Page 20 of Higher Notes

Was it abnormal to be excited about house hunting?

Chapter Six

Snipe

“Gentlemen, it’s wonderful to meet you.” Pressley greeted us as she answered the door at the first house. These homes were more estates and there was no way in hell they were anywhere near our price range.

“Wow, nice digs.” Jason’s whistle echoed through the overly marbled entrance. “What’s the rent on this mansion?”

Pressley ignored his question and rattled off the specs. “Six bedrooms, seven bathrooms. Each bedroom has its own plus there’s a guest bathroom downstairs. It has a media room, two master suites upstairs, each on opposite ends, and a swimming pool. Follow me, gentlemen.”

“There is no way this is in my price range,” Jason whispered as we headed up the massive set of stairs.

“My thoughts exactly,” Sikes agreed.

“Here is the first master withen suite.”

“Well, this room would definitely hold a bed fit for three.” I thoroughly enjoyed Jason’s lack of filter and complete honesty.

“No kidding, and this tub would hold three bodies as well.” Sikes’ guilty pleasure was a large bathtub. Sadly, our apartment didn’t offer that, but we’d been a bit spoiled with some of the hotels Masterson booked us and the bands at, including the one we just stayed in at Disneyland.

“I believe all the members of the Social Sinners band live in this gated community.” I wasn’t sure if Pressley was trying to sell us on this house by saying that or pointing out we could never afford it.

“It would be great to be near them but Pressley, there is no way we can afford this.” It was best Jason be the one to point that out to her since he was the talent. This house wasn’t being shown to Sikes and me, it was meant for him and whoever he lived with, which just so happened to be us. Potentially.

“In normal circumstances, yes. But I’ve been directed by Easton and Diamond to find the house for you first then we will make the payment work in your favor.”

“Wait, what?” Jason stopped dead in his tracks. “If I can’t afford to live here I shouldn’t be here.”

“Not true at all, Jason. You know as well as I do your safety is first and foremost with Masterson and I can assure you that you and your family would be safer here than in most places.” Pressley had that air about her that spoke of the high-dollar homes and clients she was used to catering to.

“I-I don’t know what to say.”

I felt for Jason. I knew how important it was to him to care for his family, but a house of this magnitude would cause unneeded anxiety and give him the air of drowning in debt. None of us needed that added weight.

“Is there a smaller home around here with maybe like four bedrooms that doesn’t look like Bill Gates once lived in it? Atthis rate we’d have to rent rooms out just to pay the electric bill.” Jason had a point, but I think he’d forgotten we’d offered to be those roommates.

“Yes. Let’s look at the others, then you and your partners can discuss them and get back to me.”

Partners.

So the jig was up.

Pressley was a bit put off by that. Likely not used to showing homes to those who had to account for every dime in order to survive.

The rest of the homes, while a fraction smaller than this one, were still lavish and out of our price ranges. What did one even do with a butler pantry when you had no butler? Pressley stood firm on not sharing costs at her boss’s request which only made it more challenging for Jason.

“I feel like I’m getting special treatment above what my band brothers would get,” Jason said as we slid into the restaurant booth after we’d finished the tours. “I don’t know what to think. What will Josh or Marley or Nigel think when I’m shacking up in some huge ass mansion living well above my means?”

Can’t say I wasn’t feeling much the same. Those houses were…insane.

“I appreciate what Easton and Diamond are trying to do but I’m just not at their level yet. My mom would have a heart attack if she saw these places. I just wanted something simple, you know. A safe, comfortable place where everyone had their own bedroom or one where the boys could share a room. I just want a better life for them.”

Jason’s frustrations were valid. This was foreign territory for us, too, but I didn’t know what to say or how to make it better.

“From a security standpoint,” Sikes began, glad one of us found our words. “I see why they picked where they did. Plus, they’re used to luxury so to them this was a no-brainer.”

“Well, I’d hoped for something that wouldn’t require all of us to work three jobs just to pay the utilities.” Jason took a long pull from his beer. “Fuck.”

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