The Confession

What were the odds that his Irish pal wouldn’t rub his nose in the same well-meaning words he’d dished out months ago? He didn’t have time to wonder before the door swung open.

In the portal, Liam arched a brow. “I was wondering how long it would take before you came to see me.”

“You should have asked your crystal ball,” Seth quipped.

“Didn’t have to. I knew you were coming. I simply didn’t know how long it was going to take you to swallow your pride and actually do it.”

“Christ, I’m not even inside and you’re already busting my balls.”

“No. I’m just ribbing you a bit, mate. I’m saving the real ball bustin’ for when you need it.”

“Great.”

Liam chuckled. “Come on in. Let’s sit by the pool. No offense, but you look like you need to take a load off.”

“What I need is an undo button. A big, fat one like the one on my fucking computer.”

Liam grunted as he strode to the kitchen and grabbed a couple bottles of water from the fridge.

“The house is so quiet. Where is everyone?”

“Hammer’s at the club, and Raine is upstairs napping.”

Seth trailed him onto the deck by the pool, completely surrounded by lush foliage. They each grabbed a chair beneath the umbrella of a round patio table under the shimmering sun. Seth was too keyed up to enjoy the view.

“That undo button you wanted?” Liam began. “If you could push it, how far back would you go?”

Seth tensed. “Wow. No warm-up, huh? Just straight for the jugular?”

Liam shrugged. “You didn’t come to see me toss on a tutu and dance around the elephant in the room, did you?”

“No, but that would probably trend like a motherfucker on social media.”

“How far back would you go?” Liam doggedly repeated.

Seth swallowed the lump of emotion suddenly lodged in his throat. “Far enough to save them.”

“Of course you would. There’s not many people on the planet who’d pass up a chance to go back in time and save their loved ones.”

“What would you change?”

“The list is long. I’d like to save Raine from being kidnapped and having to kill her father.” Liam took a gulp of water. “But if I did that, Bill would still be alive and a threat to our girl.”

“The butterfly effect.”

“Exactly. If you’d saved Autumn and Tristan, you wouldn’t be in LA. You certainly wouldn’t be building a life with Heavenly or Beck.”

Imagining living without them for the rest of his life carved a gaping, aching hole in Seth’s chest.

“And you wouldn’t be here with me, trying to find a way to keep your fears and worries from eating you alive.”

“Are you reading me or is it that obvious?”

“Both. Talk to me, Seth. Your secrets are always safe with me.”

“I know. And I appreciate that, man. I truly do.” He turned and stared at the pool and worked to gather his thoughts. Finally, he dragged in a deep breath and faced Liam. “I fucked up at the lodge. I told Beck and Heavenly that I killed my wife and son.”

“So I heard.”