Page 130 of Finding Olivia (Trace + Olivia 1)

“Don’t say that. Ketchup is delicious,” he grinned over the rim of his mug.

I pretended to gag. “It’s so nasty.”

“How can you be American and not like ketchup? It doesn’t add up,” he shook his head.

I took a sip of the steaming liquid. “I just don’t. Do you like everything you eat?”

“No, but it’s ketchup! It’s impossible not to love,” he exclaimed dramatically.

“You do realize that we’re two adults, sitting here, arguing about ketchup,” I eyed him.

“But it’s ketchup!” He repeated. “It deserves to be argued for its tomatoey goodness!”

“Tomatoey isn’t even a word,” I laughed.

“Well, it should be,” he huffed, shaking his head back and forth. “Especially when used in the defense of ketchup.”

We finished our hot chocolate and Trace insisted on cleaning the mugs while I lounged in bed. I wanted to help, but he refused. Trace was stubborn like that. I stretched out in his bed, suddenly feeling tired, even though it couldn’t be later than six o’ clock in the evening.

Trace came back into the bedroom and rummaged through his top drawer.

He pulled out a small white box and sat down on the bed beside me, stretching his long legs out.

“I got you something,” he whispered softly.

“Trace, you didn’t-”

“I know,” he put a finger over my lips. “It’s not for Christmas or anything. I saw it and it made me think of you. I had to buy it.”

I took the box from his outstretched hand, and pulled the lime green ribbon off, before lifting the lid.

Inside, was a necklace with a delicate gold chain, and a small star charm that was no bigger than the nail on my pinky finger.

“It’s so pretty,” I gasped, lifting it out of the box. I wasn’t one to wear jewe

lry…ever, but I would make an exception for this.

“You really like it?” He seemed unsure.

“Trace, I love it,” I clasped it in my hand, tightly; like I was afraid he might take it back.

“Good,” he breathed out a sigh of relief.

I glanced down at the necklace again. “Why a star? I love it, I do, but I’m just wondering.”

“Because, you’re a star, Olivia. Even though you can’t see it, you are. You shine so brightly and captivate everyone with your light and brilliance. Also,” he grew bashful, a rare state for Trace, “it made me think of that night, on the picnic table, after you told me about your list, and we saw the shooting star,” he brushed his fingers along my chin.

“I-I-” I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t believe he had put so much thought into a gift for me. “Thank you,” I finally gasped.

“You’re welcome,” he kissed my cheek and I waited for a sexual innuendo or something snarky to come out of his mouth. But it didn’t happen. Trace was oddly serious…for the moment at least. I wouldn’t put it past him to begin arguing the virtues of ketchup again.

I brushed my hair to the side of my neck and fumbled a few times with the clasp, since I wasn’t used to them, but I finally got it on.

Trace fingered the necklace, purposely brushing my chest in the process.

“Perfect,” he smiled at me. “By the way, you look really hot in my shirt, and it’s not helping me control myself.”

“What should I do then?” I asked, playing along.

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