Page 119 of Left on Base

“Fork Guy’s right!” Marcus announces, making us both jump but not move apart. “You two either yank the fork out or leave it in, but this halfway stuff is asking for infection.”

Down the hall, Fork Guy shouts, “THAT’S WHAT I’M SAYING!”

“Marcus!” Jackie calls. “Stop giving fork-based relationship advice and help me here! And you—” presumably to Fork Guy—“stop eavesdropping and let me fix your life choices!”

“But I’m invested in their story!” Fork Guy protests. “It’s likeGrey’s Anatomybut with more stalking and less medical accuracy!”

When they’re gone, Jaxon’s still behind me, I’m still using his shoulder as a pillow, and we’re both pretending this isn’t making things more complicated.

“You been talking to Nathan still?” he asks quietly.

“No… You been talking to Inez?”

His face brushes mine, and it’s so tender I could cry. His voice is soft. “Not how you think. She found me after practice, but I’ve been ignoring her texts for weeks.”

I hate how hopeful those words make me. “Why?”

“Well…” He kisses my temple. “She’s not you.”

I blow out a breath. “What if Fork Guy’s right and we’re both walking around with plastic utensils in our faces?”

“Mmm.” He laughs, and I feel it in his chest. “That guy’s definitely concussed.”

“Doesn’t mean he’s wrong.”

“Have you had a tetanus shot recently?” Marcus returns with what looks like the world’s largest needle.

“I... don’t know.” I lift my head, eyeing the torture device Marcus calls medical equipment. “But I’m suddenly very sure I had one yesterday. Maybe two.”

Jaxon laughs behind me. “Sure you did.”

“Nice try.” Marcus preps my arm while I try not to hyperventilate. “But if you can’t remember, you’re getting one.”

I pull my arm back. “What if I write you a compelling essay about why I don’t need it?” I grip Jaxon’s hand tighter.

“Nope.”

Down the hall, Fork Guy yells, “Pretend it’s a tiny fork!”

“Not helping!” I yell back.

“That’s worse,” Jaxon points out, shifting to block my view of the needle, his free hand cupping my face. “Look at me instead.”

I search his eyes, unprepared for the ache in my chest. I want to kiss him. “I am not a fan of needles,” I say, as if my death grip on his hand wasn’t obvious. “Like, strongly opposed.”

“You know what’s worse than needles?” Jaxon asks, thumb stroking my cheek.

“Lockjaw,” Marcus adds. “Which you’ll get if you skip this.”

“That’s debatable right now—ow!” I yelp as Marcus sneaks in the shot while I’m distracted by Jaxon’s face. “That was cruel and unusual punishment.”

“All done,” Marcus announces. “See? Barely felt it.”

“I’m filing a complaint with HR,” I mutter, still holding Jaxon’s hand. He looks at me like I’m something precious, even with tears in my eyes.

“No you’re not,” Jackie says, dropping off my discharge papers. “We witnessed your bush-diving adventure and have photographic evidence.”

“You took pictures?”

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