Jack stepped into the room, his usual cocky grin absent. He looked so out of place in his formal clothes—he was always the street-smart trickster, never the man in a suit. But today, he was trying, and for that, my heart swelled.

He cleared his throat, and I could tell he was just as nervous as I was. “Well, here goes nothing,” he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his tousled hair.

I gave him a reassuring smile, offering him a seat. “Take a breath, Jack. You’ve got this.”

He chuckled softly, though it was laced with a little bit of tension. “Right, easy for you to say. It’s not you standing in front of your parents asking if they’ll let you marry their daughter.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. It was just like him to be so sure of everything, except for the one thing that really mattered. I stood and walked over to him, placing my hand on his. “You’re the only one I want,” I whispered, squeezing his hand.

He smiled, that mischievous spark in his eyes returning. “I know. But I’ve gotta convince them first, yeah?”

I nodded, watching as he turned to face my parents, who had just entered the room. His usual charm was back, but there was a nervous edge to it that made him even more endearing. “Mr. John and Mrs. Gwen,” he began, his voice steady despite the nerves he clearly felt. “I come before you today to ask for your blessing in marrying your daughter. I know I’m not the most traditional choice, but I promise I’ll love her with everything I have.”

I held my breath, hoping they’d see in him what I did: the boy who had grown into the man who would love me fiercely. And as my parents exchanged glances, I knew they were considering it carefully.

When my father spoke, his tone was warm, his smile understanding. “Jack, we’ve known you for years. We’ve seen what kind of man you’ve become. You have our blessing.”