Rose Tinted (boyxboy)

Chapter 13: The ride home

"You're not shining so bright tonight."

☆

The work shift that afternoon was a rather subdued affair. Tayce's usual excitable nature was a little dampened by his thoughts about what to do about his life. Learning to face the reality about the man he had loved for over a year was easier said that done. Especially when Tayce had no family around him ...nowhere to go. Maybe that was why Frank chose him, because he had no one in the first place. He would then become easy to mold, become dependent on him. Maybe it was all part of Frank's plan.

Tayce sighs as he wipes down yet another table, before stacking the chairs from around it. Micky, who was not too far behind Tayce with a mop, looks at his co-worker. "You're not shining so bright tonight." He comments, noticing the slight change in Tayce's mood.

Tayce again tries to brush it off, like a habit. He had perfected it. "I'm ok Mick, just ready for home. I'm just tired." He adds. 

"Well it looks like you're prayers have been answered." Micky adds, gesturing towards the door. 

Tayce looks up to see a red Audi A4 park up outside the shop, with a well dressed male getting out of the drivers seat. "Frank?" Tayce says under his breath. Frank had never once picked up Tayce from work, he'd only ever been inside Bang Bang chicken that one time when they first met. 

Frank makes his way to the door and attempts to open it, making the glass rattle. Tayce just watches, subconsciously squeezing the cloth in his hand, making some liquid drip from it, onto the floor. 

"We're closed!" Tayce looks over his shoulder to see Jojo waving his hand at Frank on the other side of the glass. "We are open 8am till 10pm 7 days a week, if you can't come inbetween those times, then I can't help you!" 

Frank now points a finger towards Tayce, mouthing something Jojo can't hear. "What?" Jojo gets closer to the door to try and hear what is being said. 

"It's Frank Jojo...my boyfriend." Tayce says in a quiet tone. He contemplated saying nothing. Just letting Frank suffer and stress the other side of the glass, but he knew it would come back to haunt him. 

"Frank? Oh why didn't you say?" Jojo pulls the keys from his back pocket and proceeds to unlock the door. 

Max now stops replenishing boxes from behind the counter and looks up to see the boyfriend. The man who did the most horrendous things to Tayce...yet here he was, daring to show his face." 

"Why are you here Frank?" Tayce asks a little apprehensivly. 

"Is that a way to speak to your boyfriend who has taken the time at the end of his busy day to pick up his guy?" Frank smiles sweetly at Tayce, who finds himself automatically smiling back. Frank then starts to look everywhere else apart from Tayce. "It's been a while since I set foot in here. Since I met this gorgeous boy." 

Max snorts out a sarcastic noise at the comment, not loud enough for everyone to hear, whereas Jojo finds the man completly charming. "Well don't be a stranger. Tayce speaks very highly of you." 

Frank again goes on the charm offensive. I might hold you to that. It's been a while since I had fried chicken." Jojo seems smitten by the smooth talker. 

"Do you want to wait in the car, I still have ten minutes before the end of my shift." Tayce suddenly says, Frank's unexpected visit was unnerving in itself without him getting all friendly with his boss and watching as he tries to do his job. 

"Why don't you get off Tayce." Jojo offers. "Max can finish the tables...Max!" Jojo now hollers Max's name and Max slowly emerges from the shadows. 

Tayce can feel his body tense a little as the name is called. It's now, that Max and Frank make eye contact. Max doesn't take his eyes from Frank as he approaches Tayce. Jojo's voice mumbling orders to him as he takes the cloth from Tayce's hand. 

The stare is likened to two alphas on territorial land. Tayce can feel the testosterone coming off of them in waves.

Max finally draws his attention to Tayce. He looks at him with a look of protectivness as he leans forward and whispers into Tayce's ear. "Just call and I'll be there." 

Tayce looks to the floor before looking back up at Frank, who was now staring at him. Frank didn't even have to say anything. Tayce knew that he shouldn't cause a scene, he should just leave. "I guess I'll see you all tomorrow." Tayce says, trying to sound appreciative that he had been allowed to leave early, though he would have rather have made his own way home.

***

The ride home is awkward. Tayce is unsure whether to speak or not. He didn't know what was right or wrong anymore in Frank's eyes. Tayce chose to stay quiet and gaze out of the window.

It was Frank who eventually broke the silence. "So, did you appreciate the kind gesture?" He asks, glancing to his slde at Tayce, who was still facing the other way.

Tayce turns to face Frank, faking a smile. "It was really thoughtful, thankyou." 

"You're boss seems nice. What was his name again?" 

Tayce wondered if Frank was fishing for something, but played along with his game. "Jojo. His name's Jojo. He's ok I guess. 

"Well he let you leave early. I'd say he was a good guy." Frank says chuckling, making Tayce feel like it was maybe safe to actually relax a little. 

"...And the other guys...who were they again?" Frank asks, his tone still portraying a pleasentness about it, but Tayce could tell a storm was coming.

"Micky was mopping the floor and Max...he took over from me." Tayce glances at Frank's profile, he could see his jaw clench a little at the name being mentioned.

"Max...the guy you stayed over with." Frank says the words like a statement in which he needed to be reminded of. 

"Yes." Tayce's replies, looking down. He could already feel his heart beating a little bit faster at what may come next. 

"I didn't like the way he looked at me back there. You've not been telling tales have you?" Frank almost laughs at his own words but it sends a shiver of fear through Tayce. At least when he was angry, He knew where he was, but when Frank shifted like this, Tayce couldn't predict anything.

"No." Tayce replies just above a whisper. He hadn't been telling tales...well only to himself that his life was flawless.

"Good." Frank places a hand on Tayce's knee, making him tense up. "People wouldn't understand what we have. It's different, what we share." He removes the hand and Tayce finds his body relax just a fraction. 

The car again goes quiet and Tayce fools himself into thinking that is the end of it. "...But I just can't seem to get that stare he gave me out of my mind. And I'm sure he said something to you."  Frank suddenly says as they turn into their driveway. "It's just bugging me a little you know." Tayce looks to see Frank tapping almost impatiently on the steering wheel, before switching off the engine. He then smacks the top of the steering wheel, making Tayce jump in his seat. "Oh well, never mind." Frank undoes his seatbelt and opens the car door and gets out. 

Tayce feels like he is glued to the passenger seat as he watches Frank walk up to the house and open the door. He felt like he wanted to stay just where he was, but the opened front door was telling him loud and clear that he had to follow. 

Tayce blows air out of his mouth and undoes his seatbelt. He gets out of the car and closes the door. Each step towards the front door feels like it is magnified, but he goes inside all the same, closing the door behind him.