50. Dax

Chapter fifty

Dax

"I wish I told you every minute of every day, just how much you mean to me."

"Where did you say Jae had gone?" I ask Ty as I walk into the back room and take a seat onto the chair in front of the computer.

"I didn't. He just said he was going for a walk to pick some things up, he hasn't been gone that long, D. He's an adult. He knows his way around, I'm sure he'll come back. Anyway, I'm going to go get a coffee, I'll grab you one." He tries to joke around with me as he stands to get his jacket from the rack at the side of the door, but I don't feel amused. I know I shouldn't worry; I'm trying not to be an overbearing guard dog, but I can't help myself.

I just need to make sure he's safe. I'm scared in case something happens again when I'm not there.

If something happens again, I won't be able to forgive myself.

And thankfully, like clockwork, my phone goes off with a text lighting up my screen.

Jae: I'm not going to be back to the shop for a while. I don't want to panic you. I'm fine. I'm in the florist with Bernie, we got talking and one thing led to another. He mentioned how he needed a hand in the shop. And I offered. I couldn't say no. I hope that's okay. I love you and I miss you x

My shoulders relax after I respond to the message.

He's okay, everything's okay. He's down the street. He's just letting me know he's okay.

"Hey, lover boy, guess who managed to get away from work so early?" a female voice shouts. And it's a voice I'm familiar with.

Novah.

I turn in my seat, seeing Novah come into view awkwardly. "Oh, hey, Dax. Sorry. Where's your brother?" she asks, not wanting to look at me, clearly feeling embarrassed. Understandable.

"Not here." I reply dryly. "Lover boy?" I arch my brow, questioning.

"Oh yeah, it just slipped out. I was on the phone to a friend." She awkwardly removes her reading glasses, wiping the lens on her cardigan to avoid giving me any eye contact.

"Sure," I respond, turning back to the computer.

But as I start tapping on the keyboard, I start to feel doubtful of myself.

Did I come off as rude to Novah? If she's as close to Ty as I think she is, has he told her? Does she know about me? And if she does, what does she know?

"I'll go sit on the shop floor; I don't want to intrude."

"It's fine, Novah, really. You can sit down here. Tyler should be back soon. He's just gone for a coffee." I offer her a smile.

If there is something going on between the two of them, like I think there is, I don't want her to hate me.

"Actually, Novah. Would you be able to do something for me? I have a bouquet of flowers ordered at Bernie's. I can't go and collect it because Jae's there right now. Would you be able to collect them for me?" I swing the chair around giving her my full attention.

She looks confused at first, but her face then softens. "Yeah, okay. Sure. If Tyler comes back, are you able to tell him –"

"Yeah, don't worry. Thank you."

Before I turn to smile, she's already out the door and the guilt eats at me more.

Fortunately, the shop door opens not long after Novah goes out the back, with Tyler striding in with two coffee cups in hand.

"Here you go, Daxxy boy," he says as he puts the paper coffee cup onto the table.

"Thanks, lover boy," I tease.

He pulls back the coffee cup from his lips, choking from hearing the words I've just said, his face turning bright red. I don't think I've seen him as embarrassed as this before and I can't help but take a moment to soak in this new development.

He slowly takes a seat in his chair beside me, "D, we need to talk about something." Quickly going back to the coffee, he was sipping.

I arch my brow at his confession. "Do you mean how you're fucking Novah?"

He chokes again. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I may not pick up on things others would but I'm not stupid, Tyler."

He lowers the cup, placing it onto the side. "What? Of course you're not. I never said you are," he stumbles. "How did you know?"

"I've seen the way you look at her, the way she looks at you, I think I've known for a while."

His shoulders start to relax, no longer tensed. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, D. I was confused. What I feel for – what me and Novah have is different to what I've had before." His shoulders start to tense back up. I hear the uncomfortable undertone in his voice. I turn, giving him my full attention. "We both know I had no interest in relationships before. Everyone was just a silly fling to me. I didn't have the time for anyone. But with her, it's different."

I can't help but feel emotional at his confession. Tyler deserves this more than anyone I know. I've noticed the happiness she's brought to him in such a short amount of time.

"And the boys?" I ask.

"They don't know yet. We were waiting to tell you first. I just wanted to make sure I was certain of things between us. I never thought I wanted children, you know? It never crossed my mind. But those two boys? I'd give them the world just to see them smile."

And I know he would, too.

"And you're certain?"

"Yeah, I think so, D. I love her. And the boys too." His face lights up with pride. I've seen him around Theo and Frankie, and you would have to be an idiot not to notice how much he cares for them both.

"Does she know?"

"That I love her?" He lets out a low sigh. "Nope." He pops the ‘p' at the end. "I just gotta hope when I do tell her, she loves me back. I guess."

I press my feet to the floor, pushing them forward one by one, dragging my chair towards him. Putting an arm around his shoulder, I bring him in for a hug. He knows this is one of the only times I'll accept or be close enough for a hug. When one of us is sad, feeling overwhelmed, or frustrated. I'm not so good with speech, thankfully he's aware of this. "Love you, brother," I whisper into his shoulder. He doesn't reply, but squeezes me harder.

The bells chime as the front door of the shop opens, Novah comes into view with the bouquet of flowers, they're so beautiful, something in me warms at the idea of giving them to Jae.

"Dax, these are beautiful. Are they for Jae? I saw his mouth watering over them in the store. I had to tell them they were for my sister, he looked so sad about it. I know he's going to love them." She puts the flowers on the table towards the back of the room, out of view from the window just in case he so happened to walk past and comes into the shop. "Oh, hey, Tyler. I didn't see you there." He abruptly sits up, pulling himself away from me, coughing.

"Is everything okay?" she asks with a concerned look on her face.

"Yeah, fine." He coughs again, attempting to clear his throat. "Wow, D. Those are some impressive flowers, if they don't get you laid, I don't know what else would."

"Tyler!" Novah scolds. He doesn't reply, he just shrugs his shoulders and mouths the word sorry.

Interesting.

I stare at the flowers with awe, they're exactly how I imagined them to be. I've spoken to Bernie a handful of times, mostly in Cee's. He has a similar understanding of flowers as I do. When I ordered the bouquet yesterday while I was ‘going to grab some coffee' I didn't explain much about what I wanted because he knew straight away. From what I had seen inside the store, I knew he could create works of art – but I never expected this.

From the corner of my eye, I notice Ty's face starts to soften. I haven't seen him look at someone the way I've caught him looking at Novah a handful of times. It confused me at first because this is a side to Tyler I've never seen before, and up until now didn't know existed. But the more I see how they're staring at each other and having silent conversations only they can understand, the more I want this for him.

I just hope she feels the same way, because no one is more deserving of love than him.

"They're perfect, Dax. He's going to love them." I hear Tyler's voice to the side of me, "Roses, tulips and orchids, deep love, new beginnings, and beauty, right?"

"You're getting good."

"I've learnt from the best." He walks towards them, making sure not to touch, but inhaling the floral scent coming from them. "What are you going to do with them?"

"Show Jae exactly what he means to me." I beam. "If you're all covered here, am I able to go home, I'll leave you two to it. I know you're in safe hands."

"Yeah. If you need anything, call me, yeah?" he asks as he prods my shoulder with his finger.

I smile back at him with a nod. With me coming to work today with Jae in his car, I need to make my own way back to the house. I didn't want to ask Ty, so I decide to get the bus back. With only three minutes left until one is due, I pull my phone out of my jean pocket and send Jae a text.

Dax: I've gone back to the house, don't worry, I'm fine. Don't feel the need to rush, but please come home as soon as you're finished. I owe you a date.

Home.