Page 135 of Puppy Love

“And we’re done!” shouts the man behind the camera, lowering it to his side. I release a heavy breath, and Kate wraps me into a tight hug.

“I am just so excited for this, you have no idea!”

I laugh at the sudden affection but hug Kate back.

“Thank you, so am I.”

“Can I schedule an appointment?”

Kate’s grip releases, and I step back to look up at the regal woman.

“What?”

“A training appointment. My two-year-old Cavapoo is a complete arse and always pulls on the leash. It makes me mad as a meat axe.”

I chuckle, unsure of exactly what that means.

“Absolutely,” I say, “I just need to get my phone!”

“Okay! Be back in three.”

“I will!”

Cool air washes over me as I step out of the facility. I wave at Cam, Adrian, Hayden, and Avery and begin to walk over to them. But as I get close, I see that Adrian is talking to someone.

“Al?” I call out. Al’s head shoots up, his eyes growing teary the second they land on me.

“Vi!” He waves, a white paper bag gripped in his hand. I jog over and throw my arms around him in a tight hug.

“What are you doing here?”

Al wipes tears off his smiling face, and he hands the paper bag to me.

“Lunch,” he says, his voice breaking. “I am so, so proud of you.”

Tears prick my own eyes, but I force them to dry. If we both start crying, we’ll never stop.

“And this,” he says, pressing something cold and hard into my palm. I look at it, the shimmering blue crystal gleaming in my hand.

“The blue topaz?” I ask, my eyes darting to meet his. “But—”

He shakes his head, mouth still stretched wide.

“I don’t need it anymore, Vi.” He pats my back harder than I think he means to. “Plus, this kiddo over here wants me to be a vendor at their… what was it again?”

His brows furrow, his eyes pooling with confusion. Avery chuckles, and Adrian shoots him a glare.

“It’s a—” they start, but they interrupt their own words with a frown, like they too are having trouble describing it.

“It’s basically art, food, and alcohol, thrown-up into a giant room,” Cam says. Adrian nods approvingly even if it isn’t the most glorifying answer.

“Right,” Al says. “It’s going to be huge.”

I smile, tucking the stone into my pocket.

“It is,” I say. Al looks up at me, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“And this will be too.”

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