Page 106 of Love It or List It
Austin sighed and looked at Joe.“I’m going to say yes to this, aren’t I?”
Joe shrugged.“Probably.”
Austin returned his attention to Meg.“You’re changing the sheets yourselves.And Ozzy’s probably going to want to stay with you, so leave the door open, okay?”She had claimed Austin’s bed as her property just days after her adoption.
“Of course.”
“And you have to shut up if we tell you to.Joe still needs his sleep.”
Joe could probably sleep through the five of them singing karaoke to “Bohemian Rhapsody” in his living room, the way he’d been going lately, but let Austin pretend he was exerting some control.
“And, uh, no drugs or alcohol.”
“Whatever,” Meg said, taking one of the popcorn bowls from Alex.“You only have gross beer anyway.Are we good?Can we start the next episode now?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
AUSTIN SHEPHERDEDJoe to bed shortly after the girl with the superpowers got her eighties makeover.His eyelids were drooping, and Austin wasn’t carrying him in front of the peanut gallery.He didn’t trust Gavin not to wolf-whistle, and that would set Pepa off.
While Joe brushed his teeth and climbed into bed, Austin checked all the water dishes and took Pepa on her nightly yard inspection.He was looking forward to spring, when he wouldn’t have to freeze his ass off for ten minutes while she decided where to pee.Maybe after the thaw they could fence part of the yard so she could do this unsupervised.Now that Austin had fixed his cash flow problem….
Finally Pepa had watered the bushes to her satisfaction, so Austin let them back inside.The kids had turned the TV off—apparentlyStranger Thingswas a whole-family ordeal and they were only allowed to watch it as a group—and he could hear murmured voices and giggles from the second floor.
The kids should have this.Especially Alex.A night of being a regular teenager would do them some good.
He unbuckled Pepa’s prosthetic and stroked her ears as she got cozy in her basket by the fireplace.Then he brushed his teeth and slid into bed next to Joe, who flopped around with his hand until he found Austin’s shoulder and then leaned over to kiss him, close-mouthed.
Probably for the best.He was still kind of mucusy.
“Mm,” Joe mumbled.“Night.”
Austin closed his eyes.
It had been a busy day.He still couldn’t quite believe he’d done something so impulsive, and done it so quickly at that.But he didn’t have any regrets.
That morning, he’d thought about Bobby’s offer at the dealership.He’d thought about Joe’s mom’s interest in Austin’s garage, how she’d mentioned property in that area was desirable and that she’d always be able to find a buyer if Austin ever wanted to sell.Months ago, Austin had pushed it out of his mind.Back then he had no intention of selling.
But now?Austin’s priorities had changed.He already owned a home.That home and the family inside it kept him plenty busy.He had enough responsibilities.He wanted a job he could get paid for and then go home to what really mattered.
So he called Maria, and she called her buyer, and then Austin called Bobby, and at the end of the day, Austin didn’t own a business anymore.
He thought he might feel sad about it, but he didn’t.
He hadn’t had much time to process it all.He’d gone out and done what he needed to do, and he was still working through how he felt about it when he came home to find the house clean and Joe on the couch, looking better than he had in weeks.Will had stuttered out a sincere apology when Austin picked him up from his exam, but they hadn’t had time to really talk before Austin needed to head out again.
They probably still needed to talk.
And he needed to talk to Joe too, but that was going to be a different conversation, harder to navigate.Joe felt bad enough for the help he’d needed in the past few weeks.Austin didn’t need to add anything else for him to feel guilty over, especially considering that this particular issue meant an overlap of business-and-home decisions that might lead him into a Paul spiral.
It could wait until Joe was well enough to go back to work.
Austin closed his eyes and let sleep take him.
THE NEXTmorning, Austin stirred awake and wondered why he wasn’t still dreaming.
Their bedroom door creaked open, and he realised he’d heard a soft knock.“Austin?”
He lifted his head and squinted.Alex stood in the doorway, looking—Austin didn’t know how to describe the look.Tentative but stubborn, apologetic and happy.
