Brick cleared his throat and nodded.

“And just because I’ve never said it, and Audrey opened a couple of bottles of wine before dinner, and I’ve got a happy buzz going, I’ve always looked up to you, and that’s never once changed. You’re a hell of a guy, Brick. I hope I’m just like you when I grow up.”

His throat tight, Brick grabbed his brother in an affectionate headlock and ruffled his hair. “You’re the best guy I know, Spence. Now get the fuck out.”

* * *

It took him ten minutes to get Gilbert’s attention and wrangle the man out onto the front porch away from the pre-dinner chaos unfolding inside.

“If this is about my bar back performance the other night—” Gil began.

Brick hid his smile. “It’s not. You were great, and Darius and I are happy to have you aboard.”

Gilbert perked up. “Thank God. I thought you were firing me!”

“No. But I do need to ask you something. Something not bar related.” Brick felt the words get stuck in his throat. This man had been more of a father to him than his own. How could he ask him to trust him with his daughter’s future?

“I’m all ears,” the man said, straightening his sweater vest and picking up a nearly overflowing glass of wine.

“What’s all this?” Darlene Ford, still in uniform, demanded as she trudged up the porch steps. “Ooh! Wine.” She took the glass from her husband and drank deeply.

Gilbert slung an arm around his wife’s waist. “Well, it’s Family Dinner Night. Kimber and Kyle are reconciling. It looks like Spencer and Audrey are finally hooking up. And Brick here is trying to work up the nerve to ask for my blessing to marry Remi.”

Chief Ford paused, mid-swallow, to eye Brick over the rim of the glass.

Brick was hot and cold all over. It was like a spotlight was on him, and he’d forgotten all his lines.

Darlene handed the wine back to her husband. She looked Brick up and down and nodded briskly.

“It’s about fucking time,” she said.

Then she grabbed his face and gave him a smacking kiss right on the mouth. “Welcome to the family.” With that, she opened the front door and went inside yelling, “What’s for dinner?”

Brick stared after her open-mouthed. “Uh…I…”

Gilbert clapped him on the shoulder. “I don’t have much more to add besides I can’t imagine a better man for our girl. You’ve loved her through the bright spots and the dark. You’ve never once not been there for her. Never once not protected her even from herself. A father can’t ask for anything more than that. And I know I’ve had a lot of wine, but I would be honored to call you son.”

Brick’s throat felt like it was on fire. His eyes watered, blurring everything in front of him. He swallowed hard, barely managing to rasp a “Thank you.”

Gilbert gave his shoulder a squeeze. Brick couldn’t tell through the blur, but Gilbert’s eyes looked a little shiny, too. “Thank you for loving my wild child exactly as she is.”