing his brother and his new family, Seth climbed the staircase and headed to his room. It hit him that he would be moving across the sea in a couple weeks, and he would rarely get to see them. And he would miss and worry about his mom.

I’ll miss Tara like hell.

The thought stopped him midstep. He could barely stand not seeing her for a few days. Would he be able to turn around and leave her in two weeks? Fuck. It wasn’t a matter of what he could or could not do. He didn’t have a choice. He resumed his trek up the stairs. There was no point in torturing himself about the future. He had her for now, and he would make the most of their remaining time together.

When he reached his room, he headed straight for the shower. He bowed his head under the hot spray and let the water stream down his face and the rest of his body. He washed away his sudden punch-in-the-gut panic and focused on the evening ahead with Tara and his friends. After drying off, he pulled on a pair of jeans and a charcoal pullover and jogged down the stairs. Just as he reached the bottom of the stairs the doorbell rang, announcing the arrival of guests.

Seth swung the front door open with a big grin on his face, only to witness a makeout session in progress. He immediately proceeded to close it shut, but Lucien slapped his hand against it, his laughter floating into the house through the narrow gap. Seth opened the door again but stood blocking their path with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Hey, is this the way you treat your friends?” Aria said, bending down to pick up the lemons that had spilled out of a shopping bag—the bag she’d obviously dropped on the ground to wrap her arms around her husband’s neck.

“It only took me a few seconds to open the door. How do you end up shoving your tongues into each other’s mouths in that short amount of a time?” Seth said with almost convincing indignation. “Have some control, guys.”

Lucien kissed Aria again for good measure, and smiled happily. “Your time will come.”

“Now you’re quoting a fortune cookie.” Seth threw his hands up in the air. “I give up.”

He stepped aside to let his friends come in, giving them belated hugs. It was a good thing Lucien hadn’t dropped his bags, because he seemed to be carrying the bulk of the groceries that was destined to become their dinner.

“So how have you been doing out here all on your own?” Aria said teasingly, while rummaging through the groceries. “You must miss your social life.”

“Not to mention your tall, leggy friends.” Lucien joined in the fun.