Chapter Fifty-Seven
“Hello, Mike, It’s Joesph. How are you this morning?”
“Uh, hey, Joesph.”
“Listen, I’m sorry to bother you at work, and I hope I’m not interrupting anything, but I just had a few things to tell you.”
“Sure, it’s no real bother. I have a meeting this afternoon, so I’m just preparing for that. And then dinner with some of the top brass tonight.” Mike sighed. “I really don’t like this part of my job. It’s boring as hell.”
Joesph laughed. “I know exactly what you mean. I’ve had to do it far too many times.”
“So, what’s up?
“It’s an all go on the new apartment.”
“Wow, when did that happen?” Mike sounded surprised.
“This morning. I’m a bit shocked, if I’m to be honest. So, if you could get me the name of whoever you had in mind to do the work, that’d be a big help.” Joesph cleared his throat. “And... if you know of a construction company that would do a commercial new build.”
“Hm... I think the guys I have in mind to do that apartment would be able to do a new build. I know they have before.”
“That would be perfect!”
“Are the tilers on site this morning?” Mike asked.
“Yes, they are moving pretty quickly, too, thank God. If it takes too much longer, Jamie’s going to lose his mind.”
“Yeah, I could tell from last night. That man doesn’t like to be idle much, does he?”
“Nope. As long as I’ve known him, he’s a bit of a workaholic like me.”
“Was that all?”
“Well... there is one more tiny little thing.” Joesph took a big breath. “You need to sleep with Jamie. He’s ready. Don’t wait either. I don’t want him getting into his own head and overthinking it.”
“Wait! Do what?” Mike sounded like he might be choking.
“Ask him over for dinner. Do you cook?”
“Seriously? You think I would even attempt to cook for him. A chef? Have you lost your mind?”
“Okay, then order some of that barbecue from that place you got us dinner from. He liked that.”
“And then what? Just jump his bones? I think you have lost it.”
“I’m deadly serious, Mike. You need to get that ball rolling.”
“But... why now? What’s happened?”
Joesph thought for a moment. “You kissed him.”
“Yeah, we kissed. What of it?”
Joesph couldn’t help but bust out laughing. “Mike, you kissed him good.” When Mike didn’t say anything, Joesph said, “I can feel you blushing all the way from there. It’s so cute.”
“Give me a break.” Mike sighed. “Yeah, it was amazing. It felt so natural.”
“Exactly my point. Jamie was totally dazed when he came back in. He even has a good case of beard-rash, and that is something I’ve never seen before on Jamie.”
“Beard-rash?” Mike blew out a big breath. “What is that?”
“Oh, sweet-baby-jebus,” Joesph said exasperatedly. “It’s when a man with a thick, heavy beard stubble kisses you properly.”
“Oh. I didn’t mean...”
“Do not be sorry. It was fantastic.” Joesph laughed again. “But he’s ready to move on to the next step.”
“And you think that us having sex is the next step? Why not take our time? Get to know one another better? Give him some space.”
“No. With Jamie, that would be the wrong move. That poor man has had blue balls since he met you. Just being in the same room with the two of you is like overdosing on pheromones!”
“Okay. I’ll admit there is a lot of sexual attraction between us.”
“Ya, think?” Joesph chuckled. “Have him over, screw him senseless. Then that’s one big hurdle out of the way. But as I said, don’t wait too long or he’ll run like a scared rabbit. Consider it a test drive.”
“A test drive?” Mike sounded like he was about to lose it. “Like a fucking car?”
“Exactly like a car. It only makes sense, doesn’t it? If you don’t like the way the car drives, you’re not going to spend any more time on deciding if it’s right for you.”
“You’re completely nuts. You know that?”
“It’s only logical. You of all people should know that.” Joesph sighed. “Just do it, Mike.”
“You sure know how to blow up someone’s day, don’t you? Now all I’m going to be thinking about all day is how the hell I’m supposed to do all this.”
“Oh, good Lord, Mike. It’s not like it’s rocket science, now is it? It’s a sleepover date.”
“It’s... more than that to me.” Mike’s voice was so soft it was almost a whisper.
“I know it is. And it will be for Jamie, too. But Mike, good luck and don’t fuck it up.”
“Did you honestly just quote Ru Paul?”
“Maybe I did, but I mean it.”
“How the hell am I supposed to get through this day and dinner tonight now?” Mike whined. “This is all I’m going to be thinking about.”
“One thing at a time, Mike. Focus on what you need to get done, but don’t forget to get me that name. Text it to me, please. I need to strike while the iron is hot!”
* * * * *
Joesph pulled Belinda into the parking lot of the hardware store, taking up two spaces, as he usually did.
He was considerate enough to do it as far away from the front doors as possible, leaving the closer spaces for other customers.
He thought there would be less of a chance of someone pushing a shopping buggy into her.
He pushed the store doors open. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
Yep, it smells just like a hardware store should, not like those big box stores.
Immediately, it reminded him of the time he went with his uncle to the local hardware store when he was a little kid.
It was such a good day. They’d gotten what his uncle needed and then got ice cream.
“May I help you find something?”
When Joesph opened his eyes, he saw a young man with an apron on, his name tag said Aaron.
“Yes, please. I would like to speak to Ms. Terry Hanson, please.”
“Sure thing.” Aaron pulled a small walkie-talkie from his waistband. “Terry, you have a visitor. He’s near the front door.”
“Who is it?” Joesph could hear the tiny voice, clearly Terry’s.
“Joesph Collins,” Joesph volunteered before Aaron could ask.
“A Mr. Joesph Collins,” Aaron repeated into the small device.
“I’m on my way.”
Aaron smiled. “She’ll be here in a sec.”
“Thank you.” Joesph turned to look at the outdoor grills and other things that were on display, ramping up for the summer.
“Joesph,” Terry barrelled into him, giving him a big hug. “What a nice surprise. I want to thank you again for the other night. I had such a good time.”
“No need to thank me!” Joesph hugged her back. “I had nothing to do with it. I was a guest, just like you.”
“Anyway, it was fun.”
“It was.”
“Now, what can I help you with?” She asked.
“I hate to have to rely on you so much for information, but could you give me a referral to a good construction company, please. I really appreciate all the help you’ve given me so far.”
“It’s no bother at all. I like helping friends and neighbours. What kind of construction?”
“First off, I need a new building. One portion will be a showroom, then some offices, and a storage area. All up, I’m thinking about four thousand square feet. Then I’d like to have an upstairs apartment, kind of what Jamie has.”
Terry looked at him, her mouth slightly open. “You’re going to open up an interior design business, aren’t you?”
“I am.” Joesph smiled. “Can we keep this under wraps for a while? I don’t want to jinx it.”
“Of course.” Terry pantomimed zipping her lips shut. She stood there a moment, her eyes half shut, slightly squinting. “I think I have just the right guy for you. This is right up his alley.”
“That would be excellent. Thank you.”
“What’s the other job?” Terry motioned for Joesph to have a seat on an outdoor sectional in front of the barbecues.
“Well... this is really top secret for now, but I’m going to redesign the apartment over the diner.”
“Oh, heavens.” Terry planted both hands on her thighs. “That’s wonderful. I have to admit, it was... well, rather shabby looking. I saw when I had to go to the bathroom when I was there. It made me feel... sad.”
“It’s terrible,” Joesph said. “The painter we hired, thanks to your recommendation, I may add, seems to think there may be significant termite damage, so... I have an idea.”
“I’m not at all surprised. Some shipments from China brought a new species into the States and it has spread like wildfire. So, what’s this idea?”
Joesph smiled broadly. “Rip the whole thing off and start over.”
“Damn!” Terry shook her head slightly. “That’s... a big job.”
“It will be a massive undertaking.”
“Can I think on it and get back to you?” Terry had the look of a woman deep in concentration. “I may have an idea that would help you.”
“Why don’t you come over after work and have a look at what I’ve come up with?”
“Okay, I can’t today. I’ll take off a little early tomorrow and can be there around four-ish?”
“Perfect.” Joesph reclined into the soft cushions of the sectional. “This is very comfortable. Does it come in different colors?”
* * * * *
“I need to think of something special to do for Joesph,” Jamie said as he started the Mercedes.
“Like what?” Salzy asked, securing his seat belt.
“I have no idea.”
“How about a spa day”, Salzy suggested, using air quotes.
Jamie’s head whipped around. “Sometimes you’re just... scary.”
“What? What’d I do?”
“I was thinking along the same lines.” Jamie chuckled. “And you already know Joesph well enough to know he’d like that.”
Salzy shrugged his shoulders. “I got a gift voucher for my sister, and she loved it. Joesph reminds me of her sometimes. They would get into so much trouble together.”
“Does she live close by?” Jamie backed the car out of the parking space.
“No. She’s with the rest of my family back in Arizona.”
“Then it’s good she isn’t close. You’re from there?”
“We moved there from Texas when I was little. My sister was born there.”
Jamie pulled out onto the access road. “How’d you end up here?”
“I applied to a driving school close by here. I fell in love with the area. I was tired of seeing nothing but the desert. Everything was just brown. I like seeing green, and it makes sense to be here where there are so many connecting interstates, and I just like it here.” Salzy turned to look at Jamie.
“And then I fell in love with Ms. Mattie and Mr. Solan. They were really good to me.”
“I know they loved you, too. Now, where am I going?”
“I heard of a place that was just outside of town. I overheard the boss’s daughter planning something there for her bridesmaids, so I know it has to be nice.” Salzy pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll see if I can’t look it up.”
“Cool.” Jamie steered the sports car into the parking area for a Ruby Tuesday’s restaurant. “Let’s have some lunch. I hope this one has a salad bar. I’m craving vegetables.”
Once they were seated and had drinks, Salzy said, “Ah-ha. Found it.” He flipped the phone around so Jamie could see it.
“Send me a link.” Jamie was looking over the dining room. “I’m going to have the salad bar. What about you?”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
There was a ping on Jamie’s phone, indicating he had a new text message. He unlocked his phone. “Got it. Let me have a look.”
The waiter came back to take their order. Salzy ordered for them both as Jamie looked at the spa’s website.
“I think this would be perfect. I just need to make sure that they also allow men.”
“Cool. Is it really pricey?” Salzy asked as he started to get up from the booth they were sitting in.
“A little,” Jamie answered. “But it would be worth it.” Jamie stood and followed Salzy to the salad bar.
“This looks good,” Salzy said as he picked up a chilled plate.
“After lunch, you want to take a drive out there?”
“Sure. We don’t have a lot on today. Might as well enjoy it.” Salzy heaped a ladle full of ranch dressing on his salad.
“Have some salad with your dressing?” Jamie commented.
“No hating on my salad, man.”
* * * * *
Mike was trying his best to concentrate on what he was doing, but the slide show presentation felt as if it were taking forever.
His mind kept wandering, thinking about Jamie and.
.. having sex. It was unnerving and frustrating at the same time.
I need to take a break. Go for a walk and then come back to this.
He pushed himself away from the desk and walked towards the workshop.
Hasha always had some project or another going on.
He opened the workshop door and was greeted with a cloud of wood dust particles floating in the air, the sound of a sander, classic rock under that, and Hasha bent over what looked like a tabletop. He slowly approached the man, who was concentrating on his work.
Hasha looked up, and when he saw Mike, he turned the sander off. “Sergeant?”
“Hey, Hasha. What are you working on?”
“I found this old wrought iron table base at a second-hand store, and I’m making a top for it.”
“Who’s it for?”
“No one in particular. I just wanted something to do until we got the orders for that next big project. Don’t worry, I paid for the lumber.”
Mike chuckled. “I didn’t even think of that.” He examined the tabletop. “What kind of wood is that?”
“Center cut oak. I found it at that repurpose place I go to. They had just enough.”
“It’s beautiful wood. Are you going to stain it?”
Hasha ran his hand over the surface. “Naw, I think I’ll leave it natural. Just use some oil on it. Make the grain jump out. Keep it simple.”
Mike nodded. “Keep it simple.” Then he smiled. Finally, he had a plan.