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“Hilarious,” Talia said as they stepped into the crisp December air. “I did not get you HR posters, though FYI, you are legally required to post them.”

“You’re the one who says this isn’t a legit place of employment.” Gabby spun around. “So! Can I open it now?”

Talia sighed. Part of her wanted to trash the whole plan—not the present but thepresentation—but it was too late now. “Yeah. Go ahead,” she said, cringing as Gabby untied the ribbon. “It’s sort of hokey.” Gabby gently picked at the corner but was taking too damn long. Talia reached over and tore off the rest in one big sheath.

With the wrapping paper now covering her feet, Gabby stared at the gift. It was one of those prop checks, made out to Oscar Gunn in the amount of four hundred thousand dollars.

“This is insane.”

“The fake check was Raj’s idea. So stupid!” Talia slapped a hand over her face. “Obviously I gave him actual money. This is symbolic. And I’m aware it’s not really a gift for you, but when you left, you were so worried about what would happen if he didn’t sell his apartment.”

“Yeah,” Gabby said, wincing, scratching the back of her neck. “Him telling me it’d all work out wasn’t the most reassuring thing in the world.”

“I know I made a big production about responsibility and lying in the bed he made, et cetera. But I had the money, and it felt so stupid. Like I was hoarding it or something.”

“I can’t believe it,” Gabby said, her eyes a little glassy. “This is beyond generous. And you’re wrong. Itisa gift for me. But, I mean, if you’re looking for something else...” She leveled her gaze on Talia, an impish spark in her eyes. “You could spill the tea and tell me the amount of the twenty-five-year gift.”

Talia threw back her head and laughed. “Oh my God, let it go!”

“You might as well tell me since I’m not going to receive it.”

“Fine.” She exhaled. “One million dollars, exactly.”

“I knew it!” Gabby said with a small jump. “I just knew it.” She pondered this. “Not sure why I’m so excited to have made the correct wild guess about a sum of money I’ll never touch, but it’s extremely satisfying.”

Talia smirked. “It’s nice to be right. Sorry for this,” she said, gesturing to the check. “Raj tried to convince me I should send one to Ozzie along with the money, but I was nervous he’d post it online. Given he’s back on social media and all.”

“But would the newly minted @RegenerateOz do such a thing?” Gabby lightly rolled her eyes. “He never RSVP’d for tonight. Not that regenerative after all. So, Raj. Is he mad I promised him all that money and skipped town?”

“Oh, Jesus. That was so idiotic I completely forgot. Luckily he’s a rational person and was never going to take it.”

“Wow. You must be really good in bed.”

“GABBY!” Talia said, giving her sister a swift backhand.

“Thank you for your sacrifice,” Gabby said with a bow.

“He’s sorry he couldn’t come, but last-minute tickets were expensive, and one of his clients had a hearing with the housing authority.”Raj. Talia felt a flutter in her stomach saying his name. They weren’t in a relationship, and he’d moved back into his apartment, but they were working together, and spending time together, and who knew what would happen down the road. For once Talia was going to sit back and see how life played out instead of worrying about every little move she did or didn’t make, or the attention she was or wasn’t getting from the people who were meant to love her. “Dad wanted to come, but he’s not supposed to fly yet. And Ustenya stayed to make sure he’s following doctor’s orders.”

Ustenya. Another name that made her heart swell. “You can stop the construction,” Talia told her shortly after Dad returnedfrom the hospital. There was no reason to shell out for new living quarters when volunteers were dropping left and right. Ustenya stared blankly as Talia said these things, until Talia blurted out, “I’m talking about the art studio.”

“You jizz!” Ustenya barked, then laughed maniacally. “You ruined the surprise!” She wasn’t building housing for volunteers. As far as Ustenya was concerned, the barn belonged to Talia, but “the next person who walked in there was going to die from a beam to the brain,” and so she’d embarked upon a project to spruce up the building, and install proper lighting, and a desk. She’d also framed and hung several of Daphne’s sketches and finished pieces, including one she’d literally pried out of some woman’s “cold, almost dead hands.” This was not a metaphor, Ustenya assured her. The old hag had since “sailed into eternal rest.”

“It’s a portrait of little Talia,” Ustenya explained. “I knew as soon as I saw it online. You’d just done finger painting, which I find so joyful!” This was an incredibly positive way to look at it, especially coming from Ustenya, and because Talia knew the piece and always assumed it was a medieval boy toddler who’d murdered someone with his bare hands.

“Use the space for work, creativity, sleeping, whatever you want!” Ustenya had said. “But you must show some respect for the place.” In the end, the art studio was both transformed and left intact. The same yet different. Exactly what Talia needed.

“Um, guys?” Sydney said, poking her head outside. “People are kind of wondering where the guest of honor is?”

“Sorry, my fault.” Talia propped the fake check against the barn. “I’ll bring her back to her fans.” She grabbed Gabby’s hand. “Where can a gal get a drink around here?” she said as they walked inside.

As she turned to find a bartender, something caught her attention on the far side of the room. It was a commotion. A bright light. A man in a white turtleneck and black pants. Loafers, no socks.

“Yo, bitches! What up?” Ozzie called out when he saw them. “Regenerate Oz is here.”

Talia shook her head. “It’s true what they say. The Gunn family. Charming but dysfunctional.”

“Oneperson,” Gabby reminded her. “One person said that. And honestly?” She looked at Talia and grinned. “When it comes to personal slogans, we’ve definitely seen worse.”

GUNNING FOR YOU!