Page 145 of Single Teddy
1 Week Later
Bear 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 hadhelped 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 cheekshad 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.
