Page 54 of A Quick Buck

“Yeah!”

“And he’s headed right this way?” Noah’s grimace deepened when he saw Landon hurrying through the crowd by the pool toward them.

“Huh?” Junior looked the wrong way. “I don’t sees nothin’.”

“Hey!” Landon was practically running right at them with a drink in his hand. He was short, skinny, and awkward. Not much had changed since high school except he was getting a little thicker in the middle.

At a distance, he did have a passing resemblance to Patrick, also being blond and having a similar physique.

“There you are!” Landon was exclaiming. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

“Hey!” Junior barked, throwing out his arm and not allowing Landon to get any closer. “Back it on up!”

“What the—?” Landon was startled. “Uh, Noah?”

“It’s okay,” Noah said. “I know him. His name is Landon—”Fuck, what’s his last name?“He’s the guy who planned the party.”

“I see.” Alistair offered a friendly smile. “Hello, Landon. My name is Alistair Star. Any friend of Noah’s is a friend of mine.”

Landon frowned at that. “Uh, Noah, what’s going on? Brad called me, asking stuff about the party? Is he here? I thought you guys broke up.”

“We did. Moving on to bigger and better things.” Noah smiled across the table at Alistair. “Now, if you’ll excuse us—”

“Are you okay?” Landon blurted out.

“I’m fuckin’ fine.”

“Oh! Well… and you and uh, Alistair, was it?”

“Mr. Star,” Junior corrected.

“Right, uh, so, you and Mr. Star?” Landon fidgeted. “I guess you’re not so much on taking a break? I mean, it’s none of my business, but this all seems really weird—”

“It’s totally good,” Noah insisted. “So good.”

“Oh, well. I brought you a drink!” Landon smiled earnestly, offering out the glass he was holding. “Sorry the ice is kinda melted. I couldn’t find you.”

“Whatever. Thanks.” Noah took it, drank some, and almost spat it out. “What the fuck is this?”

“Rum and Coke. I know it’s your favorite. What’s wrong?”

“You’re such an idiot. This isn’t Captain Morgan, this is some of that Malibu crap. Come on.” Noah sighed and set the glass back down. “You can’t even get me a drink right.”

“I’m, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to! I just asked for rum—”

“Go be sorry somewhere else,” Noah snapped.

Landon turned to leave, but Alistair suddenly spoke up, “Landon? Please don’t go quite yet.”

Landon blinked, now frozen in place by Junior’s long arm.

“What are you doing?” Noah asked flatly.

“Landon, I believe Noah owes you an apology.” Alistair took a sip of his drink. “Mm, I’ve been working with him on the absence of his manners, and I’d like to use this as a teaching moment.”

“You’re shitting me,” Noah said.

“No, really! It’s okay!” Landon smiled nervously. “Really, it’s not a problem. I’m the one who should have known better—”