My Penpal

4- Damn I wish I had signed Up.

The following day, Lt. Hamilton strolled toward Alexander’s office, a playful grin plastered on his face as he clutched the letter and two packages. He could barely contain his excitement at the thought of teasing his best friend about the thoughtful gifts from Amelia.

As he entered the office, Alexander looked up from his desk, a smile breaking across his face at the sight of Hamilton. “What do you have there?” he asked, already guessing the contents.

“A special dentist sent these for you,” Hamilton said, his smirk widening as he waved the packages in the air, clearly relishing the moment.

Alexander raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Oh really? What makes you think I’m interested?”

Hamilton chuckled as he set the packages down on the desk and began to unwrap them. “Well, I thought you might like a little taste of home,” he teased, glancing at his friend with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

As the wrapping paper fell away, the delicious aroma of freshly baked cookies wafted through the air, making both men’s mouths water. “Wow, those look amazing!” Hamilton exclaimed, his surprise evident. “What did you do to deserve this?”

Alexander shook his head, chuckling softly. “Amelia’s just being nice. One of the packages is for you, you know,” he said, trying to suppress a grin.

“Really?” Hamilton’s curiosity piqued as he opened the second package. The sight of an assortment of cookies, each one decorated and inviting, made his stomach rumble. “This is fantastic! We should have a cookie party!”

As Hamilton grabbed a cookie and took a big bite, Alexander turned his attention to the letter. He carefully unfolded the paper, his heart racing with anticipation as he scanned the familiar handwriting. A warmth spread through him as he read Amelia’s words, a genuine smile forming on his lips.

“And look at this,” Alexander said, holding up the letter so Hamilton could see. “She even sent her number. Looks like I’m going to have to call her soon.”

Hamilton raised an eyebrow, his playful demeanor shifting to one of genuine interest. “So, what are you waiting for? Call her! This could be your chance to take things to the next level.”

“Yeah, I know,” Alexander replied, still feeling the flutter of excitement and nerves in his chest. “I just… I want it to be the right time.”

Hamilton shrugged, still munching on a cookie. “If she’s sending you cookies and her number, I’d say the time is now! You can’t let a good thing pass you by, man. You’ve waited long enough.”

Alexander nodded, contemplating Hamilton’s words. He knew his friend was right. The connection he shared with Amelia was special, and he didn’t want to let fear hold him back any longer.

“Alright, I’ll think about it,” he said, his mind already racing with possibilities. “But first, let’s enjoy these cookies.”

As they both indulged in the sweet treats, Alexander felt a sense of peace wash over him. With the mission ahead looming in the background, it was these moments—filled with friendship, laughter, and a connection to Amelia—that reminded him of the good things waiting for him back home.

"Damn, I wish I had signed up for the penpal program," Hamilton whispered, savoring another cookie as the delightful flavors danced on his taste buds. He leaned back in his chair, a look of satisfaction on his face.

Alexander chuckled, shaking his head. "You’re the one who pushed me to join, remember? You kept saying it would be a good way to connect with someone outside of all this," he replied, gesturing to the busy office around them.