Bo was walking the condo for the last time, double-checking everything on his punch list. Carpeting for a few of the rooms had been the final touch and he wanted to make sure there had been no scuffing from the crew that had laid it. He was ultra-proud of this flip and blemishes would not be tolerated.
Ralph had found a deal on this one. Open floor plan, almost three thousand square feet, two bedrooms, two and a half baths, water-front, with gorgeous views of the Potomac including Georgetown, the Memorial Bridge, and the Arlington Skyline. He would get three million at least, no doubt, close to double what he paid.
The stagers had already come and the place looked phenomenal, like something right out of Architectural Digest magazine. Not frou-frou though, very masculine with solid whites and grays, blond hardwoods, and patterned accent pillows. There were granite countertops throughout, with brushed-nickel fixtures, including lights, knobs, and hinges.
Bo was not much when it came to designing but he knew how to execute. Ralph was the one with great taste.
They made a fantastic team.
He found a small nick on the corner drywall, not deep enough to dig the putty out, but he had a small can of the paint with him. He opened it, dipped his finger in, and touched the spot with it.
Presto. Gone.
In the bedroom, he admired the giant king-sized overstuffed mattress, covered in a quilted duvet of plush white, with mounds of colored accent pillows in tan, brown, and sky blue, stripes and plaids.
Yes, sir. Outstanding.
He saw a smudge on the molding of the master bath door. He removed a rag from his back pocket, dampened it under the bathroom faucet, and buffed the spot away. Before he turned out the light, he gave the shower a lingering glance. It was enormous, large charcoal wall tiles, with a mosaic floor and ceiling. Three showerheads, as well as a bench, and holdings. He and Ralph had christened it. Twice.
Man, I’m gonna miss that shower.
He flicked the switch and crossed the bedroom to the attached balcony. The glorious Potomac was there, kayakers rowing its lazy currents, perpendicular to the flow of traffic exiting the city on the Memorial Bridge. It was almost too beautiful to believe, the whole package.
As he was closing the balcony door he heard the front door close.
“Honey? Where are you?”
Bo came out of the bedroom to find Ralph standing in the kitchen, unloading stuff onto the counter. There were two large paper sacks and a toolbox.
“What the fuck?” he said, crossing to him. “Don’t be messing up my countertops. Is that a new toolbox? I like the one I have. I don’t want a new toolbox.”
Ralph set the shiny red metal box down next to Bo’s old, rusty, paint-splattered, dented one. “It’s time you had a new one. This is my celebration gift for the spectacular job you’ve done here on Virginia Avenue.”
“Well, I hope you kept the receipt.”
Ralph chuckled, turning. He wrapped his arm around Bo and pulled him tight, lip-locking for a good long taste. Whenever either of them came up behind each other it was always a solid turn on, reminding them both of Shirlington long ago.
“Mm,” Bo said. “The groan is for you, but also the smell. Is that Chinese? I thought we were going to David’s.”
Ralph smiled. “I changed my mind. I was coming back from my closing in Columbia, and you know I can’t resist the gravitational pull of Hunan Manor. So I picked up dinner there. Hope you don’t mind. I called George and moved our reservation to tomorrow.”
“Mind? Hell, no. I’m starving. Please tell me that’s beer in the second bag.”
“Blue Moon. Your favorite. Thought we might give that shower another go.”
“It’s uncanny how much we think alike.”
“I know you’re kind of attached to the place.”
“Yeah, a little. But it’s like that with all of them, Ralph. It’s more than sweat I put into these jobs. There’s a little bit of my heart and soul too.”
“That’s why I love you.”
“Hmm. I thought it was my sweet hole.”
“That too. I like it all. But I especially like that you’re always all-in, no matter what. Me too... if ever you’re wondering.”
“I’m not. At all.”
