Page 99 of Life’s Too Short

He smiled at me. “Okay. I’ve found the person I want to share everything with. Better?”

I nodded. “Yes. Better.”

He grinned.

I nodded up at him. “Hey, what do you think of giving Harry Puppins to your grandma?”

He pulled his face back. “You want to give our dog away?”

I shrugged. “Well, he’s not actually our dog. We’re fostering him. And our lifestyles aren’t conducive to long-term dog ownership when you really think about it. Your grandma really likes him. And you notice how he hasn’t bitten her?”

He scoffed. “God, can you imagine that dog with teeth?”

“Can you imagine that dog as a dragon?”

Adrian barked out a laugh.

“I’ll bet your grandma reminds him of his previous owner or something. We could arrange it with the rescue, pay the adoption fee for her as a gift.”

He seemed to mull this over. “I guess you’re right. He probably would be happier here. There’s always someone home. I’m going to miss that little asshole.”

I laughed. “We could foster another dog if you miss having one. Save another life.”

He smiled at me. “I like that you’re such a good person. You make me want to be a better person too.”

I rubbed my nose on his. “You already are a better person.”

His eyes moved to my lips and then came back up. “Are you ready for your Christmas gift?”

I cocked my head. “You don’t want to wait until tomorrow?”

“It’s midnight. It’s Christmas.”

“Is it your dick in a box? Because if it is, I’m very excited to open it.”

He laughed. “No. Though feel free to open that gift as often as you’d like.”

I snorted.

He pulled something out of his pocket and put it in my hand. A small, flat package wrapped in candy cane wrapping paper.

“Is it a gift card?” I asked, prying the paper open.

It was an Altoids tin.

“I didn’t want you to have any idea what’s in it until you saw it,” he said.

I smiled and shook it next to my ear and it made a rattling sound. Then I opened the lid and sucked in a gulp of air. I blinked at it a moment, not believing what I was seeing.

It was Mom’s ring.

I put a shaking hand out to touch it like it might not be real. “How did you…?” I breathed.

“I started looking for it right after you told me it was stolen.”

A choking sob burst from my mouth.

“Adrian…this is…” I shook my head and looked up at him with tears in my eyes. “This is the best Christmas gift anyone has ever given me,” I whispered.