“That’s an embarrassing story, and I’m not sure we’re close enough for that kind of confession.”
He winked. “Maybe not yet, but how about…?” He reached into the pocket of his jeans and then placed his closed hand over the bar.
I gasped when he turned his hand over and opened it.
“Chip! Oh my god, you still have it.”
The Tamagotchi I’d given him after I learned he’d been accepted into the medical training program for the Army. Jodie had made fun of me for weeks after that, but I hadn’t cared. Our love for the high-maintenance little toy had been the basis for my friendship with Jax.
Selfishly, I’d wanted him to take something of mine with him. I hadn’t wanted him to forget me. I always expected he’d lose it or that it would end up left behind, so much so that I’d forgotten about it completely.
My throat closed a little as my eyes flickered between the small device and Jax’s face. “You kept it all these years?”
“I did. It was silly, and trust me, I got a lot of shit for it from my unit, but it was the only thing I had that I could take everywhere.”
“Is it still alive?” I leaned over to look at the screen.
“It died a few times while I was in the middle of a mission and working on real injured soldiers was more important, but it always left me with a new egg, so I grew a new one each time. This one is three years old.”
Humans of this world, this is the day Tanner Beckett lost his words, maybe even his heart, to the man who probably always had it without even knowing.
“She’s hungry,” I said when the food icon appeared on the Tamagotchi screen.
“Go on.” Jax held it up by the small chain in my direction.
“You’re letting me feed it?” I held the device with shaking hands.
“Technically, you’re still her parent. Maybe we can share custody now.”
I pressed the buttons to feed the digital pet, trying my best to not read too much into Jax’s words.
Jax
JAX
(photo of ten large boxes)
This is all your fault.
TAN
I love assembling furniture! Let me do it.
JAX
Weirdo.
TAN
Hey! Want help or not?
JAX
I suppose. I’m off-shift for the next two days.
TAN
Stock up on coffee. I’ll bring donuts. See you in the morning.
