Page 128 of Keeping the Score

She pulls out the stuffed animal with a puzzled expression. “Is this for me or for Tilly?”

“It’s for you.”

She turns the animal and realizes what it is. “Oh! It’s Bailey!”

“No. Not Bailey.”

“What?” Her forehead wrinkles.

“That’s the dog I’m going to get you as soon as we live somewhere pets are allowed.”

She stares back at me, lips parted. She’s so beautiful, her cheeks peachy smooth, her eyes big and warm.

Am I jumping the gun? I lick my bottom lip, suddenly nervous. We haven’t talked about living together. In a way, it seems soon. But also, it seems like we already are, at times, she spends so much time here.

“Ford.” She presses her lips together and peers down at the soft toy. “Thank you.”

“He’s wearing something that’s also for you.”

She glances up, then down, and fingers the necklace around the dog’s neck. “Oh!” She jerks her eyes back up to me. “Oh my God, Ford.”

I’m nervous again.

She undoes the tiny clasp of the gold chain and holds up the necklace. A one-carat diamond sparkles in the lights. “This is beautiful.”

I shift away from Tilly and move behind Andi to fasten the necklace at her nape. I bend and kiss the side of her neck. “I felt like it wasn’t enough. The dog’s not real. Yet. But I wanted you to have something real.”

“I love it. I’ve never had anything so beautiful. Thank you.” She turns her head and our mouths meet in a long, hot, emotional kiss.

Mom and Dad clear their throats.

We draw apart with smiles.

“Open yours now,” Andi urges me. She hands me a gift bag.

I open it and pull out something wrapped in red tissue. It’s a Christmas ornament. I hold it up. A shark. Wearing a Santa hat. I grin. “This is awesome. Thank you.”

She hands me a small box wrapped in silver paper. “And this.”

I fumble open the paper, then lift the lid off the box. Inside is a bracelet—rustic black beads with one silver bead. I look closer. The silver bead is a shark. Grinning, I pull out the bracelet and slip it onto my left wrist. “Thanks. This is cool.”

“There’s more.”

I go back to the box and find a folded paper. I open it and read it. Then I look up at Andi again. “Each bracelet comes with a shark?”

“Yes.” She bites her lip. “There’s information in there about your shark—a picture of it, and its name. You can track where he goes on a map and get information about his journey.”

“Holy shit. Oops, I mean, holy shoot.” Excitement rushes through my veins as I look down at the picture. “He’s a good-looking shark. His name is Jawesome.”

Mom’s forehead creases. “His name is awesome?”

“No, Jawesome.” I grin at Mom.

Dad laughs. “That’s good. Let’s see that.”

I go over and show it to him. I think he’s as excited as I am.

I look over at Andi, watching with a glow on her face. I have to kiss her again. “This is the best gift ever. Thank you.”

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