Page 126 of Love It or List It
Austin snorted.“Nah.So we’re going to have to make an adult decision.”
“Sounds scary,” Will put in.
Austin reached over and flicked his forehead.“I called the bank and asked what our options were.The advisor said we probably wouldn’t have any trouble getting a mortgage or a line of credit, since we own the house outright.”
Joe stared at Austin.A joint line of credit was a big step for a relationship, but it was a heck of a lot better than many of the alternatives.
“There’s one other thing to know before we make any decisions.”
“Oh God, what else?”
“Marco offered to let us pay in installments.I told him we’d talk about it.”
Damn right they would talk about it.Joe’s knee-jerk reaction was to say no, but he swallowed the urge and tried to think it through.Did he want to reject the offer because of an illogical need to prove himself or because there was a flaw in the plan?
“Since you’re apparently going to keep talking mortgagesandI have math homework, I’m going to go do that in my—in the guestroom.At least I get credit for thinking about those numbers.”
Will loaded his dishes in the washer and skedaddled.
“Did Marco mention how much the new roof might cost?”
“Depends on whether we go asphalt shingles or metal, but anywhere from about fifteen to forty, he guesstimated.”
“I don’t want to owe him forty grand,” Joe said.“It’s not about ego.What if something happens and we can’t pay him back?I don’t want to owe family that much.”
“Yeah, I think the metal roof’s off the table, so to speak.Even if it does sound cool as shit.”
Joe remembered the cheerful patter of rain on the top of Austin’s dilapidated trailer and wondered if he meant that literally.It did sound nice.It would probably also keep Joe up at night until he got used to it.“So, conventional asphalt shingles.Maybe they’ll have a sale on last season’s colors.”
Austin nudged him under the table.“That’s the spirit.”
“You’re being remarkably chill about this.”
“One of us has to,” Austin pointed out.He was gentle about it, but Joe still felt it, and it sent his thoughts whirling.
Joe had been chill once, back when they first got the house and Austin convinced him to fix it up.They’d had some setbacks, like the kitchen floor and the septic system, but he’d rolled with those punches.
He didn’t know when he lost that ability, if it happened when he and Austin started sleeping together or if it was later, when Joe got sick and had to rely on Austin for everything, but at some point he’d become so paralyzed that he was no help at all.He’d only had a handful of sessions with the therapist, but she’d already pinpointed the way he stuck his head in the sand when things went wrong, and while they were just starting to work outwhy—God knew that tendency hadn’t served him well—that didn’t mean he didn’t need to work on being more present.He knew if it had been Austin who got sick instead of him, he’d have done the same things Austin did.He’d have handled it.He leaned on Austin too much now because he could.
But that wasn’t fair; this wasn’t Austin’s burden to shoulder alone.They were partners.It was time for Joe to pull his weight.
He managed to press his foot back into Austin’s.“It shouldn’t always have to be you.Let me talk to Marco too, okay?He’s my uncle, after all.”
AUSTIN PLACEDanother tray on the picnic table already laden with food.Joe might have gone overboard, not that Austin would say as much out loud.Austin got to reap the benefits, after all.
Yesterday, they had all headed down to Essex District High School to watch the four kids cross the stage and claim their diplomas.Joe cheered louder than almost anyone else in the audience, much to the kids’ chagrin, but none of them turned away when Joe tackled them later with hugs and congratulations.Joe would never say it to the kids, but Austin knew the day was all the sweeter for him since there had been times in the past when he had worried some of them wouldn’t graduate on time.
Joe had an excess of joy and energy to share, and with their financial situation more or less handled, Austin had no objections to Joe declaring they would host a late June party.Instead, he smiled and nodded and offered to do last-minute grocery runs and set up the table and chairs in the yard and even borrowed extra lawn furniture from Linda.
“This looks delicious,” Maria said, rubbing her swollen stomach.She was almost seven months along.Austin thought she looked like she’d shoved a basketball up her shirt.
“Doesn’t it?”Austin shifted a plate, then tucked his hands into his pockets to keep them from fidgeting.
“Think we’ll be able to eat it all?”She shot him a cheeky smile, and Austin grinned back.
“Well, thankfully we have separate fridge and freezer.Lots of room for leftovers.”Austin figured they’d be eating this feast for days, but at least that meant Joe would have a break from the kitchen after his days-long cooking binge.
“Good point,” she laughed.“Though if there are any leftover arancini, don’t be surprised if they don’t make it to your fridge.The baby is fond of them.”
