Borrowing Trouble(14)

“Sorry. I finished up the yard work and went into town. Stopped off at Greenlee’s and grabbed a few odds and ends groceries to contribute, thought I’d swing on by, see if you needed any help.”

Landon reached for one of the bags and led Jay into his home. “You didn’t have to do this. My mama will probably bring more than what we need.” Landon placed the bags on his kitchen island and Jay followed suit.

“Not a problem,” Jay said. “You helped me yesterday, so it’s the least I could do.”

“You’re welcome to a beer or soda. Anything you can find. Cold stuff’s in the fridge in the garage. I’m gonna finish getting the catfish ready.”

“You need me to do anything?”

Landon thought on it. “Actually,” he opened the door that led to his garage and pointed out the fryer. “You know how to work one of those?”

Jay gave him an exaggeratedly pointed look. “Boy, you insult me.”

Landon threw up his hand and dipped his head. “Pardon my offense, sir. I meant nothing by it. Didn’t know if town living all these years had made you go soft.”

“You’re a smartass,” Jay said with a laugh. “Where do you want me to set up?”

“Just take it out back there. Set up on the patio. Figured we’d eat outside tonight. I got some wood together for a bonfire.”

Jay smiled. “You trying to reintroduce me to country life all in one night?”

“It’s not an official fish fry if there isn’t a bonfire, Mr. Hill.”

“That it isn’t,” Jay replied. “You got propane?” Landon scoffed and pulled out the new propane tank and slid it into place in the fryer.

“Just wheel it out through the back door. I’ll be in the kitchen.”

They both went about their separate duties. Jay returned shortly and opened the fridge, pulling out a beer. “I swear I drink more around you.”

“That’s me. Enabler,” Landon teased, plating some of the battered fish.

“Mostly it’s because I don’t have grown-up company that much anymore. Nice to unwind. I love my kids, but shee-it, it’s nice to have a break.”

“I bet. Don’t worry. You’ll get to unwind plenty with this crew. My friends will probably bring hard liquor. They usually even talk my mama into cutting loose and having a few.”

“I’ll be damned. Your mother drinks?”

Landon chuckled. “Not usually, but she makes an exception around Brittany and Mitch. They have that effect on people.” He turned and looked over his shoulder at Jay. “You’ll like them. They’re absolutely city kids, but they’re good people.”

“And you can talk them into coming here?”

Landon shrugged. “Sometimes you just get tired of the same-old-club, same-old-bars, same-old-parties. It’s nice to just hang out and not have to yell over people to talk.”

“Probably easier on your voice, too.”

“Spoken like a true dad.”

“Sixteen years makes for a hard habit to break.”

Landon finished battering and rinsed his hands off. When he turned to speak to Jay again, he noticed his friend had wandered into the living room and was taking stock of things on Landon’s shelves.

“I didn’t know you went to Millsap’s.” Jay turned surprised eyes on Landon after picking up Landon’s framed diploma. “That’s a—a smart-kid school.”

Landon smirked. “You almost called me a nerd, didn’t you?”

“Well…” Jay drawled, then studied the diploma.

Landon walked over to look at the diploma in Jay’s hand. “Yes. It’s a nerd school. Some people call in the Harvard of the South, but I definitely wouldn’t go that far. It was challenging, though. So. Much. Writing.” He still got cramps in his hands thinking about all the essays he’d written in his undergrad program.

“Landon Dwayne—” Landon rolled his eyes at the cocked grin Jay threw at him when he said Duh-wayne in a thick, southern drawl—“Petty. Bachelor of Science in History.” Jay seemed suitably impressed, which made Landon want to preen. Instead, he waved it off and grabbed the frame, placing it back on the shelf.

“It’s one syllable. Dwayne.”

“Uh huh.” Landon flipped Jay off. “So how does a Millsap’s boy end up hauling wood chips for a living?”

Landon sighed. “Well, Daddy’s old business partner retired, then they lost a few drivers to the rail road. Then right when I thought I’d gotten enough employees in to leave, Donny—the man you replaced—decided he could make more money driving down to the Nissan plant in Canton. I hadn’t taken a job yet, so it just seemed best to help out while I could.”

Jay shook his head. “Seems like a waste.” His head jerked up, face apologetic. “I don’t mean—”

Landon laughed. “No, it’s okay. I understand. Even my mama says all the time it’s a damn expensive education to be squandering driving a big rig. Thankfully, grants covered most of my tuition or she’d be a lot more vocal about my decision to stay around here.” Although, Landon himself was starting to want more. After five years longer than he’d intended to be doing the family business, he was starting to chafe.