I pull into Mark's dealership and walk into his office like I own the place. He's not there, so I pick up the phone and press the few buttons until I can hear my heavy, creeper breathing over the PA system. I start beat boxing into the phone, making sure I spit more than necessary. "Yo, Marky Mark. Please come to your office immediately, there's a funky bunch of manly stud waiting for you."

I hang up and sit in his chair. Then I kick my feet up on his desk, lean back, and link my fingers behind my head.

He shakes his head when he walks in, trying to hide his smile. He takes the seat on the other side of the desk and jerks his head at my feet. "Feet off the desk, this shit's mahogany."

I scoff, but do it anyway. Leaning forward on my elbows I tell him, "The desk is shit, I'll design you a new one."

He raises his eyebrows. "About time. You did it for your future father-in-law years ago, I've been waiting for mine."

I steeple my fingers under my chin. "All good things come to those who wait."

He chuckles. "What do you want, punk?"

I lean back and cut the cocky attitude. "So you know how I'm getting married in a week?"

"YOU ARE? When did this happen?" he jokes with feigned excitement.

I throw a pen at his head.

"Yeah, what about it?" he asks through a smile.

I laugh, a mixture of humor and nerves—because that's what I am all of a sudden—nervous.

"So I was wondering—" My chuckle cuts me off. I shake my head to clear my thoughts, and try again. "I was hoping—" I do it again.

"Are you okay?" He's no longer amused, more concerned.

"Yeah." I rub my palms down my shirt.

"You're nervous? Why are you nervous?"

"I'm not nervous," I say in defence. "Who says I'm nervous?"

"Cam, you always do that... you get sweaty palms and wipe them on your clothes when you're nervous. What's up? Did something happen? You guys need money or something because—"

"No," I cut in, shaking my head. "It's not—" I sigh, and then wipe my palms again. Then I blow out a forceful breath, mustering the courage I need. "I came to ask if you'd be my best man."

His eyes widen, but he doesn't speak. He looks away from me, his body slumping with what looks like exhaustion. He scratches his head, while I sit here and wait for the moment of rejection. "If you don't want to—"

"No."

"Oh." My stomach drops to the floor. "Okay, I'll just ask—"

"No."

"Yeah, you said that. This is fucking embarass—"

"No."

"You can stop saying it now."

"No," he says, chuckling as he does. "I mean no, it's not that I don't want to. I'd be so—" He exhales a loud breath, and then finally looks at me. "I'd be so damn honored, Cameron. I'm just surprised is all. I didn't think that—I mean, there's absolutely nothing I'd want more in the world... but I have to be honest, I'm concerned about what your dad would say to you, I don't want him—"

"Stop," I cut in. "A, that asshole doesn't even know I'm getting married. I haven't spoken to him since he showed up at the hospital. B, even if he did know and had something to say about it, I wouldn't care. And C..." I wait a moment for the sweaty palms to kick back in. For the nerves to start. For my heart rate to increase. But there's none of it. Just that sense of genuine calm. "C," I continue. "You are my dad."

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

-LUCY-

"I can't believe this is the last night before you're someone's wife," Micky says.

"I know. I can't believe it either."

"I can't believe you didn't want a bachelorette party," Heidi adds.

Amanda scoffs. "Have you met Cam and Lucy? They're inseparable."

I smile at her words.

"True," Heidi agrees. "Where are the boys anyway?"

Micky scoffs now. "At the cages having man time. They're probably pounding their chests and cursing profanities at people."

"Logan's probably humping the bat," Amanda laughs.

We all do.

"Why are you telling them about our bedroom antics?" Logan shouts, halfway through the front door of the cabin. He gets shoved forward by Jake, and then by Cameron as they barge through the doors.

Heidi pours seven shots of tequila. We stand around the tiny dining room table and take one each. Cam's hand goes to my waist.

Jake clears his throat. "To falling in love, even when you don't know it."

Micky leans into him. Then her eyes begin to well up. "To finding friends that become family, no questions asked," she chokes out.

Logan speaks up. "To claiming your girls, owning them and making them yours."

Cam laughs and they nod at each other. I don't know what he means, but I don't ask.

Amanda wipes her eyes. "To not dwelling on why horrible stuff happens to good people. To letting love win, and to moving on." Logan kisses her temple while we all take a moment to think about her words.

Heidi sniffs once, bringing our attention to her. "To finding your forever and being able to keep them." I rub a soothing hand down her back. She inhales deeply before raising the shot glass to her lips. We all follow, and cheer as we do. They all take the shot, but before I can, my eyes catch the front door opening. "Dylan," I whisper. And they silently bow their heads. "No! You guys!" I laugh, pointing to the door. "Dylan!"