Just My Style by J.M. Snyder

Author:J.M. Snyder
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2015-03-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Eventually Duane determines the problem isn’t in the water heater or the pipes themselves, but as he puts it, “You have a broken stem in your gate valve.”

Jai glances up from the photo he’s tweaking of the plumber to post on Instagram and frowns. “I’m sorry, my what?”

Tapping a red knob high up on the tank, Duane says, “I gotta replace this. I’m not a big fan of these, so I’ll put a ball valve in instead and you’ll be good to go. Shouldn’t take too long.”

Jai looks at the time on his phone. It’s already ten, the time the salon regularly opens, though he told everyone not to rush in this morning. He didn’t know how long the water would be out, but when he called everyone the night before, a two-hour delay seemed doable. Isn’t that what schools got? Still…“How long do you think it’ll take?”

With a shrug, Duane admits, “Half hour if nothing goes wrong.” He nudges the toolbox out of his way with one foot and heads over to where Jai sprawls across the bottom of the steps.

Quickly Jai scrambles to his feet. “And if something does go wrong?”

Another shrug. “I’ve seen these sort of things take all day,” Duane admits. Grabbing onto the railing, he swings around and starts up the stairs, taking them two at a time. “But you’re closed, right? So it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“We’re only closed until this afternoon.” Jai hurries after him, not willing to be left behind in the cold, dingy basement. “If it’s going to take longer, I can close all day, but I need to know now so I can let everyone else know—”

“Let me get the water shut off first,” Duane tells him, “get the valve cut out, see what I’m dealing with. Then I’ll be able to give you a better estimate how long it’ll take.”

Jai keeps on his heels through the back rooms and into the salon. At the front door, Duane pauses long enough to shrug on his heavy jacket and zips it up. “But you just said a half hour,” Jai points out. “Where are you going? You can’t leave.”

“I have to get the ball valve out of my truck,” Duane explains. “Just chill, dude. I’m coming right back. Just sit down, relax, keep playing your little games—”

“I’m not playing games,” Jai mutters, pocketing his phone.

Duane assures him, “Let me work, man, and I’ll get your water back on soon enough, okay?”

With a sigh, Jai drops into a comfy armchair in the small waiting area near the front door. From here he can watch Duane through the large bay window—the plumber huddles against the blustery wind to the back of his truck, where he rummages around for a few things, tucking them into the pockets of his jacket before Jai can see what they are. At this time of the morning, the sidewalks are usually busy with people strolling amid the small shops that line the street, but with today’s weather, there’s no one out and about.

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