Ty laughs despite the tears I see in his eyes. “You told me not to tell him that.”
“Whoops,” I say with a wink.
“You two conspiring against me?” Hunter says, coming over to us.
“It’s okay, Dad. You can still be a part of our family, even if I’m Beau’s favorite,” Ty announces, making me giggle.
“Gee thanks,” Hunter grumbles, ruffling his son’s hair. “Are you okay, son?” he finally asks.
Ty takes my hand, and I hold onto his tight. “Are you marrying Beau?”
“Ty,” I gasp.
“Absolutely,” Hunter says with no hesitation.
“My friend Blake didn’t have a dad. When his mom got married his stepdad adopted him so that could be a real family.”
“Ty, buddy—” Hunter interrupts.
“If you and Dad get married, do you think you would …” Ty stops talking, losing his confidence, staring down at the ground.
I reach up and tenderly hold the side of his face. “I’d be happy to be your stepmom, Ty.”
He nods. “But if I wanted you to be more? Like maybe my real Mom. Although maybe it wouldn’t work. You may not?—”
I push my fingers against his lips to stop him from talking. I grin up at him and I can feel tears sliding down my face. “I’d say Shit, yeah.”
Ty looks stunned for a minute and then he throws his head back and laughs. “So, going to start blackmailing you every time you say that word.”
I pull him to me and hug him tight. “You can’t blackmail family,” I murmur.
“Speaking of family, I’m thinking this calls for a family celebration. I’m getting a new daughter-in-law and my,” Torch announces.
“I’ll call Beth and tell her to get Katie and Izzy,” Skull says.
“Dad, if you tell Mom that she’ll bring her homemade mac and cheese,” Gabby cries.
“Oh, God,” King mutters under his breath.
“No way, Uncle Skull. I don’t want her to run my new mom off,” Ty says.
“I’m not going anywhere, but c’mon you guys it can’t be that bad.”
“My woman’s mother has a heart of gold, but I swear, Beau, that mac and cheese tastes like kerosene.”
“Maybe we should eat out,” I whisper, making everyone laugh.
“I’ll tell her we’re ordering pizza and if she makes any sides you pretend to eat it and when she’s not looking, sneak it into trash cans that Gabby and Spider will position close by the tables,” Skull announces.
“You sound like you do this a lot,” Callum says.
“You have no idea,” Gabby mutters, making us all laugh.
“Cal, you call Gordo, Billy and Eli. See if they want to join with all of us.”
“See if Slider can come, please?” Ty begs looking at me and Hunter.
“Make sure you ask, Cal.”
