Page 83 of Manny Included

Bay squeezed her tight, eyes closed, happiness on his face.“I love you too, Belle.You want a zubber?”

“Silly Bay.”She grinned at him, rolling her eyes.

“Gotcha, no zubbers for big girls.”Bay kissed her cheek instead before letting her go.

Little Flynn cried out from where he was sitting chewing on toys.He opened and closed his hands, and Bay went over to him, picking him up too.Bay swung him in the air, making Flynn laugh just as loud as the others had.

All of a sudden, Belle said, “Now, Bay.Do it now!”

“Now?”Bay asked, looking at her.

She nodded solemnly and sat, opening her arms impriously for little Flynn.

“Okay.”Bay put Flynn on her lap, helping her make sure she had him.

Was Bay going to do a trick?

“What are we doing?”Pete asked.

“Party!”Merida shouted.

“I think you’ll need to stand,” Bay suggested, holding a hand out to him.Belle nodded vigorously at the suggestion.

“Okay…” He stood and took Bay’s hand, utterly confused.

Bay smiled at him.“Pete.You’re a very important part of my life.Of our lives.We couldn’t do this without you.”Bay looked at each of the kids, who nodded in agreement.“So we were talking.”

“Oh?”Were they doing a family costume this year?

“I love you and the kids love you and we want to make it official.”Bay dropped to one knee, still holding his hand.

His eyes went wide.

Oh.

Oh god.

Oh dear god.

“Bay?”He was going to cry.

Bay dug into his pocket and pulled out a ring.A gold band with a dark purple stone in it, then looked back up at him, gaze holding his.“Will you marry us?”

“Yes.”He didn’t even hesitate.“Yes, Bay, Belle, Eric, Merry, Flynn.Yes.I will.”

The kids all cheered, and Bay surged up and closed their mouths together, kissing him hard.

Was this real?It stunned him, but he couldn’t be more happy, more stunned, more sure that Bay was it for him.

When the kiss ended, Bay took his hand again, and slipped the ring onto his finger.“Does it fit?Do you like it?”

“It’s perfect.Did Merry help you pick it out?”He’d bet she did.

“I did!I picked the color.”

“Everyone had a chance to approve,” Bay told him.“It’s the one that was at the top of my list.”

“Then it’s absolutely perfect.”He couldn’t fathom anything better.