He almost hadn’t survived the last time.
They’d already cleared out most of the trash indoors, though of course more kept being revealed. Under boxes, in the couch and chair cushions, everywhere. But it meant that he couldstart going through things, looking for mementos, finding stuff that he might actually want to keep. His grandpa’s compulsive spending was a problem, and he would have traded all of this stuff in a heartbeat to get him a more comfortable life toward the end. But throwing it out made no sense. If he could remember his grandpa a little bit when he used that fancy trash can or the new vacuum cleaner…silver linings weren’t the sort of things to toss aside.
Quinn slid his box knife through the tape on a plain brown package, slicing through the shipping label as he opened it. When he peeled it open, he smiled, shaking his head. “Found it.”
He set the box on its side and slid the foam packing out. A tight fit, but once he got it halfway, it slipped easily. He tossed the box aside, only barely aware of the camera focused on him—it was shocking how easy they were to mostly forget about in such a short time—and took the foam off, revealing the air purifier. Brand new, shiny white, still covered in plastic.
Tears pricked again and Quinn took a couple steps back, looking up at the ceiling as he tried to get himself under control.Over a fucking air purifier? Really?But Quinn could remember it. He’d gotten a call from his grandpa, asking for help. Quinn was the only other person he would actually let come over. He never said as much, but he was clearly embarrassed about the state of the house. It had been on the last cleaning jag before his grandpa went downhill, and he’d done a passable job in his own bedroom, leaving it cluttered, but usable.
When Quinn got there, his grandpa was knee deep in the living room, sorting through boxes. He swore up and down he’d bought an air purifier and he wanted that in the bedroom to help keep the dust down, maybe remove some of the musty smell. But they never found it, even after hours of sifting through stuff.
There was just always too much stuff to deal with.
Quinn checked the delivery date on the box.Five years ago.
“Quinn?” Eliza walked up, smiling softly. “This seems important. I don’t want to press too hard—”
“It’s fine.” He took one final steady breath, then looked back at the air purifier on its side on the floor. “Something my grandpa was looking for. There’s always a part of you that wonders, at his age, living like this, if he was a hundred percent there. If he was remembering stuff that didn’t happen. But the stupid air purifier is here.” Quinn sighed, then pulled himself back. He needed to keep his shit together if he wanted to get through all this intact. What was inside was his, after all.
And if Jake sees me upset, I don’t know if I could say no to a hug. He would definitely do it, too.
After a few more seconds, Eliza nodded and the cameras backed off. “We’ll want to get more on that in confessional later. But take some time if you need it. We have to catch some footage of what’s going on out back, then set up a good spot to get the confessional footage. But you know that, if you need to step out—”
“I’m here to help. It’s still my house. Can’t let you do all the work.” He smiled, then turned back around to continue addressing the pile…after setting the air purifier to the side.It won’t hurt to have that on hand.
A long day. Quinn couldn’t keep taking days off from his actual job, but they’d gotten a ton done on the house. Not that it was easy to see the progress. At the end of the day, it felt a lot like they’d just moved a bunch of stuff around. It was only when he walked out to see the heap in the garbage bin that it actually really struck Quinn.
That and his sore back. And shoulders. And sides. And arms. He flopped down on the sofa in his apartment and groaned. “I’m not cut out for that kind of work.”
Knock knock knock.
He groaned again, louder, and even considered not answering the door at all. But if someone was knocking after eight o’clock at night, it was probably important. He pushed himself back up and moved to the door, popping it open to see blonde locks and blue eyes and a big smile. “Jake?” His belly tightened. “What’s wrong? Is it the house?”
He shook his head. “No. Shit no. Sorry. Not trying to panic you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a familiar, slim phone. “I figured you might want this.”
“Right. Fuck.” Quinn patted his pockets, confirming it wasn’t there, then took it with a nod. “Thanks. Where did I leave it?”
“Porta-John.”
“Oh god.” Quinn set it down on the table by the door, then headed into the kitchen to wash his hands. “Thanks for the assist.”
“No problem,” Jake shouted from the doorway. “I’ll be off. I just wanted to make sure that got back to you, but I don’t want to keep the driver waiting.”
“You paid for a ride here?” Quinn quickly rinsed and dried his hands, then stepped back over so they didn’t have to keep their voices raised. “You could have just given it to me tomorrow. I have to do some work, but I was coming over in the afternoon.”
Jake rolled his eyes. “Come on. I can barely make it five minutes without my phone. Can’t very well force someone else to endure that kind of hell.”
Quinn smiled in spite of himself. “Well thanks. Um, listen.” He rolled his shoulders, trying to work out the kinks and pain from the day, since it very suddenly looked like he wasn’t quite readyto lay down and zonk out. “I’ll give you a ride back. Least I can do. Save you some money.”
“I don’t mind. Trust me, they’re paying me plenty for the show.” He winked.
As he stepped back from the door, pulling it closed behind him, Quinn reached out and kept the door from shutting. “Seriously. Let me drive you. It’s not going to feel right if I make you pay to get back to…” Quinn tilted his head to the side. “I don’t actually know where you’re staying. I guess it’s not my business.”
“Same hotel we met you at. Should make it easier to meet with you when we need to. When we’re not across town working on the house.” He glanced over his shoulder. “You know what, I’ll take you up on the offer.”
Quinn grabbed his keys off the table. “Great.” He snapped his wallet up too, then joined Jake on the porch. “Not good to start our relationship off with me owing you.”
Jake tapped on his phone a few times, then a car pulled off. Presumably his ride. He looked at Quinn. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t mind if you owed me a favor.”
