Page 44 of Single Teddy (Mayberry Protectors #6)

THIRTY-EIGHT

WESLEY

B ear ran out of his room with Teddy in tail and jumped into my arms. “How do I look?”

I squeezed him a little tighter, his soft and fluffy costume feeling super cozy, and looked him in the eyes.

“You’re the cutest Stitch ever,” I said and trapped his nose in my fingers, making him giggle.

“Are you guys ready to go?” Teddy asked, picking up his keys from the counter that Blue was sprawled all over.

“One second!” Bear shouted and jumped off me to go over to the cats’ water bowls and refreshed the water before he kissed each of them goodbye.

He was such a sweetheart. He had taken on the responsibility of owning a pet like a grown-up. If anything, Blue and Sassy had helped him feel more settled, considering he was starting to be a little more independent and vibrant. Therapy helped too.

Of course, it wasn’t an overnight process, and it wouldn’t be, but every little speck of progress showed in a big way.

I couldn’t wait to see him settle into himself and become even more confident.

“Gosh,” I muttered.

I was starting to sound like a dad. I had to keep reminding myself I wasn’t.

“What?” Teddy asked.

I shook my head, and we walked into the parking lot. The temperature had dropped in the past week, but it was still pleasant enough not to require heavy coats. The night sky was a gorgeous deep purple shade and the stars twinkled bright. It was a beautiful night.

“Perfect night for trick-or-treating, don’t you think, Bear?”

Bear shrugged and climbed into the car, and we set off. I couldn’t help looking back at him in the rearview mirror. His excitement over his first Halloween was palpable. Even Teddy was giddy. It was such a wonderful vibe to be surrounded by.

The past week had been the best of my life. Without the worry of the twins and of being abducted or murdered, Teddy and I could be us. We could be a couple and enjoy each other’s company, learn more about each other, instead of constantly planning and plotting.

I still had to pinch myself every so often because…

how had I gone from a single guy to a taken man with a…

Bear? My cheeks had been hurting from smiling too much.

My heart was bursting at the seams. I wasn’t used to it, but after the past few days, hell, even the past few weeks, I could easily get used to this.

I just feared losing it.

“We’re here!” Teddy announced after a while. We’d stopped in front of Santiago and Joey’s door.

We all got out of the car and walked to their front door, where a group of kids were filling their pumpkin-shaped buckets with candy.

Joey was wearing a black suit, a fake moustache, and a silly grin.

His hair had been painted black and parted in the middle, while Santiago was wearing a long skin tight black dressed made of lace and silk with bright red lipstick and a long dark wig.

Valentin and Niko were dressed as a vampire and a werewolf respectively.

All four brandished huge smiles and the boys were giggling as they stuffed the trick-or-treaters’ bags with more and more candy.

“You’re here!” Santiago exclaimed. “Where are your costumes?”

Teddy took me by the waist and pulled me into him with a smug look and kissed my cheek.

“We came dressed as soulmates,” he said, and I laughed, but my insides? Oh, they melted all right.

Never in a million years had I thought I would hear those words. Not referring to me, anyway. In fact, I’d mentally prepared myself for a long and lonely life surrounded by my plants and books, and probably cats at some point. Wasn’t that the animal of choice for people on the shelf?

“That doesn’t count!” Joey said and booed at the trick-or-treating kids who ran away screaming, leaving just us and the boys.

“And what are you dressed as?” Teddy asked.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Santiago asked. “We’re Mortimer and Gomez Addams.”

As if to further prove their point, Joey grabbed Santiago’s hand and started kissing along its length before coming nose to nose with his boyfriend.

I chuckled.

“You look great.” I glanced down at the twins. “So do you two!”

Santiago put his hands on the boys’ shoulders and leaned in closer. “Valentin, Niko, look who it is! It’s your classmate, Bear!”

That was another change in the past week.

I’d gotten closer to Santiago during school drop-offs and pickups, and I’d also vouched for him and Joey when they applied for emergency custody.

It wasn’t as if he were a complete stranger.

In fact, I’d become a regular at his parents’ flower shop since my obsession began, but we’d spent a lot of time together, and I was starting to see a new friend in him.

“Bear, that’s such a cute costume! You’re the handsomest Stitch I’ve seen,” Santiago said.

“Thank you,” Bear mumbled, and we watched as the kids came closer.

I held my breath, waiting for some of the hostility they’d shown each other all those weeks ago with the whole crayon incident, but all it took was Niko asking, “Do you want to play hide and seek?” and they were thick as thieves, running around the living room, causing a lovely mayhem.

Though I wasn’t so sure Joey and Santiago’s cats were happy about all the noise.

“What are you standing there for? Come inside,” Santiago said.

“Aren’t we going to take them around the neighborhood?” Teddy asked.

“Sure, we are. Let’s have a drink first,” he answered.

“Yeah. Come on. One shot for good luck.”

I chuckled and entered the house. Santiago prepared the Mezcal shots.

“Are you sure we should be having these?” Teddy asked.

“What? You can’t take your apple juice?” Joey asked and patted his friend’s back.

“Apple juice?” Teddy and I said in unison.

Santiago laughed.

“We got rid of all the alcohol the minute the kids came home. We just like to trick ourselves.” Santiago laughed.

True to their word, when I was handed the shot, it smelled sweet and refreshing. Not a hint of alcohol.

“Salud!” Santiago said.

We clinked our glasses and turned to watch the kids who were completely oblivious to our existence—or to our staring at them.

“They look so much happier already,” Teddy said.

“They’ve been waiting to have a happy home for a long time,” I said. “And they finally found it.”

It wasn’t all that surprising. I’d gotten to know both kids so much better through our tutoring.

They were smart and resilient. But they were love-starved.

And considering Teddy, Joey, and the others had rescued them from a horrible life, it wasn’t hard to believe they trusted their new dads already.

It helped that they were both super sweet and patient with them. They were naturals.

“They look healthy too,” I said. There was definitely more meat on their bones since last week, when they’d looked weak and starved.

“No wonder. Daddy Joey has been cooking them whole productions all week,” Santiago said.

Productions I had participated in. More like devoured. Joey was a talented cook.

“We’re so lucky Dare could pull some strings,” Santiago said and hugged his husband.

I gave his shoulder a squeeze.

It turned out the ex-Navy SEAL turned blueberry farmer and Zach-aficionado knew a social worker, and they were able to help figure out a way for the boys to stay with Joey and Santiago.

It was still a long road before they were fully adopted, but at least they didn’t have to enter the system and be completely forgotten or separated.

And they could stay in their hometown. Maybe they were still young enough that they’d learn to love it too, despite all the scars it had left them.

“I’m so happy,” Joey said, hugging his husband tighter.

“We’re happy you’re happy,” Teddy said.

“Yeah, and your parents are so adorable,” I said to Santiago. “I dropped by yesterday and they wouldn’t stop talking about their grandkids.”

“Well, they do pop by with gifts every day. The boys already have more clothes and toys than us,” he said.

It took me a moment to clock the naughty part, and when I did, I shoved Santiago and Joey groaned.

“What? Aren’t we allowed to play?” Joey asked, and I shook my head.

“How are you guys getting on? When are you getting married?” Joey asked.

“Oh my god!” I exclaimed, but Teddy laughed with his whole chest.

“Not quite yet,” he said, and I had to blink a couple of times.

Did he…did he really mean that? Wasn’t it too soon to be making such bold statements?

“Really?” I asked.

He took me by the hand and planted a kiss on my lips with an unwavering confidence that gave me goosebumps.

“Of course. You’re mine for life, baby. I thought we were clear about that.”

The guys swooned. I couldn’t blame them. I swooned too. Hell, I even felt weak in the knees. Good thing he was holding on to me.

“Awww, hurry up guys. We need another married couple in the group already. Everyone’s being so boring and safe,” Santiago said.

I laughed.

“Well, Azrael and Duke will soon join your ranks. And Parker and Hwan,” Teddy said.

“What? Parker and Hwan are engaged? When? What? Where?” I asked.

Joey and Teddy shushed me, and I flinched.

“What?”

“Parker is proposing tonight at Enzo’s Halloween party. But don’t say anything. It’s a surprise,” Teddy said.

“Speaking of said party,” Joey said. “Are you guys okay to watch the kids later?”

I put my hand on Teddy’s back and hugged him.

“Of course. We can’t wait to spend more time with them,” I said.

It was nice being surrounded by so many friends and so much love.

I just hoped nothing would disturb this peace. Because Salieri and his men were still out there, and I wasn’t so sure they were done with us.

“All right. Let’s go get some candy!” Joey clapped his hands and out we went on the streets for the kids’ first official trick-or-treating.