"Let's head in..."
Noel walked in and Rowan followed close behind.
The shop smelled of, fresh earth and flowers—roses, lilies, lavender. Shelves lined the walls, and there were vases of every size, buckets overflowing with vibrant colours. A small counter stood at the back; a bell above the door jingled as it closed.
Joel looked up, diverting his gaze from Alaric, with his dark blond hair tied back, green eyes widening when he saw Noel.
"You brought him..." He said, stealing glances at Alaric.
"Of course, you asked," Alaric smiled, not taking his eyes off him. "So, here he is."
Joel wiped his hands on his brown cotton apron—streaked with green from stems. He walked closer to Noel and stopped right in front of him.
"Mr Hartwell," he said in a soft voice.
Noel raised a hand, with an easy smile on his face.
"Mr Hartwell? Ha! That's for my father, not me. Just Noel," he said. "Please."
Joel nodded, his cheeks flushing red.
