Page 88 of C*cky Best Friend

“Hey Mr. Cocker, Mrs. Cocker.”

They see I’m holding Sam’s hand and grins spread on their faces as her mom whispers, “Oh, thank God.”

Lexi hurries to explain, “We should have woken you. But we weren’t exactly positive what he came here for.”

Sam’s dad walks up to me and I release his daughter’s hand to shake his heartily. “I flew back here to convince her to be with me. I want to marry your daughter, sir.”

Samantha squeals and Lexi starts laughing as Caden corrects me, “You’re supposed to ask her first.”

Max smacks him in the chest. “Traditionally, you’re supposed to get the father’s blessing.”

“I didn’t get anyone’s blessing.”

“That’s because you’re rude.”

“Didn’t want to ask for permission,” Caden shrugs with utter confidence. “I’m my own man.”

“So am I.”

“You’re a daddy’s-boy.”

Max rolls his eyes. “Because I make one film!”

“Because you made it about—”

“Boys,” their mother cries out, shaking her head. “Stop distracting us from what is really going on here, please? This isn’t about you. You both already had your turns.”

Lexi mutters, “I don’t know why Samantha got hers before me.”

Hunter agrees, “Or me.”

Everyone stares at him, then returns to us.

“I would like your blessing, sir.”

Jason’s pale green eyes lose their amusement. “You have it, without reservation.”

Sarah sighs with relief, “I’ve always thought of you as one of the family anyway. Now it’s official!”

She opens her arms for a big hug. It inspires everyone to do the same. Samantha is wiping tears, grinning while her family accepts me into their lives in a whole new way.

There’s a lump in my throat as Hunter is the last to hug me. “Hey Logan, welcome to the family.”

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