The Personal Shopper

I look back over to my dad. “Dad what are-...”

He cuts me off. “You know Becca can’t keep a secret. She blabbed the whole thing the second she walked in the door.”

I look over to Becca. “Oh my god Becca!”

She just shrugs her shoulders. “Sorry, but I couldn’t help myself. It was so cute. I had to tell someone.”

I glare back at her. “And you chose my dad?”

She just laughs. “What? He was the first person I saw.”

Parker panics and tries to be proactive about smoothing things over with my dad. “Peter, you know I have nothing but respect for Ava and I would never-....”

My dad cuts him off too. He pats him on the shoulder. “Relax Parker. I was young and in love once too. I know how it works. Just as long as you don?

?t hurt my Ava here, I couldn’t be happier.”

My mouth is just hanging open. This is not at all how I was expecting things to turn out.

My dad looks back over to me, and I look back at him. “So does this mean you aren’t going to fire Parker?”

My dad just laughs. “Oh honey. Don’t be ridiculous. I only fired those other guys you dated because they were total assholes.” Again my mouth just hangs open. “Dad!”

He just shrugs. “What? It’s true isn’t it?” I guess I can’t argue with that.

My dad turns back to Parker. “Me and Doug do want to discuss a more permanent position for you though. You want to stop by my office this week and we can go over what areas of interest you have?”

Parker just smiles and shakes my dad’s hand. “I’d like that.”

My dad pats him on the shoulder again. “Good, because now that you are going to be a part of the family, you don’t have a choice but to join the family business.”

My eyes widen. “Dad! Getting a little ahead of yourself don’t you think?”

He just smiles back at me and then looks back at Parker. “No, I don’t think I am.”

Parker doesn’t disagree with him and instead just smiles back at me. For some reason that smile warms my heart, and I fall even more in love with him.

The thought of Parker being a part of the family doesn’t scare me at all, and I actually look forward to it. Probably because he has always been a part of this family, but now I just get to take him home after every family dinner. And I am looking forward to every single one of them.

Epilogue

9 Months Later

Ava

I lean down and pick up little George. I can’t help but kiss his little chubby cheeks. This baby has fat rolls for days. I still can’t believe Becca named a little baby George like he is part of the royal family or something, but it somehow oddly fits him perfectly with his little chubby fingers and arms that I am kissing again.

Parker comes up behind me and wraps his arm around my waist. “Are you kissing the baby again?”

I smile back at him. “Yes.”

He rolls his eyes at me. “You’re going to give the kid rashes or something.”

I push my elbow back into his stomach softly. “Hey! No I will not. You are just jealous.”

Parker chuckles behind me. “Hell yeah I’m jealous. Those kisses are supposed to be exclusively for me.”

Becca walks back into the living room. “Hey, no cursing in front of the baby!”