Page 74 of Manny Included

“Cool.Am I allowed to kiss you before we have our talk with the kids?”

“Allowed?I think it’s absolutely necessary.”He lifted his face for a kiss, winking as he did it.

Bay was smiling as he brought their lips together, bringing a little twist to the kiss.

He could get lost in that connection, except there was bacon to be made.

Bay took a half a step back, smiling down at him.“Let’s go downstairs.Someone said coffee with chocolate milk and now I have a yen.”

“I did.And I’m on it.”He hugged Bay and then went to start their morning.

Bay took a few minutes before joining him in the kitchen, and when he did, he had baby Flynn in his arms.“I heard him starting to fuss.”

Oh, Bay looked good with a baby in his arms.“Thank you.And he is ready for his breakfast, huh?Do you want a cup?Some milk?”

The baby made grabby hands.“Meelo?Meelo?”

Bay shook his head.“I have no idea.”

“Milk.He’s asking for milk, love.”He poured the milk into the baby’s sippy cup.

“Oh that makes sense.”Bay grabbed the sippy cup from the counter and offered it to Flynn.“You always know what they all need.And what they’re saying.”

“It’s my job and my honor.”These were his babies, in a lot of ways.

Bay shook his head.“That might also be true, but the real truth is that you love them like they’re your own.”

“I do.I love you too, you know.So much.”He nuzzled little Flynn, then went to make coffee.

“I know,” Bay said softly, like he was amazed by it.Pete knew Bay hadn’t wanted kids, hadn’t been looking for a family of his own, but the man had it now and Pete thought that Bay wasn’t upset about that.

“Do you want blueberries in the waffles?”Pete found pecans, blueberries, and bananas.

“Yes, please.But not bananas.”Bay for some reason was not fond of bananas.

“Not bananas.I know.I’ll do some pecans, some blueberry.”He was good at that type of thing.

“Cool.Bananas are for little monkeys,” Bay said, tickling Flynn’s belly.

“OooOooOoo!”Merida hooted.

“Hey, good morning, little monkey girl,” Bay said, grinning at her as she danced into the room, holding her ratty stuffed bear by one foot.

“Bay’s Monkey Girl!”She laughed, her eyes alight.God, she was something else.

Bay laughed.“Yeah, you’re my little monkey girl.And Flynn is my monkey boy.”

Flynn squawked as if he understood, hands flying up.Bay lifted him up, floating him through the air.His sippy cup went flying, landing on the floor and spilling open.

“Oh sh-ugar.Sorry.”

“No worries.Milk mops up.”It wasn’t the first cup; it wouldn’t be the last.

“Yeah.”Bay stuck out his tongue.“That was totally my fault, though.”

Eric came rushing in.“Belle said we’re having pancakes?”He ran straight through the milk and slipped, landing on his butt.

“Waffles.”Pete dropped the towel and picked up the boy, setting down on his feet.“With bacon.”