6. Landon #5
I brushed the chocolate away with my thumb.
Her eyes dropped to my mouth.
Mine stayed on hers.
“Hershey.”
“What?”
“You keep looking at me like that, and this tasting finna lose academic integrity.”
Her fingers curled into the front of my apron.
“Maybe your hypothesis needs field testing.”
Well.
Shit.
I looked at her hand.
Then her.
“Who taught you to talk like that?”
“You.”
“Excellent instruction.”
“Apparently.”
I leaned closer.
She did too.
The kitchen door opened.
Nyla stopped.
Looked at Nolani holding my apron.
Looked at me.
Looked at the chocolate.
“I need to know whether y’all developing ice cream or a child.”
Nolani dropped my apron like it burned her.
I stepped back. “Your timing lacks spiritual sensitivity.”
“My timing just protected this establishment from whatever was about to happen beside commercial dairy.”
“No health code governs kissing.”
“Not with both of y’all breathing like cardio happened.”
“Nyla.”
“I came in here for a reason.”
“Then remember it.”
“Micah handled the strawberry order.”
Nolani nodded. “Good.”
Nyla paused.
“That’s it?”
“He knows what he’s doing.”
A grin spread across Nyla’s face. “Look at Noli delegating.”
“Get out.”
Nyla grabbed a clean spoon and tasted our mixture on the way. “This good.”
“I contributed.”
“You annoyed her until flavor emerged.”
“Leadership takes many forms.”
She pointed the spoon toward me. “See why I like him? He aggravates you in complete sentences.”
“Nyla.”
“I’m leaving. Employees are taking bets, though, so y’all might wanna close the blinds.”
The door shut behind her.
Nolani covered her face.
I leaned against the counter. “What are the odds?”
Her hands dropped. “You cannot be serious.”
“I believe in informed decision-making.”
“You’re enjoying this.”
“I’m enjoying you.”
That stopped her.
I let it.
No speech.
No explanation.
Just the truth.
After a second, she stepped closer.
“You really are.”
“Thought I made that obvious.”
“You did.”
“Good.”
Her fingers found mine.
“What are you doing with me, Landon?”
“Courting you.”
Her eyes stayed on mine.
“That simple?”
“Yeah.”
“Just like that?”
“I like you. I want to keep learning you. I want more days like this. Calling that friendship would be dishonest.”
A smile started.
“And if I need time?”
“Take it.”
I squeezed her hand.
“I’m still gon’ be clear while you do.”
She looked at me for another second.
“I like clear.”
“I noticed.”
“Don’t ruin it.”
“Wasn’t planning to.”
She stepped closer and kissed my cheek.
I smiled.
Hershey was getting bold.
I approved.
Her office was smaller than I expected and considerably more disrespectful to filing systems than Nyla had advertised. Folders occupied the desk, calendars covered one wall, invoices sat in stacks, and a wrapped sandwich beside the computer looked like it had given up on becoming lunch.
I pointed toward it.
“What time?”
Nolani immediately knew what I meant. “Don’t.”
“What time?”
“Eleven.”
I checked my watch.
Almost four.
“Hershey.”
“I was busy.”
“I can see that. Come eat with me for ten minutes.”
“Are you hungry?”
“I can participate.”
“That means no.”
“It means I support carbohydrates.”
She laughed but sat.
I pulled the other chair beside hers instead of across the desk. Nolani unwrapped the sandwich, took a bite, and looked at me like I’d personally inconvenienced her.
“You satisfied?”
“Deeply.”
“You’re irritating.”
“I’m also handsome. Balance.”
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced at it.
Kept eating.
A minute later, it buzzed again.
This time she checked it.
“Mason handled the vendor switch.”
“Good.”
“Tasha covered the schedule change too.”
“Also good.”
Nolani stared at the screen before putting it face down.
“They handled it.”
“Sounds like you hired competent people.”
“I did.”
I bumped my knee against hers.
“Then eat.”
She bumped me back.
“You’re bossy.”
“Your mother would probably agree.”
“You’ve never met my mother.”
“Wise woman, nonetheless.”
“You just make shit up and add academic vocabulary.”
“Advanced skill.”
She laughed and took another bite.
That was enough.
I wasn’t spending my first afternoon in her business giving her a seminar about her own life.
My phone vibrated.
Lennox.
I answered immediately.
“What happened?”
Nolani straightened beside me.
“Nothing happened. Mama more tired than earlier. Daddy got her upstairs. She ate some soup. Figured you’d want to know.”
I was already standing.
“Fever?”
“No.”
“Pain?”
“No. She said don’t call you, which obviously meant call you.”
“Put Daddy on.”
A few seconds later, Pops answered.
“She’s resting.”
“You sure?”
“I’m looking at her.”
“Vitals?”
“Fine.”
“Nausea?”
“A little. Medicine handled it.”
I grabbed my keys.
“I’m heading back.”
“Landon.”
“I said I’m heading back.”
“And your mama told me to tell you not to rush.”
“I’m not asking her.”
“No. You’re attempting to manage something that doesn’t require managing.” He paused. “Come home. Just don’t drive like the devil chasing you.”
I looked at Nolani.
She’d already wrapped the rest of her sandwich.
“I’m leaving in a few.”
“Good.”
“Call if anything changes.”
“I will.”
“Immediately.”
“Yes, Son.”
I hung up.
Nolani took my hand.
“Treatment?”
“Hit her harder today.”
“You want to go now?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s get you out of here.”
No guilt.
No pretending she wasn’t disappointed either.
Just understanding.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Leaving sooner than I planned.”
“Landon, go see your mama.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you apologizing?” I looked at her. She stepped closer. “You showed up. You spent your afternoon in my kitchen, wearing pink, got interrogated by children, worked unpaid literacy duty, and survived Nyla calling you Big Lando. We’re good.”
I laughed.
“I wanted more time.”
“So did I.”
Before I could answer, Nolani stepped into me. One hand settled against my chest while the other caught lightly behind my neck, and she rose onto her toes.
Her mouth touched my jaw.
Slow enough that it damn sure wasn’t accidental.
Then she pulled back like she hadn’t just rearranged my thoughts.
I stared at her.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
“Nah. We don’t revise history that fast.”
A smile played at her lips. “Drive-safe incentive.”
“You kissing on me for defensive-driving compliance?”
“Positive reinforcement has research behind it.”
I looked at her.
“You been stealing my vocabulary all week.”
“I’ve had an excellent instructor.”
“Hershey.”
“Hmm?”
I slid a hand around her waist. “Do that again.”
Her smile deepened. “Get home safely, and maybe I will.”
“That is textbook manipulation.”
“Evidence-based practice.”
I laughed. “You getting dangerous.”
“I’m learning.”
“What does Mama like?”
“Butter pecan. Real pecans. She specifically rejected apologetic crumbs.”
Nolani nodded seriously. “I respect her standards.”
“Daddy’ll eat anything involving caramel.”
“Lennox?”
“Cookies and cream because imagination abandoned him.”
“And you?”
“You know.”
“Chocolate, almonds, peanut candy, and too much confidence?”
“Careful. That might become a bestseller.” She took my hand. “Come on, Hershey Bar.”
I stopped.
Nolani made it another step before realizing I hadn’t moved.
“What?”
“Hershey Bar?”
Her face gave her away.
“Don’t make it a thing.”
“Too late.”
“I’ll revoke it.”
“Language entered the record.”
“Move, Landon.”
I followed her out, laughing.
The rush had settled. Nolani stepped behind the display case and pulled out four pint-sized containers, labeling each one in her looping handwriting.
Mama Brooks: Butter Pecan
Mr. Brooks: Salted Caramel
Lennox: Cookies & Cream
Then she paused.
“What am I writing on yours?”
“Big Lando’s Superior Experimental Blend.”
“That will not fit.”
“Excellence frequently exceeds available space.”
She looked at me. “Landon?”
“Nah.”
“What?”
“Write yours.”
Her marker stopped.
“Hershey Bar?”
“Documentation matters.”
She shook her head but wrote it anyway.
Hershey Bar
I looked at the lid.
That pleased me entirely too much.
“Official.”
“It’s frozen dairy.”
“It’s personalized frozen dairy.”
“I can still change it.”
“To?”
“Annoying Man With Too Much Confidence.”
“Still personalized.”
She laughed and disappeared into production.
Nyla stepped beside me.
“You look ridiculous.”
“How?”
“You watching my sister scoop ice cream like she carrying your firstborn.”
“I’m observing craftsmanship.”
“You’re enamored.”
I looked at her.
“Is that supposed to embarrass me?”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Oh.”
“What?”
“You serious about her.”
“Yeah.”
Some of the foolishness left her face.
“Noli deserves clear.”
“That’s what she’s getting.”
Nyla studied me for a second, then nodded.
“Okay, Big Lando.”
“I still haven’t approved that.”
“You don’t have jurisdiction.”
Nolani returned, carrying an insulated bag with the four pints and enough ice packs to preserve them through an evacuation.
“What are y’all talking about?”
“Your business,” Nyla said.
“My literal business?”
“No.”
“Nyla.”
“I’m leaving.”
She walked off before Nolani could investigate.
I reached for my wallet.
“How much?”
Nolani put one hand over the bag. “Nothing.”
“Hershey.”
“Landon.”
“I’m paying for the ice cream.”
“No, you aren’t.”
“You own a business.”
“And I’m giving something to somebody I care about.”
That shut me up.
She pushed the bag toward me.
“Take it.”
I looked at her.
No scoreboard.
No argument about who was capable of buying what.
She wanted to give me something.
I put my wallet away.
“Thank you.”
Her whole face brightened.
“You’re welcome.”
Simple.
Better.
Employees called goodbyes as we headed toward the entrance. Purple Beads waved from a table inside Scoops & Stories.
“Bye, Coach Landon!”
I lifted the bag. “Finish that book.”
“I will!”
Outside, I packed the ice cream into the cooler and shut the SUV door.