Page 89 of Hand Picked
In fact, I owed him a whole lot more than that.
“And aren’t you the guy who just paid for the roof on his house with the sale of your tractor? I think you’re probably even.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s the problem!” God, the words sounded so stupid, even to my own ears. “It’s like we’ve had thisrealissue with the property line, right? And thisrealissue with his death trap of a house. And now those things are gone, and all we have left is…” An accidental handfasting. A pretend betrothal.
“You know, maybe Amanda’s not the only one who grew and changed,” Jack said thoughtfully. “Maybe it’s time you, you know… reconsider your stance on relationships.”
He said this with the same enthusiasm with which he’d discuss recreational root canals.
“Not you, though, huh?” I asked, amused.
“No.” He looked uncharacteristically serious, and maybe even a little sad. “No, I can’t see that changing for me.”
Before I could ask him what his problem was, though, he forced a smile and tapped the edge of my plate. “Are you gonna eat this or play with it?”
Oh, right.
I took a large bite and savored it. “Holy shit. This is phenomenal.” I swallowed and immediately took another. “Is that biscuits on top of chicken? The herbs are fucking delicious.”
He beamed. “Excellent. Chicken biscuit pot pie is going on the menu for next week.”
I coughed on my mouthful of chicken. “This is pie?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Ye-es? Why?”
“No reason.” I pushed my plate away and stood. “Put me down for an entire pie for next week, okay? And you and I are gonna eat it and drink some beer, and you’ll tell me whatever the fuck you’re angsting over.”
Jack’s eyes widened in horror. “Ohhhh, no. Hold the phone, buddy. Go have deep convos with your betrothed. And don’t you have four billion brothers to meddle with? What’s Reed up to down in DC, huh? He never calls, he never writes. And Porter. He’s at such a crucial age. You should check in—”
“I do have concerns about Hawk,” I admitted.
“H-hawk? What’s, um… what’s wrong with Hawk?” Jack wiped an imaginary speck off the counter.
“Oh, just this whole business with Fogg Peak.” I waved a hand. “You know how he is. Ninety percent of the time, he’s the most easygoing guy in the world, but once he gets an idea in his head…”
“Yeah. Tell me about it,” he said faintly.
“Anyway. I’m really glad he’s got you looking out for him.” I patted him on the shoulder. “As a boss and as an honorary big brother. Just knowing he’s got you to hike with and talk to… You’re the best friend I could ask for.”
The smile Jack gave me could only be described as…pained.
“Dude, seriously. Take the compliment.” I rolled my eyes. The man was way worse at discussing his emotions than I was. “Look, I gotta go. I’m going to tell Luke about the land. I just… I need to make sure he understands.”
It wasn’t at all that I was absolutely dying to see him, to talk to him, to reassure myself that I hadn’t fucked things up too badly.
I jogged out of the restaurant and drove straight to Luke’s place. The more I thought about it, the more desperate I was to let him know about the land situation, to tell him I would never want to take advantage of him under any circumstances. I was starting to believe I’d give him any amount of Sunday land, if that’s what it took to make him happy.
And that scared the crap out of me.
But when I knocked on the front door, it wasn’t Luke who answered. It was his mom.
“Hi, Ms. Williams,” I said, a little out of breath from jogging across the yard and up the front steps. “Is Luke around?”
“Oh, no, honey. I’m afraid he’s not. He said he was going to a dance recital this afternoon that a couple of his students are performing in. He took his aunt with him since she used to teach dance classes a million years ago. Is there something I can help you with?”
She must have seen the disappointment on my face because she ushered me inside. “Come, come. I’m just making some tea, and I’d love the company if you don’t mind.”
I followed her into the newly renovated kitchen. It was Luke’s dream kitchen, so it made me smile every time I saw it. Today, I noticed he’d put some of his students’ drawings on the big side-by-side fridge.
