Page 39 of Dex

“Hey, we need to talk,” I say, as I walk in and sit in the chair next to the sofa. He just looks at me and settles Phoebe against his chest, like he is using her as a shield. Yeah, that is not going to happen, we are going to have this talk.

“What about? I told you I’m fine.” He looks back at the TV, which is now playingWhitechapel. God, he doesn’t half watch some shit.

“Jay, something is going on with you. Spill, boy.” I give him a look that shows him I am not fucking around. We stare at each other for a few seconds before he concedes. He shakes his head and leans in and kisses Phoebe’s head. My girl has everyone hooked already.

“She is talking about leaving,” he whispers. I know who he is talking about; Rachel Cullen, the woman who owns my brothers heart but she refuses to give hers to him. She comes across as a hard arse sometimes but she really isn’t, it is all a mask. Liam once told me about her issues. She won’t let people get to close to her because they always leave her. But she has plenty of people around her who love her, but her head just won’t let it go. So in the meantime, she is ripping my baby brother’s heart out.

“When is she thinking of leaving?” I ask.

“She said just after Penny has the baby. Bro, she only has a few weeks left. What the fuck am I going to do? Sorry,” he apologises for swearing. I chuckle.

“It’s fine, Ads isn’t here to slap us on the back of the head. Plus, this conversation calls for a little swearing. It helps get the point across.” I wink at him.

“She is killing me, Dex. I don’t know how much more my heart will take. Jesus Christ, I sound like a chick. Don’t say anything to Ads, she will never let me live it down.”

“Hey, this is brother time; my woman won't hear anything from me.”

“I haven’t touched her in weeks. She won’t let me near her. I have called and text a few times, but she gives me one word answers. Am I wrong for trying? Should I stop being a pussy and try and move on? She has made it clear she wants nothing to do with me, but then she flirts when we are all together. Fuck. She is confusing the hell out of me.” He stands and walks Phoebe over to her moses basket and lays her down gently, before taking his seat back on the sofa.

He slumps down on the cushions and scrubs his hands over his face. His stubble is looking a bit longer than he usually likes, so yeah, she is really getting to him. I sit and wait for him to talk, there is no use in forcing him; he knows I am here for him. He is just lucky that Addy didn’t catch onto his mood; she would never have left otherwise. I have always taken care of Jay, even from a young age I was his protector. The shit we used to get into in school was beyond funny, well, it was at the time. But I was always there when his mouth got the better of him and some knobhead wanted to smash his teeth in. I was always the one that stuck up for the little kids. I was bigger than most kids my age. I fucking hate bullies with a passion.

“I honestly have no clue how to move forward with her, Dex. She is blowing hot and cold with me. It’s fucking with my head. Tell me what to do, bro,” he begs.

“Jay, I can’t tell you what to do about Rach. You know her better than me. But I want you to really think about if she is the one you truly want - and holy fucking shit I sound like a chick as well.” We both laugh. “Okay, how about this. Leave Rachel alone. Go to town, pick up some girl. Or maybe chat someone up at the studio, but be careful who you pick. The girls are doing a baby shower party-thing for Penny next week. Bring the girl. Oh fuck, I have the perfect girl who can help. Her name is Cassie, she came into Castle Ink the week before Phoebe was born. She had a kick arse thigh piece done. I will give her a call now, if you want.” I sit forward, excitement racing through me at the brilliant plan. Don’t get me wrong I like Rachel, but she is stringing my brother along and that is not okay with me. If she doesn’t want him then he has every right to find someone that does want him.

“I’m not going to try and make Rach jealous, Dex. I am not that type of bloke.” He winces as soon as the words leave his mouth. “Fuck, man, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.”

“Yeah you did, and you’re right. You aren’t that type of bloke, you are nothing like me. I fucked up for years with Ads, but I am making up for it now. So what are you going to do?” I ask him.

“Piss all, brother. I am not going to beg her to be with me. I will give her time. If she leaves then she leaves. It will hurt like fuck, but I am not going to beg.” I nod in agreement with him. See, this is why Jay is the sensible one. If it was him and Addy, he would have been with her years ago, not like me. I know that when he settles down with the right girl, he will worship her. Yeah, he comes off as a big flirt but that boy loves with his whole heart, always has. He was different from Liam and me, I was happy to fuck around in school, well, up until Fiona stole my heart. But even after she passed I stuck my dick in any woman that would spread for me, but after a while that shit got old. Jay would always leave me to sort my head out. I know that Fiona wouldn’t want me living the way I was. He always had my heart in his best interest.

“Hey, what do you say once Pheebs wakes up in an hour, we pop over to Liam’s and disrupt the girls coffee morning?” I smirk at him. Jay returns my smirk and nods his head. Yeah, I like where his head's at.

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