Page 13 of Loving Josy
I shake my head, refusing to play along. "Not gonna happen. I’ll talk to Esteban and only Esteban. Don’t get any ideas, woman."
With that, I head to my office to put away the leasing documents and make the call to Esteban.
Chapter Six
Noah
Ipull the damp rag from my back pocket, wiping the sweat that’s been dripping down my face all morning. It’s been a brutal day of working hard under this heat. And with no AC installed yet, the temperature inside Violet’s house feels like a furnace. But the progress is worth every drop of sweat. I take a moment to admire the primary bathroom that’s almost complete. The tile work is pristine, the fixtures gleaming. All that’s left is to install the toilet, and this bathroom will be fully done.
As I step out to unbox the toilet, Esteban shows up, ready to help me install it. He glances around the room, nodding appreciatively. “This bathroom is beautiful.”
“Yeah, it’s definitely one of my favorites.” I run my hand along the edge of the tub. “I love how the shower and tub look side by side. It’s got a real luxurious feel to it.”
“Austin is a master at making plans. One day, we’ll build my house,” Esteban muses, a hint of excitement in his voice.
“Yeah? Have you decided on the land you want to buy, or are you still thinking about it?” I know he’s been wrestling with that decision for a while now. He’s got two properties in mind: one nearby and another on the opposite side of town. Both are solidchoices for building a house, but I’ve always had a soft spot for the one close by. The view is incredible, and it’s near the creek, which would make for some peaceful evenings.
“I think I’m going with the one close to this place,” Esteban finally admits, grinning. “That way, I can be near you and Austin. I’ll get to annoy both of you. Plus, if something happens, we’ll be close to each other.”
I laugh, genuinely pleased with his decision. “True, I like that idea.”
I bought a small house about five minutes from here, so if Esteban buys his land, we’ll be neighbors—close enough to hang out whenever we want, but with enough space to keep our privacy.
“Do you plan to buy soon?” I’m curious about his timeline now that he’s finally made a decision.
“Yeah, now that I’ve settled on the land, I think I’ll pull the trigger this week,” Esteban replies, a determined look in his eyes. “I know we’ve got a lot of work on our plate, but I’m thinking I can start working on my house on the weekends. If any of the guys want to earn a little extra cash, they can pitch in. I’m not in a rush to finish it, though. Austin’s already working on the plans, so I figure I can have it done by spring.”
“You know I’m going to help you, right? You’re not alone in this,” I say, making sure he knows he can count on me.
“I was counting on that.“ He grins, clearly relieved. “But it also means we won’t have any weekends to relax for the next few months.”
“Can you handle that?” I tease, knowing how much he enjoys unwinding on the weekends.
Esteban chuckles, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “I’ll manage. Besides, what’s a few months of hard work if it means I get the house I’ve always wanted?”
“Fair enough.” Smiling, I’m already picturing the long days ahead. But it’ll be worth it to build something from the ground up, especially for a friend.
As we position the toilet, Esteban's phone rings, cutting through the silence. He pulls it out of his pocket and a wide grin instantly spreads across his face. He glances at me, waggling his eyebrows mischievously.
“Hi, beautiful Josy. How are you?” Esteban’s grin is aimed directly at me, making it clear he’s enjoying whatever this is.
Josy? Why is she calling him?I strain to catch her words, but all I can see is Esteban nodding along, still grinning like a fool.
“That’s awesome news. I’m so proud of you,” he says.
He listens a bit more, his expression shifting to something almost... excited? What the hell is she saying?
“Hmm, okay. Sure. Tomorrow?” Esteban keeps nodding, his excitement only growing as he meets my gaze. “See you tomorrow, then. Bye.”
He pockets his phone, still smiling. I can’t take the suspense any longer.
“What? Spit it out, man,” I demand, trying to keep the impatience out of my voice.
“Take it easy, my friend.” Esteban’s clearly enjoying drawing this out. “Josy is renting a place to open a new coffee shop and wants us to do the remodel.”
“For real?” I’m caught off guard. Josy actually wants us to handle the remodel? It’s hard to believe.
“Well, let me clarify,” Esteban says with a smirk. “She wantsmeto do the remodel. She was very explicit in her request that she doesn’t wantyouinvolved.”
