Page 102 of Knockin' Boats
Meanwhile, I took a little of everything, mentally analyzing their flavor profiles and imagining ways I could reconstruct them with new twists.
The cumin wings had some real potential. A little brown sugar could add a hint of sweetness to the spice that would be nice. Serving them with a creamy raita would help balance the bold flavors, as well.
Lakin Hornby sauntered over. “Those wings are the shit.”
“They’re pretty good,” I agreed as Lakin piled more food on his plate.
Lakin’s parents moved in the same crowd as mine, which was the only explanation for why he was here. We trauma bonded over our rich, douchey parental units—and more than one joint at parties.
“So, where have you been?” he asked casually before tearing into a wing with a ravenous hunger. Speaking of joints, he must have had one recently, because the guy hadmunchieswritten all over him.
“Oh, around. I started a food boat over in Swallow Cove.”
He shook his head. “I heard about that. Wild, man. Why would you go there?”
“Well, I didn’t have any backers here.”
“Ol’ Rickie wouldn’t back you?” he asked with surprise.
“Nope. Wanted me running his stupid party boats.”
“Sucks.” Lakin took another bite, chewing thoughtfully. “Gotta say, though, you had a pretty sweet gig. I mean, you gotpaid to party every night. You met so many hot women, way hotter than the women who live around here.” He glanced at Mel. “No offense.”
“Someoffense taken,” she said, giving his shoulder a playful shove.
He swept his gaze over her. “Present company excluded,of course.”
“Of course,” she said with a smirk.
I got a flirty vibe between the two. Huh. Wouldn’t have taken Lakin as her type, but then…I wouldn’t have taken Sawyer as mine. If anyone was flipping the script, it was me.
“Partying gets old,” I said. “What are you doing these days?
“Working for the old man. What else?”
“Yeah…”
This was getting awkward fast. Lakin was a nice enough guy, but we didn’t have a lot in common anymore. Bonding over parental units only took you so far, especially when neither of us were kids. Our destiny was in our own hands now.
I’d taken the path of independence. Lakin had chosen a different one. I didn’t judge him for it, but…we weren’t exactly on the same wavelength.
“Hey, there’s a party out at Sean’s in a couple weeks. You should both come.”
Lakin’s eyes were fixed on Mel now. I was actually kind of impressed how he’d turned an insult against women in the Ozarks into a come-on to Mel.
“Sean is an idiot,” Mel said.
“But his parties are lit,” Lakin said with a grin. “Just come out. For old times’ sake. We can all catch up.”
“I’ll think about it,” she said.
“Cool.” He glanced at me. “What about it, Big Dix? You gonna come too?”
I rolled my eyes at the stupid nickname I’d gotten while on the football team. “Maybe.”
“All right, cool.” He knocked knuckles before ambling away.
Rick chose that moment to reappear. “Now, Lakin is a good friend to have, Ash. He’s doing good work for his dad.”
