Page 33 of Manny Included
He did a double take because that was bang on, and not because Tony had liked that, either.Tony was a Labatts man all the way, which just… gross.“Are you like the beer whisperer or something?”
“Could be.I have the magic beer touch…”
“The magic beer touch.”Bay laughed, feeling the tiredness start to drop away.
Pete winked at him, and little Merida ran to beg Bay to pick her up.
He lifted her up.“Hi there.”
Man, when he’d first come here, he would have run in the other direction, but today he’d just picked her right up.It was crazy.
“BayBay!Luff!”She hugged him tight, and then cuddled in with a sigh, patting his chest.
Damn.He had to blink back sudden tears, a wave of emotion passing over him.He kissed the top of her head.
“Does someone want to take Uncle Bay’s suitcase to his room?Pizza is on the way.”
“I can do it,” Bay said.“It’s pretty heavy.”
“I’m big!I can do it!”Eric insisted.
Bay looked to Pete for reassurance it wasn’t asking too much of the little boy.
“You can do it.”Pete smiled at Eric.“You are amazing.”
Okay then.He gave Eric a smile.“Thank you—I appreciate the help.”
“You’re welcome, Bay-Bay.I’ll get it there.I’m so excited that you’re home.It’s pizza night!Is every night going to be pizza night when you’ve been away?”
“Uh.Maybe?”He didn’t want to agree to something Pete might not want.He might be the kids’ guardian, but Pete was their main caretaker, hands down.
“We’ll decide next time he goes away.It’ll give us something to look forward to.”
“There we go.”He watched Eric grab his suitcase and head for the stairs.At least it was the carry-on size and not the big one.“So what have I missed, guys?”
Belle smiled at him.“I got a hundred on my spelling test, and I read a book about horses.We’re going on a field trip next week to the zoo.”
“I pottied in the potty,” little Merida said.
And Flynn’s answer was just a fart, long and loud.
Bay tried not to laugh, he really did, but he just couldn’t help himself, the sound ringing out from him.
“Bay-Bay, the baby pooted.”Merida was full of giggles.
“He did.”He managed to get himelf under control.“I’m sorry, Belle.You got a hundred?That’s awesome.You’re a very smart girl, aren’t you?”
She beamed at him.“I am!Did you wanna go to the zoo with us?You can be one of the helper moms if you want.”
His first instinct was pure panic.But he made himself take a deep breath.“Would you like me to?”He would be there for her because he and Pete were all she had.
Her eyes went wide.“Oh yes, I would love that.I don’t want anybody to think that I’m there without somebody that loves me.”
“Well then I would like to go with you.”Look at him, putting on a brave face.He was going to have to get the download from Pete on what was expected of him.“When is it?Because I’ll have to tell Will to put it in my calendar so he doesn’t schedule any calls for me then.”
“Pete knows.He has all the information.He signed my permission slip.”
Pete nodded and offered him a warm smile.“I do know.I will make sure that everything is arranged, and that you have all the information.”