5. Jax

Jax

" W ow, this is like stepping into my childhood fantasy world," Tanner said as we arrived at the convention. As it turned out, it was more of a fan gathering than a con, but there were still a bunch of stalls and plenty of people around the town square in Chester Falls.

"Did you know it was outdoors?" I asked.

"No, but it's pretty cool, right? Look, there's a Kuchipatchi. Let's go get a photo."

He practically dragged me across the square to stand in line for a photo with the cute green mascot.

"Do you know he's my favorite?" I asked.

"Oh yeah? Why?"

"Because he loves food and naps above all things."

Tanner gave me a pointed stare. "Sure you do."

I tried to pretend his appreciative gaze didn't cause my skin to heat under my shirt. Not to mention other places. "It takes a lot of food to maintain this. Also, a lot of rest. It's not all about working out." I returned his stare with my own. "You should know."

Tanner was hot by anyone's standards, but what made him dangerous to me was that he was still the boy I'd known years ago.

He crossed his arms over his chest, showing me the body he clearly worked hard for. "I am familiar with the concept of eating and napping."

"I can't imagine you have much time for napping when you run your own business."

He shrugged. "It's not as fun without company, so it's been a while since I've napped. How about you?"

"Don't have much time for napping these days."

"I hear you."

We exchanged a smile. Napping was the last thing on my mind right now, but napping with Tanner? Okay, was it a super-hot day, or what? And why did he have to wear that baseball cap backward? Didn't he know what that did to every gay man out there?

Or maybe that was his intention. The thought that Tanner was actively trying to look appealing to other men left a sour feeling in my stomach.

We waited in line without talking much, but when our turn came, he was like a kid in a candy store. He wanted photos in every pose possible. I was about to say there was a line and we should move along when a tiny voice called from behind me.

"Excuse me?"

I turned around but had to look down to meet the eyes of the small human. The kid couldn't be older than six or seven, with dark-blue eyes and almost black hair. I guessed the guy standing in line with him was his dad.

"Would you like me to take a picture of you and your husband with Kuchi?"

"He's not my?—"

"Tyler," the guy said, trying to hide his amusement. "What have I told you?"

"Sorry, Papa. But they were talking to each other like you and Daddy talk."

The guy rolled his eyes but smiled adoringly at the kid.

He held his hand out. "I'm sorry about that. He thinks everyone who so much as looks at each other is a couple. He gets it from his dad. I'm Tate, the keeper of this little smartbutt."

"I'm Jax, and my excited friend over there is Tanner," I said.

The kid raised his arm. "I'm Tyler, and I'm going to be eight this year. My birthday is just before Christmas, and my papa and daddy said I could get a camera for my birthday if I keep practicing taking photos. Can I practice with you?"

I chuckled. "Sure." I unlocked my phone and gave it to him, looking at his dad to make sure he was okay with it.

"Looks like you made a friend," Tanner said when I joined him.

"Cute kid."

Somehow, we found ourselves being directed by the kid like we were doing a photoshoot for an influential magazine.

"Okay, okay, that's enough photos, Ty," Tate said.

"Okay, Papa."

I got my phone back, glancing quickly at the ridiculous number of photos taken.

"It's our turn, Papa," Tyler said, jumping excitedly.

"Hey, if you want a break, my husband owns the coffee shop over there. Tell him I sent you," Tate said before aiming his phone at a beaming Tyler.

"You're good with kids," Tanner said when we got away.

"He was cool."

"You think you'll ever have any?"

"Sure. First, I need to find someone to take naps with." I bumped his shoulder. "Come on, there's a secondhand stall over there, and I think you need a new Tamagotchi."

"Chip will get jealous," he sang.

"Nah, they can be best friends."

We browsed for an eternity, chatting to other fans of the toy. I smiled to myself, thinking about my Army brothers. I'd get so much shit if they saw me here.

"What are you smiling about?" Tanner asked, catching me in my thoughts as I picked up the Tamagotchis and put them down again.

"Nothing much, just my Army buddies."

"Do you miss it at all?"

"Just the camaraderie. Being there with a purpose and feeling like I belonged to something bigger than myself."

He turned to face me. "I get that. You always looked after everyone. Made sure Jodie was okay, your mom didn't need anything, and you helped your dad."

"You noticed that?"

He looked away, a small smile curling at the end of his lips. "I noticed everything about you."

I didn't know what to say. My actions hadn't been selfless. Noah hadn't been totally wrong in his assessment at the bar on my first night back. I'd wanted to be noticed by Tanner, even then. But I'd always known it was pointless to pine for a straight guy, especially one who was dating my sister.

"I think you should take this one," I said, changing the conversation and the direction my thoughts were taking me.

"Oh yeah?"

"It looks a little like Chip. I think they'll get along. You could call it Fry."

"Chip and Fry." He laughed and took the toy from me to pay for it at the checkout desk.

"Hey, do you want to grab a coffee or something? Maybe we can check out the coffee shop that guy mentioned."

"If you let me pay since you drove us all the way here."

He held his fist up and I bumped it.

Spilled Beans was full, but someone was leaving a table as we walked in, so Tanner immediately grabbed it.

I didn't see the guy behind the counter straight away, but as soon as he raised his head above the counter, I recognized the blue eyes. He also had hair so dark it almost looked blue tied up in a bun.

"You're Tyler's dad."

He sighed. "I'm Indy, and I'm so sorry. What can I get you? On the house."

I laughed. "I'm Jax. He's a sweet kid. I met him and your husband outside."

"Did he ask if he could perform a wedding ceremony for you and your friend?" he asked, pointing at Tanner.

"No, he only took photos, but now I'm intrigued."

He took our order and started preparing the drinks. "He heard recently about how Tate and I accidentally got married in Vegas and now he thinks it's that easy to marry people." He glanced sideways at me and raised a brow. "And that everyone he sees needs to be married. If it were up to him, there would be no single people in Chester Falls."

"You gotta respect a romantic at heart."

He tilted his head toward Tanner. "You and him?"

I chuckled. "You're your son's dad. Nah, we're just friends."

He shrugged. "I punched my husband when we met and look at where we are." He put a cinnamon bun on a plate. "Here, this one's on me. Best cinnamon bun in the state."

"Then why do we only get one?"

"Because the best things in life are better shared with someone else."

I smiled and paid for the coffee. "I'll keep that in mind."

"What was that all about?" Tanner asked, his brows furrowing a little as he looked at Indy.

"Nothing. That's Tyler's dad. You have him to thank for the cinnamon bun. He also said something that reminded me of something else I wanted to ask you."

"What's that?"

"How do you feel about a Vegas wedding?"