It didn’t help at all that, whenever he had a free moment, Quinn was watching through the back catalog of Pine Point Fixer Uppers. At the very least, he understood why it was popular enough to get them their own show. The guys really seemed to know what they were doing, and they’d been helping put their small town in Washington back together when no one else woulddrop the money into it. A mostly defunct logging town wasn’t the sort of place that drew heavy outside investment.
They also did incredible work. Each house felt unique. Custom to the owners. And according to their “Where Are They Now” video—one of the last put up before the channel stopped updating—only two of the houses had been sold. Everyone was still using the work they’d done.
As he pulled up in front of that house on Old Aristocracy Hill, every muscle in Quinn’s body coiled with tension. The property certainly had a calmer energy with no trash running back and forth to the container, the back fence up with only the open gate to allow people to move in and out, and the front yard generally together, as far as Quinn could tell. Just the lack of the gray-clothed crew members running around aided it. It was looking a lot more like a functional, livable home again. Quinn’s chest somehow tightened further looking at it, remembering when it had been this way as a kid when he first moved in. Details were obviously different back then, but it still plucked the strings of his nostalgia.Wish you could have seen this, Grandpa.
None of that made it easier to get out of the car and walk in there and look at Jake in person again. But he had to. That was part of the agreement to get on the show and get the house done. Quinn wasn’t about to renege on a contract because his emotions got out of control yet again. He knew how to clamp them down, and he’d do it now.
So he strode over to the trailers still parked off in the corner and got his mic, then got the okay from the hair and makeup team that he didn’t look abysmal. They directed him to the back yard, so he headed that direction, belly clenching when he passed by the white, open-sided tent. No Jake in sight there. Maybe he could be avoided for a bit. Maybe Quinn wouldn’t have to feel so much fucking guilt over ghosting him. It was a chicken shit move, no doubt about that.
The back yard still looked a bit like a work in progress. The deck was done, but playing host to sod and unpotted plants and all variety of other landscaping bits and bobs. Stretches of bare earth were exposed and a couple workers were raking up yard waste. Weeds and trimmed branches and that sort of stuff.
“Quinn.”
He jumped at the sound of his name, then turned to see the only person he’d hoped to magically avoid more than Jake.
Ozzy smiled as he closed the distance. “You’ve been absent lately. Could have used some extra hands to help finish up all this. Unless you’re here to offer up yourbody.To someone.”
He split into laughter and Quinn begged a power he didn’t even believe in to strike Ozzy down. “I’m just here for the walk-through.”
“Okay. Well, far be it from me to get in the way of the all-important schedule.” He strode past, but then spun and waved his finger in the air. “Unless of course you want me to get hold of Jake for you. The SUV has tinted windows. Not great, but the mattress hasn’t been delivered yet. Or are you more of a kitchen counter kind of guy?”
“Oswald.” Evander marched over, hands in the pockets of his green floral jumpsuit. “Are you harassing our client? Please tell me you are. I’d die for the chance to get you reprimanded by the higher-ups. Maybe there’s even some clause in that giant contract where you lose money for being a prick.” He brought one hand up to his chest and sighed wistfully. “Be still my heart. Please, let’s find out.”
“Calm your tits, Evander. Just having a talk with Jake’s new boy toy.”
Oh god. He’s telling people. They know. They know, and that means it’s real.His belly turned icy, and he scanned around for any nearby trash can in case he had to puke.Maybe I’ll puke on Ozzy. That’ll shut him up.
“Yeah. I heard that you ran into him. And were not the mosttactfulabout it. Not shocking, considering you never did care about anyone else.”
“Oh fuck off, Evander. This isnotabout your damage with me, and that’s not even true. Don’t paint me like some monster.”
Evander knew. And if Quinn was at all capable of following a conversation, Evander hadn’t heard it from Ozzy. How many people knew? HadJakespilled about it? His skin crawled and he backed toward the open gate.
Into solid, warm muscle.
He turned and looked right into Jake’s eyes. Dark blue. Unblinking. Ringed in dark purple and red, like he hadn’t been sleeping. Chapped lips parted, then closed again as Jake swallowed, his Adam’s apple grinding up and down.
“Could we talk? Maybe before, maybe after?” The words were soft and hoarse, but Jake didn’t look away from him as he spoke. “I’ve been trying to reach you about your house’s extended warranty.”
Even looking like hell, Jake cracked a joke for him. Quinn sighed, then nodded. “After.” HeowedJake some kind of explanation. “And I’m sorry for not answering.” He took a few more moments to take in all of Jake’s features, then turned around and looked at Ozzy and Evander. “When is this walk-through supposed to start?”
Evander and Ozzy glared at each other, then Ozzy sighed. “I’ll go hunt down Eliza. You boys keep your hands and other body parts to yourselves.”
Quinn’s body somehow tensed further, until he felt like he’d pop right out of his skin from clenching so hard. With Ozzy around, and all eyes probably focused on him and Jake, he wasn’t sure he’d make it through this still standing.Maybe someone has a drink.
Chapter twenty-eight
Jake
The walk-through on thehouse was much like they used to do on the channel, but pared down since a lot of the house wasn’t actually done. The structural stuff, sure, but very minimal furniture, and they still had some appliances that had to be installed. But they got to show Quinn the bare bones house that he’d be staying in.
Jake slapped on the happiest face he could after Corinne insisted he get a touch-up in her chair before going on camera. Concealer for his bags, some blush since he “looked dead,” and enough lip balm to choke an infant, so his lips still felt unnaturally slick as he worried them between his teeth.
They walked him through the entry way, now much brighter and homier. Green walls in the living room, hallway, and kitchen made it feel more connected to the nature outside the windows, according to Evander. They showed off the lighting workthat Aras had designed, and the frankly very nice bathrooms that Robinson had plumbed in, both downstairs and upstairs. Upstairs, they’d even managed to fit a soaking tub in, with some extra support in the joists to make sure it could bear the weight. They hadn’t been in danger of falling, most likely, but Jake had insisted with such an old property, just to be safe.
The office was a pale slate color, with an accent wall of blue and gold chevrons. A few of the built-ins had already been installed here, so it was a little more complete than most of the rest of the house.
Jake didn’t get to see Quinn’s reaction to any of it, since he was very firmly not looking that way. His feelings were a big, messy ball of yarn in his stomach, and if he pulled at any part of it, the entire thing could unravel or knot up or somehow catch on fire.I told him I wasn’t good at metaphors.
