A bump on the head and my leg in a cast. That was my souvenir when I left the hospital. The doctor told me I was lucky my head was able to take a hard hit. Everyone got a kick out of it except me. I had heard it the entire time I was in the hospital and I had a dream about Luke. One of the last times we talked.

We grew up being the daredevils who never got hurt. So one night it was me and Luke outside my house. Having a few beers, chatting about life. He was going overseas and I couldn’t stop him. He wanted to go be a hero and do something with his life. Something for Nikki’s life. Something for their then unborn baby.

We were half drunk when I looked at him and grabbed for his arm. I squeezed it tight and he put his hand to mine. Our silent way of saying I love you. I hadn’t gotten emotional during the entire process until that night. I choked on more than a few tears.

Luke started to laugh at me.

“I love you, little bro,” I said to him. “You better be safe over there, man. I’m not going to sleep until you’re home. It’s going to be a long damn year.”

“No it won’t,” Luke said. “I know what I’m doing. You did everything for me, Gavin. You were Mom. You were Dad. You were aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, everything to me. If I needed a smack in the face you were there to do it. You taught me how to fight, how to live. I’m going to make something of this and it’s all because of you.”

“Just don’t get yourself blown up,” I said.

Luke made a fist and knocked at his head. “I’m fine. We have thick skulls, right?”

I laughed. “You have a thicker skull than I do.”

We both laughed.

I never thought my passing comment-slash-joke would come true and that’s how my little brother would face his last moments in life.

The dream bothered me and when I finally got myself home from the hospital, I sat at the dining room table and cried a little. I missed Luke. I would miss Luke every day for the rest of my life. I would miss him when I looked at Nikki. When I looked at Ava.

I wasn’t home for more than five minutes when everyone started to show up.

I didn’t want to be bothered, but when Ava came in with a homemade construction paper Get Well Soon! card, I couldn’t help but smile.

The old house was full of people, voices, talking about memories and making new ones. The guys thought it was great to tell Olivia all the stories about me. All the dumb and crazy shit I used to do.

When I walked, Olivia was right there with me, pissed that I wasn’t using crutches.

“Get used to being pissed at me,” I whispered to her.

She cornered me in the kitchen and kissed my cheek. “I know you hate this. You don’t like attention, Gavin.”

“I hate it.”

“We all love you.”

“I know.”

“I was… I was thinking, you’re going to need help around here. Someone to stay with you. Just in case. Right?”

“It’s a broken leg, Liv.”

“But you could get hurt again.”

“And you think you should stay to help?”

“Yes,” she said.

“What about your job?”

“I already told you I quit,” she said. “I wasn’t lying to you. I’m done, Gavin.”

“I heard you spent the night with lawyers…”

“We all did. Nothing is definite yet. But we have something to go with.”

“Why bother, Liv?” I asked. “Just let him do what he wants. I don’t need anything but you, Liv.”

“How romantic. But what about everyone else?”

I looked toward the dining room. Rich and Donny arguing over something stupid. Hank in the corner, sitting in a chair, head down, sleeping. Nikki and Stacey, talking and laughing together. Other people scattered throughout the house and out back.

“Why’s it on my back?” I whispered.

“Because you’re the only one who can handle it,” Olivia said. “They all know that. I know that. That’s why I’m here, Gavin. To take that burden off you when I can.”

“And that’s what you want? The life of a struggling mechanic?”

“In case you forgot,” Olivia said, grabbing my shirt and pulling herself to her toes. “I’m still rich. Which means you’ll be rich too.”

“Oh, so this is a bribe? Are you buying my love?”

“No,” Olivia said. She then ran her right hand down my body. And kept going. “I’m buying something else…”

I laughed. “You’re wild, darling. I don’t want any money.”

“I know. Neither do I. But it’s nice to have.”

“What’s next for you then?” I asked. “You can’t just sit still. I know it.”

“I have a few ideas. But first, I want to enjoy this. You. Our life.”

“Our life,” I whispered. “I like the way that sounds.”

“Me too.”

I slipped my hands around her and pulled her close.

We kissed.

Someone made a comment about it. We ignored it.

It took another two hours for everyone to finally get the hell out of my house. Then it was just me and Olivia. Out back, a fire in the fire pit. She tried to sit down in a different chair than me but I wasn’t going to let that happen. I pulled at her and made her cuddle up on me like she had done before.

I held her in front of the fire. Kissing her. Smelling her hair. Realizing how fucking perfect and precious life could be when it wanted to be.

But the biggest fire…

That was the one burning deep inside my heart.

 

* * *

 

It was a week later and Olivia had to go into the city for some meetings. She had held her ground firm about not going back to work for her father. I wasn’t going to stand in her way if she wanted to conquer the world on her own. For me, my kingdom was the garage. I had to get it organized and actually give a shit about things. How about that? A woman like Olivia comes into my life and I suddenly care about balancing the checkbook and paying the electric bill on time.

Olivia’s smell lingered through my house as I searched for my truck keys.

Jesse was sprawled out on the couch, taking his morning nap.

“Didn’t I teach you to fetch?” I asked him. “Can’t you find my keys?”

He just stared at me.

“Right. I was dumb and taught you how to fetch sticks and tennis balls.”

I went to check the kitchen for the third time when I heard a knock at the front door.

I opened the door to find a stranger standing there. But judging by the suit and tie, the high-life kind of look, everything fake, wealthy, and the fact that he looked like he was going to get a disease by being on my porch…

“Sterling,” I said.

“Gavin,” he said. “I think this is a long time coming.”

“Olivia isn’t here.”

“I’m not looking for her. I came here to talk to you. May I come in?”

“Sure,” I said. “Can I get you something to drink? Coffee? Water?”

“Scotch?” he asked.

“I can make that happen,” I said.

Sterling laughed. He grabbed for my arm. “I’m just kidding with you, Gavin.”

I pulled away.

I wasn’t going to fall for some fake used car salesman kind of smile and routine.

Sterling slipped his hands into his pockets and started to look around my house.

“You know, I grew up in a house like this,” he said. “Long before my life took a wild turn.”

“Before you became rich?”

“Yeah, sure. You know why I became rich?”

“No,” I said.

“I’ll tell you why. My father worked a dead end job and struggled to feed us. There were nights when my mother wouldn’t eat dinner. Because she insisted that I eat since I was a growing boy. And she wanted my father to eat since he worked. She all but starved herself. So I started saving half my dinner to give to her. The first time I did it, she cried. She apologized to me. My father died at work when I was a teenager. Heart attack. My mother was then alone. Scared. That’s when I decided to become rich. And I did. Then my wife…” Sterling nodded. “Maybe in some way, Gavin, I never intended for all of this. Maybe in some way I did. I don’t think it matters. This is what I do.”

“Why are you here?” I asked. “Why are you telling me this?”

Sterling reached into his suit jacket. “See this paper? This is what my daughter has been working on.”

“Which is?”

“She’s blocking me taking your land. Which is interesting. I guess some of this land is considered historic. Not that I would give a shit about it. But I guess if you’re prepared for that fight…”

“Are you threatening me here? Or are you going to offer me something?”

“I’m not exactly sure,” Sterling said. “I’m actually proud of my daughter. Taking a stand. I mean, there are other shit hole towns to run over, right? She did quit. She won’t come back. Funny how I made her rich and then she leaves me.”

“Have you ever treated her like a daughter?” I asked.

“That’s a personal question, Gavin.”

“Well, let me fill you in on what you’ve missed out on and what you’re missing,” I said. I stepped toward him. Fuck his money. Fuck his power. “She’s beautiful. She’s smart. She’s passionate. She’s not afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve, which says a lot about someone who obviously grew up in a world of greed and deception. She genuinely cares about other people and their well being. She’s not afraid to get into a rough situation, always able to see the better and the happy ending, even if it’s a long ways away. She takes the worst tragedy and somehow makes it okay. When she sees something she likes she gets excited. She gets this look on her face… and when she does look at you, it changes you. It changes your life. It changes everything about you. And from the second I met her, I saw her. The real her. I didn’t know who she was. I didn’t know she was rich. And I don’t care. I still don’t care. I love her.”

“You love her,” Sterling said. “So this is what it’s become. My daughter falling in love with you.”

“I think you meant to say a dirty, poor mechanic, right?”

“Those are your words,” Sterling said.

“It’s the truth.”

“So you don’t want to be rich?” Sterling asked.

“Maybe I already am. I’m rich in a way you’ll never get.”

Sterling stepped toward me and put a finger right in my face. “Listen here, Gavin. I know what you’re talking about. I fucking had that. And it was ripped away from me.”

“I’m sorry your wife died,” I said.

“Don’t…”

“I’m sorry. I really am. You know that money can’t take care of everything, Sterling.”

“But it can take care of ninety-five percent of everything.”

“But that other five percent is a big hole to face, isn’t it?”

Sterling backed away and smiled. “You’re not afraid of me.”

“Sorry, but a suit and tie doesn’t scare me.”

“I could go after all of this, Gavin. Hard. I’m richer than you. Than my daughter. I have lawyers that could bleed you dry. Force you into selling.”

“Have at it,” I said. “You’re not going to win, Sterling. Take my house. My land. Everything you want. But you’ll never get me. And you’ll never get Olivia.”

Sterling rubbed his chin. “What an answer. So I’m left with a choice, Gavin. I can pursue this. Or I can back off. Find the next project.”

“So then what are you doing here?” I asked. “Huh?”

“To see your reaction,” Sterling said. He tucked the piece of paper back into his pocket. Then he put his hand out to shake mine. “At least shake my hand, Gavin. Two men finally meeting.”

I reluctantly took his hand. I felt something in his hand.

He tried to grip my hand but I was far stronger than him.

I opened my hand and looked down at a massive diamond ring.

“What the hell is this?” I asked.

“That was the ring I gave Olivia’s mother - Victoria - when I remarried her. See, she was by my side before I became rich. And our wedding was boring. So I promised her something huge when I became rich. She didn’t want any of it. She hated me a little for it. I guess that’s where Olivia gets her humility from.”

“And why am I holding this ring?”

“So you can give it to my daughter,” Sterling said. “If all of this is real to you both…”

I looked at the ring. I couldn’t even imagine how much it was worth. I then stuck it over the tip of my pointer finger and held it up.

I shook my head.

“Not a chance, Sterling,” I said.

“Excuse me?”

“First off, I love your daughter. She loves me. I would love to marry her. Make her my own and keep her to myself for the rest of my life. Maybe that day will come. But right now, she’s finally free. From you. She’s out there doing what she wants and she’s going to become something. Not known as The Princess. Not living off your money. She’s doing her thing. This ring could symbolize my love to her, sure. But you know what? The greatest thing I can give her is my trust. And she has all of it.”

“So you don’t want the ring?” Sterling asked.

“No. Take it back right now. Let it be a standing memory for yourself, Sterling. Of what you became. Where’s the ring you first gave your wife?”

“She took it with her,” he said. “When she…”

“Where it belongs,” I said. “Because that was the ring that mattered. Not the fancy one. Not the image.”

“Right.” Sterling took the ring back and stared at it. Then he slipped it into his pocket. “I guess I’ve worn out my welcome here.”

“You were never welcome here,” I said. “No offense. If you want to come and try to take down this town, that’s on you. You can buy the town but you can’t buy us.”

“I have a lot to think about.”

Sterling turned and walked to the door. He opened it and walked out. I gritted my teeth for a second and then chased after him.

“Sterling,” I said as he was halfway down the porch steps.

He looked back.

“You could change. You could be different. You could be welcome here.”

Sterling grinned. He then pointed to a black car in the driveway. “That car is worth half a million dollars. And that’s my cheap car. Why the fuck would I change anything I have right now? Plus, if my daughter is happy, then I have even less to worry about.”

Sterling pulled on his suit and curled his lip. Trying to look powerful.

He walked to his half a million dollar car but he didn’t get into the driver’s seat. He got into the passenger seat.

Someone was driving him.

I shook my head.

What had he fucking expected? Me to take that obnoxious ring? Give it to Olivia? So he could hold that shit over my head for the rest of my life?

Not a chance.

Plus… what if I had already gathered up some cash and bought Olivia a ring already?

 

* * *

 

I held her beautiful body against mine. She was still out of breath. I was still smiling.

She kissed my chest and put her chin to my chest. I loved when she did that.

“Yes, darling?” I asked.

“I feel a little lost when I’m not here,” she said.

“Then what’s to worry about?” I asked.

“I know what you did. What happened.”

“What do you mean?”

“Gavin…”

“Olivia…”

I touched her face and then ran my fingers through her hair.

She shook her head. “We’re both crazy.”

“How so?”

“I threw my life upside down. And you all but told Sterling to fuck off.”

“Sounds about right, Liv. I take it he called you?”

“Yeah. I have no idea where things will go but he’s going to find an easier way to make money. So I’m pretty sure everything here is good. And he also said you refused to take something from him. That you didn’t want to marry me. Because you wanted me to be free.”

I gritted my teeth. “Asshole. I did not…”

“It’s okay. I get it.”

“No, Liv, you don’t,” I said. I rolled her to her back and touched her face again. “I’m not afraid of anything with you. But I want you to get out there and kick some serious ass. I know you will. We can do anything we want, Liv. If you think for one second I don’t want…”

“Gavin,” she said. She touched my nose with her pointer. “Don’t get upset or defensive. I don’t care what anyone else has to say. Maybe this will be a good thing. Distance can heal.”

“You really think that?” I asked.

“No,” she said.

“I’m sorry, darling,” I said. “But trust me…”

“Gavin. Stop.”

“No,” I growled.

I looked to the nightstand. I reached for it and opened the drawer. I stuck my hand inside and pulled out the little black box and showed it to Olivia.

Her eyes went wide.

I used my thumb to open the box to show her the diamond ring.

“This is what I bought,” I said. “I won’t say when. It doesn’t matter, darling. But this is yours.”

“Right now?”

“No. Not right now, Liv. This is yours when the time is right. I meant what I said. I want you to go out there and kick ass. And what I give you now before this ring is my trust and my love. Because I know you’ll be back. That’s what makes this crazy and makes this work.”

“But I want that ring,” she said.

I snapped the little box shut. “Not yet.”

“What do I have to do to get it?” she asked with a grin.

I put the box back in the nightstand then kissed her. “You’ll have to surprise me.”

I rolled over and brought Olivia on top of me. She put her hands to my chest and leaned forward.

“You can’t hold out on me forever,” she said.

“I know,” I said. “But I’m distracted right now.”

Olivia came down and kissed me. My hands slid around her body and eased her down on me.

We had all night to be together. We had the rest of our lives to be together.

As far as that ring goes? I planned on waiting for the right time… weeks, months, whatever it took to find that perfect moment.

The only problem? Every moment with Olivia was perfect.

So I made it three days before she came home and I gave her the ring.