"We can try it," he says. "I'm not sure if it will help or not."
"Don't be so hard about yourself, Nelson. You know the material. Some people are just wired to be a speaker over a writer and vise versa. It's become a more involved thing in the high school, but just because someone's graduated, doesn't mean they don't need help in higher education and the real world, too. I can promise you that the work I did for my family's company wasn't without help, so I try to offer any help I can if a person is willing to accept it. We'll talk about it on Thursday. Fornow, enjoy your day and hopefully no more animals get out of enclosures."
"Yeah, I have to spend the rest of the day mending the fence so I'm hoping not."
I don't know why that piques my interest— Actually, that's a total lie. I'm immediately bombarded with a vision of Nelson working in the heat, sweaty, muscles… The next words out of my mouth are said before my brain can yell shut up.
"Do you need any help?"
I see the confusion on Nelson's face. The tables have turned and I see him fighting back a smile. His eyes give me a once over and I feel the need to puff out my chest a bit.
"You? Help on the farm? Can you even lift more than, what, thirty pounds?"
"Okay, ouch." I stand up and definitely feel the need to prove myself now. "I will have you know that I can regularly bench press a hundred and twenty pounds. It might be a bit below average, but I'm not useless."
"Honestly, out of sheer curiosity to see you live out a city-boy-turned-country moment, I'm going to take you up on that. Do you want to follow me or ride with?"
"I don't think I'm in the right clothes for this," I say, backpedaling now that he's offered.
"Oh, you're not getting out of this. Here in the South, when someone offers help, they don't take it back after it's been accepted."
"The South my ass," I mumble under my breath. "We're in Kentucky."
"You can join us for dinner as payment," Nelson said. "Come on, let's go. I can loan you a shirt, but I hope you aren't attached to those pants."
"What about my shoes?" I call after him. He's already to the door. I'm wearing loafers. I have a pair of tennis shoes in the car, but I'm not about to offer that information.
"Got another pair in the car?" Nelson asks as if he can read my thoughts.
We stare at each other for a second before I sigh and nod. His laugh fills the room and I gather my things before following him out of the classroom and to the parking lot. The sun is hot out and I can feel sweat already beading at the back of my neck by the time we make it to my car. I glare at Nelson as I take off my suit jacket and loafers. I slip into my tennis shoes and make sure the car is locked up before following Nelson to his truck.
"I've never seen someone regret an offer of help so much," Nelson says, but he's definitely laughing at me in his head. I can see it in his eyes.
"Where I grew up, offers of help are usually met with a cordial decline and we go our separate ways."
Nelson opens the passenger door for me and I get in. He doesn't immediately shut the door. I would much rather go ahead and skip the teasing I know is about to happen and blast the cool air. "You looked so sincere in offering. I couldn't possibly turn you down and crush your dreams."
"I'm starting to regret knowing you," I say, but there is no malice in my voice. He has the audacity to give me a wink before shutting the door. I stare at him as he walks around and gets in behind the wheel. We don't talk much on the way out of the city. I watch the businesses and houses slowly spread out until it's more land than buildings in general. I can feel myself relaxing the further we get out of the city.
"That's the third time you've sighed in five minutes," Nelson says when we're close to his farm. I vaguely remember where we are from my drives this way. "Are you tired or really not wanting to do this? I can turn around."
"I didn't even realize I was doing that," I say honestly. "I'm in this now, so no backing down. It's just a whole different vibe out this way. More relaxed. I know the city isn't that big, but even back in Chicago I didn't get out much to the smaller towns and such."
"You won't be relaxed for long," he says. "But I promise the food you'll have after will be worth it."
"Oh, I don't need to stay for dinner." I turn my head to look at Nelson. He glances my way for a second before turning back to the road. "I can get a ride back after we're done."
"That's funny," he deadpans without looking at me.
"What is?"
"That you think we're going to be done before the normal dinner time."
Chapter Eight
"Ohmygod,pleasetell me we're almost done." I fan myself for the millionth time, huffing and puffing my way through holding the wire for Nelson to measure and cut. "I no longer wish to have my city-boy-to-country moment. It sucks."
"Shut up, you're enjoying it." Nelson's tone is playful, but also doesn't leave any room for argument. His eyes meet mine for a split second and I can't stop the smile that takes over the lower half of my face.
