Page 25 of Until Forever

“Give me a dollar, and I’ll tell you.”

I laugh, and still Nurse Crystal doesn’t notice.

“Are you hustling me?” I chuckle.

“I want some chips from the vending machine.”

Heat floods my cheeks, and I can’t stop watching him. JJ stares me down with the most serious poker face I’ve ever seen. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out two one-dollar bills and hold them between two fingers.

“How about two dollars?”

“Deal.” He drops his toys and climbs down from his chair, holding his hand out to me once we’re face to face.

I return his handshake and allow him to take the money from my hand. Like a smart young man, he immediately stomps toward the vending machine. I fight the urge to laugh out loud.Always seal the deal before fulfilling your end of the bargain, I think to myself.

I wait impatiently, tapping my soles against the marbled flooring while he buys his snacks. The items fall with a thud, and I watch intently, taking in every familiar feature as he retrieves his chips and candy.

The first thing I spot is the moon-shaped birthmark at the nape of his neck. I run my hand over the same spot on me, and a chill runs down my spine. JJ is looking down while opening the bag of salt-n-vinegar chips.

My favorite.

Stunned by it all, I absentmindedly follow behind him. We reach the carpeted area, and I skip forward to place a hand on his shoulder. He faces me and stuffs a handful of chips into his mouth.

“Whoa. Slow down before you choke,” I coax and kneel in front of him.

He wipes his hands on his pants. “You sound like my mom.”

I can’t stop staring at him. “Is JJ your real name?” I ask while balancing myself with my forearms on my knees.

“No.” He crams another chip into his mouth. “Everyone calls me JJ, but I’m Jasper.”

My heart stops, and the room spins, everything but him fading into the background. “That’s my name.”

“No way.”

I nod and breathe away the tears that sting the backs of my eyes.

“That is so cool. I’m going to tell my mom,” he cheers and takes off.

“JJ, let’s go, baby,” I hear Latoya’s voice and freeze.

From where I’m positioned, I can’t see her until I’m upright. She’s grinning at JJ, pulling him into a hug the moment he’s in front of her.

“Did Crystal buy you these?” She takes his candy bar from him.

“No.” He wraps an arm around her waist and turns in my direction. “He did.” He points, and she mimics me, stuck in place with shock written all over her face. “And guess what. His name is Jasper, too.”

She chokes. “Is it?”

“Hey, Toya,” I say somberly.

“You know my mom?” he spins and asks before eating more chips.

“I do.” I don’t break eye contact with her.

Latoya swallows, shuffles on her feet, then looks at her son. “All right, young man. Go get your things so we can go.”

JJ jets behind the counter, grabs his belongings, and hugs Nurse Crystal. “Mom, I’m ready for pancakes,” he says once he’s next to Latoya again.

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