The weeks passed in a blur, until one day Jax looked up at a knock at the door of the computer lab to find a walking bouquet of roses. “Delivery for Jax Hall?” the roses said.
“Uh?” Jax answered. They had to be from Ari, right? But why?
The roses shifted to one side, revealing arms. The arms set them down on a table near the door, thankfully far away from any equipment. Then the feet stepped back and a full person emerged from behind the flowers. “Sorry, pal, but we don’t deliver after five, and we had special instructions. You got a way to get these home?”
“I think I’ll get an Uber,” Jax said faintly.
“Good call. Happy Valentine’s Day, buddy.” And the guy saluted and left.
Oh. Well. That explained the roses. They sat like a beacon at the door, drawing Jax’s eye, and his lab partners’ as well. They kept smirking and shaking their heads.
Jax gave up working an hour later. He booked an Uber and carried his ridiculous bouquet out of the building. At least the sheer number of petals hid his burning face.
At home, he searched the flowers for a card. It was small and said only,Since we cannot be together today, this will have to do. —A.
Jax dialed up his boyfriend.
“So a plant walked into my lab today,” Jax said in greeting.
“Did one?”
“Yes, a rather large red one. It wanted me to know my boyfriend is a sap of epic proportions.”
“Maybe, maybe not. It could just be that you inspire romance in others.”
Grinning ear to ear, Jax said, “Now that is ridiculous.”
“Only with you,” Ari murmured.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Jax said back. They sat in warm silence. Jax only wished that Ari were with him so he could lean into his space and get all the comfort he needed.
“Tell me about your day,” Ari said, and Jax curled himself under a blanket and started to talk.
Unfortunately, Jax’s days were mostly the same. At least after talking about how boring but productive the lab was, Jax was able to offer, “I heard from Afra today.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, she wanted to send me the most recent tour schedule. She mentioned something about the fostering stuff being stressful, though.”
Ari hummed. “Yes. They have had a relatively smooth experience with getting themselves onto fostering lists. Things are happening much more quickly than Afra anticipated, I think. She’s trying not to panic.”
“Oh, yikes.”
“It would seem there is a need for foster parents.”
“There usually is,” Jax murmured.
Ari blew out a breath. “They could end up with a child before the end of the year. I have attempted to ask her what her plan is for touring, but she is being… reticent.”
“Maybe she and Ben need to talk more about how they want things to work?” Jax suggested. His heart thundered and he hoped he didn’t sound guilty. “Anyway, it’s not like she’s gonna leave you in the lurch. She’s your sister.”
“I am aware. Only… I find touring very stressful, and knowing she has my back….”
“Hey, Ari. Everything will work out just fine. You know it will.”
“Well—” Ari cleared his throat. “—if you say so, it must be true.”
“Of course. I’m right about everything.”
