it’s raining lightly outside, the soft pitter-patter of droplets against the window creating a peaceful backdrop to the cozy warmth inside your apartment. you’re on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, your phone in hand as you scroll through random videos. it’s one of those slow days, where nothing big is happening, but everything feels just right. that’s when jake bursts through the door, drenched from head to toe, hair clinging to his forehead and clothes soaked through. he looks like a mess, but the brightest grin is plastered on his face, eyes twinkling with excitement.

“i got it!” he exclaims, holding up a small bag, oblivious to the fact that he’s dripping all over the floor. you sit up, raising an eyebrow at him. “you look like you swam here. what did you get?”

ignoring your question, jake drops the bag onto the coffee table and rushes over to you, shaking his head like a dog, sending droplets of water flying everywhere. you shriek and try to shield yourself with the blanket, but it’s no use. he’s laughing now, his boyish, carefree laugh filling the room, and you can’t help but laugh too. “you’re impossible!” you giggle, but the warmth in your chest spreads as you take in how happy he looks. it’s one of the things you adore most about him — how easily he finds joy in the smallest things.

he pulls off his wet hoodie and throws it over the back of a chair, then plops down next to you on the couch, still beaming. “i got you something.” you glance at the bag he’d tossed on the table, your curiosity piqued. “what is it?”

“close your eyes,” jake says, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in his eyes. you give him a playful look but close your eyes anyway, feeling your heart flutter just a bit. you hear him rustling with the bag for a moment, then the sound of something soft being set in front of you.

“okay, open!” you open your eyes and gasp. sitting on the coffee table is the tiniest, fluffiest puppy you’ve ever seen, with big brown eyes staring up at you and a little tail wagging furiously.