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Hailee waves her hand in front of Chip’s face again. “Mama, you’re not gonna believe what I saw!” Chip chimes another line from the movie excitedly, and Hailee giggles with so much joy it’s contagious.
“Did you hear that, Mommy?” She beams.
Zoey smiles, shaking her head at me. “I did, Starshine. You’re very lucky.”
Hailee jumps up onto her feet and slams into my legs, hugging me again. “Thank you, Blake. You’re thebest. I love it.”
“You’re welcome, Hailee.”
“Just be careful with him. It’s fragile and expensive. I don’t want you breaking it, okay?” Zoey states.
Hailee nods. “Okay, Mommy.” She picks it up carefully, takes it over to the living room table, places it down, and continues playing.
Zoey steps up to me, raising her brow. “That was too much, Blake.”
“That? That was nothing.”
“You give her expensive things like that for no reason, and she will always expect them. I don’t want her to become entitled.”
Wrapping my arms around Zoey, I nod. I understand what she’s saying, and I will rein myself in. “I hear you. I will only spoil her now and then. When the occasion calls for it.”
“Thank you, and thank you for getting it for her. I love seeing her happy like that.”
“I just want to make you both happy.”
Zoey exhales. “You think we should tell her… what’s happening?”
“Yeah… I do.”
Zoey reaches out, grabbing my hand, and we walk into the living room and take a seat behind Hailee as she sits on the floor, still playing with Chip.
“Starshine, can we talk to you for a moment?” Zoey asks, and Hailee slowly turns to look at us, regretfully leaving her new toy behind.
“Is this about how I accidentally ate Bianca’s lunch at school today? Because, in my defense, her lunchbox is the same color as mine.”
Zoey and I both raise our brows. “No, and we’ll talk about that later, but this is something more important.”
“I mean… I don’t know what’s more important than lunch, but okay?” Hailee giggles.
Smiling, I sit forward, getting a little closer to Hailee. “The thing is… your mom and I have gotten quite close.”
“That’s why you’re staying here for a few days? Like a sleepover?”
Zoey and I both smile. “Kind of like a sleepover, but what would you say to it being a little more… permanent?” I ask.
I haven’t run this by Zoey, so I hope I am not overstepping the mark here.
Hailee tilts her head like she’s thinking it through. “So you and Beast would live with us forever?”
Zoey shifts forward on the seat, reaching out for Hailee’s hands. “Only if you’re okay with that. I know you love having girl time, and Blake moving in is a huge step—”
“Yes! I’m so excited. This is going to be the best, isn’t it, Mommy?” Hailee chimes, and my eyes shift to Zoey to ensure she is on the same page.
She smiles, excitement building in her eyes. “Yeah, baby, this is going to be amazing.”
Hailee suddenly stands and points at me. “Oh my God, Blake, you should ask Mommy to marry you.”
The biggest, dorkiest smile lights my face as I turn to Zoey. She beams in happiness as she takes the lead on this one. “You want us to get married?”
