Page 85 of Manny Included
Their fiancé.
God, how sweet was that?
His eyes filled with tears.
“Hey, what’s the matter?”Bay asked, coming to him, concern clear in his eyes.
“I’m so happy.You… You’ve made me so happy, love.”
“Oh.That’s okay then.”Bay gave him a quick, awkward kiss, his hands full of delivery bags.“As long as you’re happy.”
“I am.What’s for supper?How can I help?”
“Just come and sit and eat.I ordered us steak and lobster and the kids have fancy chicken fingers and fries.I was going to propose after dinner, but…” Bay shrugged.“Belle was right about it being the right time.”
“It was the perfect time,” he admitted.“I thought you were going to ask if I wanted to do a family Halloween costume.”
Bay chuckled as he took stuff out of the bags and set them on the table.“That’s actually not a bad idea—if we can get the kids to agree on something.”
“Hey, they agreed on us.We’re something.”And Pete loved it.Loved them.
“Of course they agreed on us and we’re not just something—we’re something special.”
He nodded, going to hug Bay hard, stealing one more kiss.This was all he needed.
Just this.
He would love this family as his own.Forever.
ChapterNineteen
Bay pulled into the driveway, feeling like a million bucks.It was Christmas Eve and they were all dressed up.They’d just had the civil ceremony marrying him and Pete, and they’d also made a little ceremony out of Pete signing the paperwork adopting the kids.They were officially a family now, in the eyes of the law as well as in their own eyes.
Nobody had to tell him that Pete was as much a parent to the kids as he was, probably even more in fact, but now nobody could tell him that Pete wasn’t really family.
“Home.Our legally officially family is home.”He grinned at Pete, at the kids, who were already unbuckled and trying to get out.Impatient.
“I know!Merry Christmas to us!”Pete scooped Flynn up, his husband—his husband—looking absolutely joyous.“Merry, take Uncle Bay’s hand, please.Belle, can you unlock the door?”
Everyone jumped into action, and Bay admired how Pete handled everyone with such ease.His butt was pretty sexy walking up the path ahead of him, too.
Eric walked with Pete.“We’re married, all of us, right?”
“We are.We’re legally a family.You, me, Bay, Flynn, and your sisters.”Pete smiled back at him.“I’ve never been happier.”
“Same.”He hated that his brother and sister-in-law had to pass for him to have this, but life had handed this family a huge lemon and they’d made the most delicious lemonade.
“And tomorrow is Santa.”Merry beamed up at him.“I love this day!”
He grinned down at her.“I love it too.”
Will’s car pulled up behind their van in the driveway.Will and his partner had been their witnesses.He waved.“Hey, guys, come on in.”
“Merry Christmas, Uncle Will!”Eric ran to him, hugging him tight.“Happy Marrying!”
Will laughed.“Happy Marrying indeed.It always reminds me of our wedding when we attend someone’s ceremony.”Will took Paul’s hand and they came up the stairs together.
This life was his—these people were his—and he wasn’t letting go for anything.
Pete the manny might have been included when Bay had inherited the kids, but Pete his husband was entirely his choice.
Pete’s fingers wrapped with his.His lover had stood with his brother since college, Tony’s babies since birth, and now, with him, for the rest of time.
Somehow he’d gone from a man with the barest ties, to a man with a family that needed him and loved him, more than anything.
It was more than he’d ever asked for.
It was probably more than he deserved, but that didn’t matter.
It was all his—manny included.