Chapter 17: Work

Over the next couple weeks, Jay continued to put in a couple extra hours every day, even on his days off. Danial was starting to get concerned about his giant brunette after Jay came home one day completely drained, just collapsing on their bed, falling asleep as soon as his head hit his pillow. It started happening the second week. That was two weeks ago. Since then, it has happened another 7 times, making Danial more and more worried about his lover.

Danial was sitting in their living room looking over paperwork for the shop on the couch when Jay walked out of their room, buttoning up one of his work shirts. With a raised eyebrow of curiosity, Danial got up off the couch and made his way over to his mumbling boyfriend. It was late Saturday morning and they both had to work today, but Danial luckily could work from home if he wanted.

"Headed off to work, Deku?" Danial asked, leaning over the countertop, storm-blue eyes studying Jay.

"Yep. Are you going to work from home again? Are you going to go into the hotline offices later?" Jay asked, slipping his jacket over his shoulders in preparation of the cool spring nights. The shop usually closed at 6pm and then Danial would head straight to the offices till 9pm to 10pm. The brunette usually would get off at 8pm, but since Danial had been working till 10 at the hotline offices Jay had started working till then too. It allowed him the perfect excuse to get those extra hours he needed.

"Ya. I mostly just have paperwork to do today. Figured it would be more comfortable to do it here than in my stiff work chair. Are you going to be working late again?" Danial asks, dying to know why Jay was pulling all these long hours. Part of him knew it was for something special, but the other part couldn't help but worry it was to get away from him. They had been together for four amazing months and they both seemed very happy, but Danial still couldn't help but worry.

Jay could see the fear swirling inside those stunning storm-blue eyes, and he didn't like it one bit. He walked around the counter to stand in front of his love, holding him close to his chest. Leaning down, he gave the frowning blonde a chaste kiss, lifting one hand to cup Danial's pale cheek.

"I love you Danny, you will never have to worry about that or fear that I will leave you. You are my world. I'm just... I'm just trying to be better... work harder... for you. That's all I'm doing. I promise and it won't be for much longer. This is the last week, I promise." Jay says, softly thumb rubbing light circles on Danial's cheek. Emerald eyes shining with nothing but absolute love.

"Last week, that's it. No more overtime." The small blonde said sternly, glaring at the sheepish brunette. Jay gives Danial a bright smile before giving him a chaste kiss.

"I'll see you when I get home, Danny. I love you. Have a good day!" Jay says as he opens the door, giving the suspicious blonde a sincere smile.

"Ya, ya see you later nerd. Don't work too hard. Love you too, Deku." He says as he finally smiles at the taller male who was closing the door behind him. 'I wish he would just tell me why he's working so much.' Danial thinks as he heads back to the couch to finish his paperwork.

At the Bar

Jay was just walking through the Bar doors when he noticed Skyler and Edward at the bar. With a smile on the tall brunette's face, he made his way over to the pair.

"Hey guys, what are you talking about?" Jay asks, after he clocks in, walking behind the bar to get ready for the day. The two smiled slightly at the happy look on Jay's face. Both remembering a time when no matter what, they could never get Jay to smile. Now it seemed like he could never stop, warming their hearts to finally see him so full of life.

"I was just going over this month's hours for everyone, and I noticed that you have been putting in 10 to 20 extra hours every week lately. Care to tell me why?" Edward asked, smirking at the wide-eyed brunette who was now nervously scratching the back of his neck. Skyler couldn't help but chuckle at this best friend's shy behavior.

"Well... I umm... I have... something I wanted to buy... for Danny and... and it's rather expensive so... so I need the extra cash." Skyler and Edward share a surprised look before looking back at Jay, who was now trying to distract himself with getting the bar ready to open.

"You are planning on proposing to Danial." Edward said out of the blue, making Jay's eyes widen almost comically, nearly dropping the cup he was drying as his body tensed up from the sudden statement. "I will take that as a yes."

"You can't tell him!" Jay shouts, slapping a hand over his mouth when he realizes what he said and how loud he said it. Skyler and Edward can't help but laugh at the flustered brunette, whose face was bright red from embarrassment. A couple of his co-workers that were also getting ready for the day, stopped to chuckle at the display.

"Calm down Jay. No one's gonna say anything, but I have to wonder if he isn't worried about how much over time you have been putting in?" Edward says, sitting on one of the bar stools, eyes watching the fidgety brunette closely.

"Ya... he... he ah... is concerned about me. Told me this was the last week I was allowed to work overtime. I told him it was just because I wanted to make more money for us. To be able to pull my own weight in the relationship..." Jay almost whispers, eyes avoiding the two men, feeling slightly ashamed of lying to Danial.

"Jay, you could have just worked a couple extra shifts over the course of a couple of months instead of just one month. No wonder he is so worried about you." Skyler says, resting an arm on the bar as Edward continues to study Jay's nervous posture.

"Do you think he will say no?" Edward says suddenly, wanting to see if that was what was making Jay tense. Emerald eyes look out the corner of his eye at his stoic faced father figure.

"Sorta... ya. I already asked his parents, and they were thrilled. Margret was even talking about ideas for the wedding, about where we should hold it or where we should have the reception. It was really nice, and they even offered to pay for it. I didn't think they would be willing to pay for it either, but... they are." There was a small smile on Jay's face as he spoke. Edward and Skyler share a pleased look before getting up and getting back to what they were doing before.

"That is great! Well, let me know when you propose, and I want an invite when he says yes." Edward says, causing Jay to let out a little surprised squeak. Making Edward smile with a slight chuckle.

"When? What makes you think he will say yes? We have only been together for four months." Jay says as he finishes wiping down the last bottle on the display shelf. Edward chuckles as he walks away, nodding to Skyler.

"He will say yes, and time doesn't mean anything when you are soulmates. Everyone can see it." Skyler says, patting Jay on the back before walking away to open the doors.

The rest of Jay's night is pretty uneventful as it gets closer and closer to the end of his shift. The words of the men he considered his family, floating around his head the whole evening.

Lately something felt off, like someone was watching him for the last couple of days. Every time he would look in the direction where he thought the feeling was coming from, it would vanish, or he wouldn't see anyone.

That was exactly what was happening tonight too. He was fixing up a customer's drink when once again he felt someone's eyes on him, but this time when he looked, he saw someone watching him from the side windows. Hairs on the back of his neck instantly rising. Just as he was about to go see who it was, the person vanished. Green eyes filled with unease as he continues to stare out the window.

He was standing there for what felt like an eternity to him, but in reality, it was only a couple of minutes. Skyler instantly noticed the odd behavior and went over to check on his best friend. Seeing the fear in his emerald eyes.

"Jay... are you okay?" He says, putting his hand on Jay's shoulder, making the brunette nearly jump out his skin. Green eyes instantly meet gray and blue eyes, seeing worry written all over his friend's face.

"I just... I just felt someone watching me... and then... then I saw someone watching me out the window. Whoever they were gave me a very bad feeling." Jay said, turning back to the window. As his breathing finally starts to calm down and his shaking hands relax. He had no idea he was shaking so badly till Skyler patted his back, rubbing gentle circles on it.

"Jay, maybe you should tell Edward before he leaves, and then go home. You have been putting so many hours in lately... I talked to Danial... well Edward did, I was just in the office, and he was on speaker phone. Danial is really worried about you. He mentioned that you have been collapsing on the bed every other night after work most days... Go home. Get some sleep, spend some quality time with your boyfriend before he shows up here to drag you home by your ear. And yes, he did say he would do that." Skyler laughs at the end, eyes soft as he studies his best friend. Jay's eyes blow wide as he realizes he's been caught, practically red handed too. He lets out a tired sigh, nodding his head looking at Skyler.

"Okay. I'll go tell Edward then head home... Thank you, Skyler." With that, Jay heads to Edward's office. When he was done, Jay grabbed his stuff and waved goodbye to his friends as he walked out the staff door. He pulls on his coat as he starts his trek home.

Jay was lost in thought as he walked down the sidewalk, when a shine from one of the store windows caught his eye. He stops in his tracks as his eyes widen slightly before walking backwards to stand in front of the window. It was a jewelry store, with a beautiful simple elegant engagement ring in the window. 'That's the one. I need to get that ring.' Jay thought as he looked at the store hours. 'They close at 8pm.' He looked at his watch quick to see it was 7:45pm. 'Damn, talk about luck.' The brunette thinks as he walks into the store.

"Hello, how can I help you?" A woman says from behind the counter, a bright smile on her face. Jay walked over to her, feeling slightly underdressed and sheepish.

"I'm here to buy an engagement ring for my boyfriend." There was now a bright smile on the tall brunette's face as he looked at the display window. "The one in the center of the left window, please." The lady nods her head as she walks over to grab the ring from the display. Once she has it in hand, she brings it back over to Jay at the counter. He smiles when he sees the correct ring in her hand. "That's the one."

"You have excellent taste, sir. It's a black Elysium band with a 2.0 CT princess cut emerald engagement ring with two triangle cut diamonds on the sides." The woman says as Jay studies the ring. He knew Danial's favorite stone was emeralds, like Jay's eyes, a secret Danial once let slip one night as they were cuddling in bed after a heated night of love making.

"I'll take it. Size 9 please." Jay says, smiling at the woman who smiled back, nodding her head.

"Do you want to know how much it cost first sir?" She asks, intrigued by why this brunette wasn't asking for the price.

"No, this is the one I want." She just shrugs as she walks to the back, to get the right size ring and grab a box for the ring.

Jay was beaming with pride for finding such a perfect ring and for making enough money to buy it. He saw the price tag on it and lucky for him, today was payday. Putting him $335 over what he needed to purchase the perfect engagement ring for the love of his life. Now the hard part, planning the perfect proposal and getting Danial to say yes.