Tipping the Balance

by Koehler, Christopher

  Drew knew he had to play it cagey, since he had only a few fleeting smiles, a vague sense of the fey, and wishful thinking to go on where Brad’s sexual orientation was concerned. The last thing he wanted was to come on strong and scare the guy off. If he was the older gay perv hitting on the hot young guy, he wouldn’t even have Brad’s friendship to show for his efforts.

  “Hi, Drew,” the admin said as he walked into the office. “You’ve got a small pile of messages on your desk, but otherwise, it’s been pretty quiet for you.”

  “Thanks, Serena,” Drew said, blowing her air kisses as he walked by.

  She laughed. “You always promise but never follow through.”

  Drew sat at his desk and sorted through the promised stack of messages. Most weren’t urgent, but he was surprised a few weren’t smoldering. He set them aside. He’d have to return to them before he drove to meet his clients for that 6:00 p.m. meeting.

  He woke his computer up and set it to downloading e-mails, but his mind was still at lunch with Brad. As much as he’d enjoyed himself, and as happy as he’d been to help (once Brad had seen through his attempts at dodging being honest about that development), it hadn’t required a face-to-face meeting, let alone a lunch that lasted several enchanting hours. A real estate agent’s perspective on Suburban Graveyard could’ve been solicited via e-mail or even telephone, and it wasn’t like he hadn’t given Nick permission to pass his contact information along to Brad via Morgan.

  The more Drew thought about it, the more lunch felt like an excuse. That Brad might’ve been looking for an excuse to see him thrilled him. He felt warm all over as a goofy smile stole over his lips.

  Brad was going to be the death of him, however, if he didn’t change his vocabulary. All that talk of Brad and ass had Drew hard and wanting.

  Drew snickered at the name Brad had come up with for Suburban Symphony as he reluctantly got back to work.

  Chapter Five

  As the days headed for a full week with no contact from Brad, Drew faced the fact that he’d misjudged Brad and his interest. He tried to shrug it off. He tried to be philosophical about it. After all, as he well knew, wishful thinking trumped gaydar every time. But no calls, no e-mails, no nothing from Brad cast a dark patina over Drew’s mood. He’d been so sure….

  But Drew had other things to worry about that summer afternoon. The economic climate might not have been the best, but for some reason, Drew had never had more business, and that was the problem. What he didn’t have was people to do the work.

  He sat in traffic on the freeway, wondering if he could possibly have found a worse time of day to check out another potential reno. Even though it was where he wanted to head in terms of his business, he was practical enough to realize he wasn’t there yet. He just didn’t know how he could handle another renovation right then.

  But then Emily had called. Actually, she didn’t just call. She’d driven to his office and begged.

  “Even if I take out a hit on my old contractor, which, believe me, is growing more likely by the minute, it won’t save this project,” Emily had said.

  “I’m not a contractor, you know that,” Drew’d protested.

  “No, but you’ve got one you can work with, and these days, that’s a miracle. You also do good work, which is a nice bonus. Please, just tell me you’ll come look at it.” When he’d looked like he was about to turn her down, she added, “Mary and Fred Abernathy love your work so far. You’re on budget and slightly ahead of schedule. As far as they’re concerned, after hearing horror stories about home renovations, you’re a miracle worker. I need another miracle.”

  So there he was, wondering how the hell he was going to pull off another miracle and rotting on the elevated Capital City Freeway while down below, Sacramento went about its business beneath a leafy green canopy. At least it wasn’t a complete house renovation, just the master bedroom and bath. That was the only reason he was even considering it.

  But it wasn’t just another possible reno for Emily. It was the job already under way and the one lined up, just waiting for his crew to become available. Every day those properties went unrenovated and unsold cost him money.

  The flips he could handle. That was what he did. He knew how they worked. But the flips, along with the not-nearly-as-complete-as-Emily-claimed Abernathy renovation and a new reno on top of his stillborn love life….

  Just the thought of it all made Drew a little queasy.

  The problem was that Drew didn’t know how helping out his friend and keeping everything else going was going to be humanly possible. Sure, he could find the labor. This was California, after all, and so long as you didn’t look too closely at immigration status, labor was there for the asking. It sucked, and it was exploitative, but there it was.

  Drew made sure his crew checked out, and he knew he could trust Octavio to find more help, if it came down to it. But Octavio wasn’t interested in the headaches that went along with being a project leader. He’d made that much clear the first time Nick had had to go back to coaching and grad school in the fall a few years before.

  Crawling down the highway at thirty miles per hour, Drew realized he needed a business partner, not just more labor, and where he was going to find someone he could work with, he had no idea.

  Finally traffic opened up, and he drove to meet Emily to see this latest nail in his coffin.

  “You know, we actually used to socialize outside of home improvement,” Nick said the day after Drew had gone to check out the next proposed reno. He placed a level against a cabinet door in one bathroom of the Abernathy renovation to make sure it was hung correctly.

  “We used to socialize more before you got a boyfriend,” Drew said from under the bathroom sinks where he was adjusting a leaking cold-water feed. “It’s just the way things go.”

  “Yeah, I guess. I just miss talking to you without hardware in my hands or worrying about deadlines,” Nick said.

  “I know what you mean, but summer’s almost over, and we’ll get back to normal in a month or so,” Drew said. “And speaking of which….”

  Nick put the level down. “I know that tone. Spare me the buildup and cut to the chase.”

  “I’ve got another reno I want to take on, and that means you,” Drew said, leveraging himself out from under the sink. “For starters, it’s a small one, just a master bedroom and bathroom. I think we can bang it out before you go back to school.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. But you said ‘for starters’. What else is going on?” Nick leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest.

  “This is what I want to do. Flipping’s all well and good, but I’m limited to what I can do alone during the school year and what we can accomplish together during the summer,” Drew said, “and you—”

  “Graduate next spring, yes,” Nick said.

  “I don’t even want to think of that yet,” Drew admitted.

  Nick shrugged. “I know, but you’re going to have to one of these days.”

  Drew looked up. “You and Morgan will graduate, probably move away, and then where will I be? Here without my best friend.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. A lot depends on where Morgan goes for his teaching credential,” Nick said. “Don’t borrow trouble. So. A bed/bath in a month before school starts?”

  “Yes. This place is all but done. We’ve got one reno in progress and other ready to go, but if I charge Emily enough, this job will more than make up for putting that one on the slow track,” Drew said.

  Nick thought about it. “The only way this can work is if I put my research on hold for that month and if you scale way back on selling houses so we can both put all our efforts into this.”

  “I can do that, I think,” Drew said, “if you can.”

  “And I have to talk to Morgan about it,” Nick cautioned.

  “You have to ask your boyfriend? Dude, you are so married,” Drew laughed. Secretly, he was a little envious. That kind of accountability to another sounded pretty att
ractive to him, but it wasn’t looking like a possibility any time soon.

  Nick shrugged. “It affects him too. Not only will I not be around as much the rest of the summer, it means I won’t be around as much this next school year, since the research won’t happen by itself. Between that, teaching, and the last of my own coursework, to say nothing of coaching…. There are only so many hours in the day. Of course, it’ll be his senior year, so he’ll be pretty busy too.”

  “Fair enough,” Drew said. “Let’s get back to work. Whatever happens, I want this place done. It’ll only help Renochuck in the future. Jeez, I can’t believe I just called my own company Renochuck.”

  The next day, both men were back at the Abernathy place for their last inspection before the homeowners had their final walk-through.

  “So I can do it,” Nick said, “but Morgan wants you to pay me more.”

  “He what! That little—”

  “Man I love,” Nick said flatly. He sounded gruff, but Drew could tell he was kidding. Mostly.

  “Yeah, I’ll pay you more. It’s only fair,” Drew said. Before Nick could change his mind, Drew pulled out his cell phone and called Emily. “Okay, I know this is voice mail, but I’m suddenly very busy. I’ll do the bed/bath job for you, but this is the last job for a while, do you hear me? The very last! Love you, babe. Bye.”

  “That’ll learn her. You sure showed her,” Nick snorted. “You also just caved like a spelunker.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Drew said, shrugging. “But what can you do? She’s a good friend, and we help our friends out. Thanks for helping me out with this, friend.”

  “Any time,” Nick said.

  They worked their way through the Abernathy house one room at a time, going over the work with the proverbial fine-toothed comb. The silence was companionable, but Drew could tell Nick was working his way around to something.

  “Drew….”

  “Yes?”

  “I’m almost afraid to ask, and I think I can guess, because quite frankly, you’ve been a bit of a downer for the last week or so, but what’s up with Brad?”

  “Nothing, that’s what,” Drew said. “A big fat nothing.”

  “I’m sorry,” Nick said. “I tried to warn you. I just don’t think he’s into you, not like that.”

  “I know, and I don’t actually hate you for that ‘I told you so’, but I thought there was something there… the looks, the shy smiles.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you that I haven’t already said before, but you know I’m here for you, and so is Morgan,” Nick said quietly.

  “I know, and I appreciate it,” Drew replied.

  Nick regarded him for a moment and then hugged him.

  “I thought I was happy with my single life,” Drew said, face muffled by Nick’s chest. “I’ve got a great job, keep myself busy, but then this spring… when I saw Brad. When I thought I saw something in Brad and thought maybe he saw something in me… I realized I want what you’ve got with Morgan. I want… I want to share my life with someone.”

  “I’m sorry,” Nick murmured, kissing Drew’s head softly.

  “It’s okay.” Drew sniffled. “Maybe he’ll still be my friend. Jeez, that sounds pathetic.”

  “A little, yeah,” Nick said.

  Drew let go of Nick and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “I don’t know when I turned into such an emotional bag of slop.”

  “Feeling doesn’t make you a bag of slop, and you’d pinned your hopes on Brad. It’s natural to be disappointed, to be upset,” Nick said.

  “Thanks, Oprah. Good to know.”

  “Aaaand he’s back!” Nick laughed. “I’ll be right back. There’s something I need to get out of my backpack.”

  When he returned to the bathroom they were inspecting, Nick handed Drew a piece of paper. “I can’t believe I’m doing this, and in light of previous discussions, I run the risk of hypocrisy, but this may take your mind off Brad.”

  Giving Nick a skeptical look, Drew took the paper and read it silently for a few moments. “Holy shit,” he breathed.

  “About that, yes,” Nick said. “That interest you?”

  “Are you kidding me? The city’s calling for bids from up-and-coming designers and architects for the renovation of the Bayard House,” Drew said, eyes glued to the circular. “This is what I want to do, but… it’s too soon!” He met Nick’s eyes. “I mean, I can’t pull this off, not yet. We’re freaking out getting this project done and then a bed/bath. The mayor’s residence is an historic house that goes back to the Gold Rush, when Sacramento was built on stilts because the American and Sacramento Rivers flooded like clockwork every winter. I don’t know much about historical preservation, let alone how to update and adapt such an old and important structure. I….”

  Nick let Drew sputter on for a few more moments but then cut him off. “Look, the city obviously knows this is a huge undertaking, but they’re calling for up-and-comers anyway. You’ve got some experience, you’ve got a contractor you can work with. Give Emily a call. She’s got the design chops. Between the two of you, you should be able to come up with something.”

  “You think so?” Drew said.

  “Drew, I know so,” Nick said gently. “This is your big chance.”

  “The only way I can do this is if you help me,” Drew said. When Nick started to protest, Drew cut him off. “No, seriously. We work well together. You’ve been helping me with flips since you moved up here. You’re the only crew leader I’ve ever had. You probably know more than I do at this point, frankly.”

  Nick shook his head. “There’s no way on earth. I’d have to take a semester off school, and that’s just not happening.”

  “Please, Nick, I’m begging,” Drew said. “I went along with your insane scheme to get Morgan off your scent before you two decided to give it a go. Now it’s time to return the favor.”

  “This is totally different, and you know it,” Nick said, an edge to his voice. “That turned out to be one night out. You’re asking me to take half a year off school. It’s not just me anymore. As it is right now, Morgan and I will finish up at the same time. There’s no way I’ll screw that up. You’re my best friend, but he’s the man I’m going to marry.”

  “Fine. I can’t believe you’re going to be that way, though, not after all we’ve been through together,” Drew said.

  “Don’t make this a choice between you and Morgan,” Nick warned. “We’ve been friends a long time. Don’t fuck it up.”

  “But the Bayard House!” Drew wailed. “This could make me.”

  “I know it could, Drew, and that’s why I brought it to your attention, but reno isn’t what I want to go into. It’s your dream, not mine. I do this to make money on the side and as a favor to you, but you can’t ask me to derail my life for it, to say nothing of Morgan’s, you just can’t,” Nick said.

  “I know,” Drew said softly, deflated.

  “Talk to Emily,” Nick urged him. Then he smiled. “Save your manipulation for her. After all, she owes you a few favors, now, doesn’t she?”

  “You’re a baaaaad man, Nick Bedford.” Drew smirked. “That’s why I like you.”

  Nick winked. “Now let’s get back to work. If you’re going to go after the Bayard House bid, you need this and that bed/bath to be perfect.”

  “So you’ve heard about the Bayard House, have you?”

  Drew sat across from Emily Schoenwald at a small table at a trendy coffee shop. Both had notebooks and calendars open in front of them. Drew stared at the blank page open before him, toying with a pencil. “My crew leader showed me the circular. What do you think?”

  “I think it’s a tremendous opportunity,” the small blonde spitfire said. “I’m just not convinced it’s an opportunity for us.”

  “It’d be a stretch, that’s for sure, but then, that may be the point of aiming it at younger designers and builders. It’s supposed to be a stretch, and it’ll turn into a boost up,” Drew said.

  “I�
��m just not convinced that either of us operates at the scale this job will require. You do fantastic work, but you handle only one or two jobs at a time. I usually have a few more jobs going at once, but we’re neither of us used to handling things like this,” Emily said.

  Drew shifted in his chair. “Of course we don’t operate on that scale. The point is to make the jump up to that scale.”

  “Possibly,” Emily replied. She took a sip of her latte to maintain the caffeine levels in her blood. “It’s also a gamble. You’d have to back way off on selling houses, and I’d have to devote most of my resources to the project too. That means either we have to have money in the bank to carry us or we have to secure loans until the city pays us, and in this economy, I’m just not optimistic we could get the financing.”