I had my bag on the backseat. Life was so busy. I hated to say that my so-called celebrity helped to springboard my new business, but that’s what it was. It was reality. I was slowly stripping away the whole The Princess tag on my name, but if that helped to get people to see me and allowed me to help other people, then so be it. What I was doing with other businesses was amazing. Not to mention helping Abigail’s parents. It was such a whirlwind of a ride and it was only going to get crazier.

I heard the yip of the puppy in the passenger seat and looked over. The chocolate lab puppy stared at me, trying to figure me out. I had already figured him out though. From the second I saw him, I wanted him. I figured if Gavin could tease me with a diamond ring, then I’d do the same with a puppy.

He was probably going to get pissed off at me, but so be it.

I hadn’t heard from my father in weeks. That was okay though. Distance and time would let it all play out. He had officially taken his sights off Gavin and moved on to something else. He backed away from the children’s hospital too. I was able to swing right in and get everything needed for a new wing. And it would be named after Abigail.

As far as Whitney went, a rich woman like her didn’t do jail time. Her father offered to pay Gavin to not sue or pursue charges. It was a really big number he offered as a settlement. And Gavin refused it. Which almost pissed me off, but it was Gavin. He was true to his word and his character.

You know what he said to Whitney’s father?

Just get her some help so she doesn’t end up killing someone or herself.

The judge overseeing the case felt that was a great idea. So Whitney was shipped across the country to some kind of rehab center. It was probably more or less a luxury resort, but whatever.

Everything fake in my life was finally gone for good. But I did keep my apartment in the city. I went there with Nikki and Stacey. Sometimes Ava. Sometimes just myself and Gavin.

I hired Andy as my number two in my new adventures and she was making double what she was before.

Everything was…

Yip.

I looked over again at the chocolate lab. He quickly let out another puppy yip sound and I put my hand to his head.

“Almost home.”

When I got home, I opened the passenger door and let the puppy out. He quickly ran through the front yard, stopping to pee, and then sniffing the ground.

Gavin opened the front door and came out to greet me, like he always did. Jesse was with him too. Jesse would always beat Gavin to me, needing his welcome home hug.

Jesse stopped halfway down the steps and looked at the puppy.

“What is that?” Gavin asked, looking down at the puppy too.

“Surprise,” I said.

“No. No way. No, no, no…”

“Look at him,” I said.

The chocolate lab saw Gavin and Jesse. It charged toward them.

The puppy jumped at Jesse and started to nip at the old dog’s face. Jesse looked at me and I wished I could read his mind.

Gavin walked down the steps and stared at the puppy.

It kept jumping at Jesse. Right up until Jesse let out a loud bark and took control. The puppy then rolled to its back, succumbing.

“See?” I said. “They’re playing.”

“What did you do?” Gavin asked.

“I got us a puppy,” I said. “Hate me?”

Gavin slipped an arm around my waist. “Liv…”

“Look at them,” I said.

Jesse put his nose to the puppy’s face. Then he pulled away. The puppy jumped up and jumped at Jesse again. With a warning nip from Jess, the puppy backed up.

Gavin then went after the puppy and lifted him up. “Look at you. Look at the size of your paws. You’re going to be a big…” Gavin lifted the puppy up higher to see between his legs. “A big boy.”

“Want to know his name?” I asked.

“Sure,” Gavin said.

“Gus.”

Gavin smirked. “I like that.”

He put the puppy down.

Gus started to run through the yard. Jesse took two steps and stopped. He barked. He looked at Gavin. He barked again.

Gavin put a hand to Jesse’s head. “I know, buddy. I know. You’re just going to have to get used to it. Or go play. You’ve got years to go, Jesse.”

I swore the dog could understand us. He let out a groan and trotted forward. After a few steps he then broke out into a full run. He and Gus spent a good hour playing with each other.

A little bit later, after a much needed shower with the company of Gavin, I walked downstairs to find Jesse on the floor with Gus cuddled up next to him. The puppy was asleep but Jesse wasn’t. He looked at me.

“Don’t worry,” I whispered to Jesse. “I love you more.”

Jesse groaned and shut his eyes.

I went to the kitchen to find Gavin standing at the bay window in the dining room.

“What are you doing?”

“Just standing here,” he said.

I worked my way in front of him. Outside, the sun was almost set. There were a few leftover colors in the sky. It was mostly dark through. The back yard and trees were becoming silhouettes. It was peaceful and serene.

“This is perfect,” I whispered. “Isn’t it?”

“It’s something, Liv.”

“The view is worth evertyhing,” I said.

I looked back and up at Gavin. He wasn’t looking outside though. He was looking right at me.

That sexy half smile on his scruffy face.

He nodded. “Yeah, darling, you’re right… the view is worth everything.”

THE END.