Page 24 of Just the Tipsy
SEVEN
WAYLON
Even though we’re neighbors,I still drive over to Bianca’s — my trunk is filled with construction materials to start fixing up the fence and her house. It’s been a long time since I’ve done a ton of handy work, but I’m confident I can at least get things started for her.
I feel like I owe Bianca even more now. Mom’s pushiness drives me fucking crazy now that I’m an adult who can choose to do whatever he wants. Everyone else in my life doesn’t bother to try to stop her — it’d be like trying to stop a train.
But Bianca tried to back me up as gracefully as she could. And that made me not feel like I’m insane for not caving to her every whim, no matter how well-intentioned.
Bianca greets me as I pull up to her garage. I was hoping that she’d be dressed in something that doesn’t make me lust after her, but I think I lust after her no matter what she’s wearing. Today she’s wearing joggers that are slung low on her hips and a matching crop top, her thick curls up in a bun. The deep red shade of her pants looks nice against her skin.
“Ready to tackle this mess?” Bianca asks as I hop out of my car.
“Yep. Just one step at a time.” I pop my trunk. “Where did you want to start?’
“With whatever’s easiest, I guess? Maybe the fence, maybe something inside?” She shrugs. “I think the bathroom has the most things wrong with it, but I’m not sure if it’s best to start with the biggest thing.”
I laugh. “Well, let’s start with the most annoying thing.”
“The master bathroom,” she says readily. “The whole thing.”
“Then we’ll go there.” I grab a bunch of my tools and gear that might help with fixing up a bathroom. I can come back later once I see the problems in-depth.
I follow Bianca inside. She’s added some more personal touches since I was here last, and even bought Sadie more beds in each room. The dog is passed out on the bed in the living room until she hears us and follows. Her little tail whips back and forth.
“Sadie’s doing well?” I ask as I reach down and scratch her between her ears.
“Yeah, she is! We went on a long walk on that trail today and she got tired halfway through.” Bianca snorts. “At least she’s easy to carry back.”
“Yeah, she’s done after about fifteen minutes. When I hiked with Duke, I’d carry her instead.” We stop at the end of the hall, where the small master bathroom is. There’s just enough room for both of us to stand inside, with a tub/shower combo on the far end, the toilet, and the sink.
Every inch of the counter is covered in different creams, lotions, and tools, all organized. The room smells faintly like jasmine, like she’s just had a shower.
“Let me pull up the list,” she says. “The water pressure sucks, and the tub doesn’t fully drain, and these tiles are a mess.” She pulls back the curtains and points at the tiles. “And the white stuff between is peeling.”
“The caulk.” I take a glance at it. It looks like it hasn’t been redone since the house was built.
“Yeah. And the toilet runs.” She sighs and scoops up Sadie. “And the paint is peeling a bit.”
“This isn’t that bad of a place to start.” I put my bag down on the ground. “If I can’t fix the water pressure, you might have to call a plumber. But everything else I think I can handle.”
“Oh, good.” She lets out a sigh, rubbing one of Sadie’s ears. “I guess I’ll…leave you to it?”
She looks adorably unsure.
I crack a smile. “You can hang out with me if you want to. You might need to sit in the doorway, though.”
“You sure?” She sits down cross-legged, tucking Sadie into her lap.
“Yeah, of course. Otherwise, I’m just going to listen to a podcast or something.” The toilet should be easiest, so I start with that.
“What podcast?” She leans against the doorframe.
My face gets hot. “It’s kind of dorky.”
“No, you?” She says with a soft, teasing smile. I can’t help but smile back. “But for real, what is it?”
“A geography podcast.” I take the lid off the back tank of the toilet and take a look.
