Chad had always been hands down the best-looking guy in their online group. As children, they’d talk about their futures. Their whole world centered on the chicks they planned to meet. They designated Chad as the one to draw those unsuspecting girls in. Kai, the ultimate wingman, would then help charm those little ladies to keep them around. Ducky’s job was to stay quiet and let them work. They’d generously dubbed Ducky as aloof and mysterious. Right.
“No, I’m glad you’re here,” he said, reaching for the bowl of pretzels nearby. “I was remembering how we used to plan on getting girlfriends. Remember our strategy?”
Chad immediately grinned, nodding. His lips spread, revealing a brilliant toothy smile. Teeth white and straight. He bet Chad had never had a cavity in his life. “You were going to be the best wingman ever.”
Ducky barked out a laugh and lifted a hand to catch the bartender’s attention. “I think that was Kai. The rest of us were to sit quietly and reap the spoils of what you two brought in.”
“It didn’t turn out like we thought, did it?” Chad asked, his full attention on Ducky. That was another thing Chad did so well. He always gave his undivided attention.
Before Ducky could answer, Betty the bartender came over, putting a Diet Coke in front of Ducky. “Saw you on that award show. We had a viewing party here in the bar. You were solid.” Betty reached a fist over the bar, giving Ducky a quick knuckle touch. A whistle came from the other end of the bar where a single pool table and dart board resided. The busboy, another longtime friend, gave a loud whoop that started a round of applause from the smattering of regular customers. He recognized most of them.
“Okay, okay, calm down,” Ducky said, swiveling toward the room. The silliness had him grinning. “It wasn’t that big a deal. I said like fifteen words.”
“Wasn’t sure you had those fifteen words in you,” Betty teased and looked at Chad, eyeing him close. “Ducky was nervous and not known to be articulate…” Her gaze narrowed when she leaned forward to study Chad’s face closer. “You’re the guy who insisted that it wasn’t Ducky on stage.”
Chad’s hands lifted in surrender. “I knew it was him. I just hadn’t seen the change. He looks like a different man. I was defending the OG Ducky. That’s all.”
Betty, always ready to give Ducky shit, changed her critical tone and backed off Chad. “Right? Not only the looks. He acts completely different than I’ve ever known. Everybody here talks about it. When he used to work here, he rarely spoke a word to anyone. He always worked with his music blaring in one ear. You’d look over and see him headbanging to some unknown sound. Now he has himself on stage giving out awards?”
This was his comfortable place, his home away from home. Ducky went along with what Betty said, nodding at the truth she spoke. “This is the only job I had that didn’t care that I left my earbud in.” He tossed a thumb toward Chad. “He knows my long, sordid history with work. I have a collection of hairnets and name tags. Wasn’t really my thing.”
Betty barked out a laugh at his honesty. “Do we still need to pretend that you aren’t eating here?” Betty gave her best shit-giving grin to Chad as if she’d finally revealed something top-secret. “He got himself a fancy chef to cook healthy meals but sneaks in here under the cloak of night to eat a burger and fries.”
“You have a personal chef?” Chad asked in disbelief.
Ducky frowned when he said, “My brother and his boyfriend really got behind this change in me. My life’s become protein shakes, workouts, and eating lots of lean meats and greens. It takes so much mental energy to be healthy. How does anyone do it?”
“Didn’t you ask for their help?” Chad asked. The tone indicated Ducky must have gotten what he deserved.
“Hey now, watch it. All I asked Greer to do was help me dress for the award show. I had no idea I was going to have to do all this. The guy’s unstoppable,” Ducky explained, sitting back on his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. He barely kept the disgruntledhumphfrom slipping out.
“Don’t get pissy. It can’t be that big a burden. You’re fire now. Can Greer get a hold of me? I’m sure there’s a beauty underneath all these wrinkles,” Betty teased. A loud cackle followed. “I swear, all the good ones are either taken or gay. What do you want to drink?”
Chad chuckled at the quick turn in the conversation and glanced back toward Ducky. “What’re you drinking?”
“This is a Diet Coke but have what you want.” Ducky picked up his newest drink of choice, taking a hearty gulp.
“I’ll have the same thing but make it a real Coke. I can’t drink tonight; I have precious cargo to get home.”
Oh jeez. Betty grinned, falling for the sweet sentiment implied in Chad’s silly comment about driving him home when they finished. She gave Ducky a knowing wink. The charm dripping from Chad made Betty’s face soften, which might be a first in all the time he’d known her. “He’s a keeper, Duck-man. So he’s probably gay too. Right?”
Everyone within hearing distance burst out with laughter.
“Same as always, right?” she asked, Ducky nodded. “You ready to order?”
Chad cut his playful gaze toward Ducky. “I’m guessing your regular is the forbidden hamburger, cooked medium, fully loaded with mustard, no ketchup.”
“You know him well,” Betty answered for Ducky.
“I’ll have the same thing but put cheese on mine.” Chad gave a confirming nod as if the secret to Ducky’s diet rested solely between the three of them. He was so damned smooth all the time. Betty ate right out of Chad’s palm. No one stood a chance against Chad. She nodded, and scooped ice into a glass then filled the soda, passing it over with a wink.
Emma, a woman Ducky went to high school with, came to the edge of the bar and pulled out a chair to sit on the other side of Chad. Her elbow went to the middle of the bar. She put her head in her hand, all her attention focused on Chad. “You know, I was really upset with you for being so rude about Ducky. Then here you come, strolling in with Ducky like y’all are best friends. I think we’re gonna need to know what happened if you want a shot at forgiveness.” She tried her best to look playfully menacing. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder at the rest of the patrons in the bar as if they were in on her distaste. “You should also know, I’ve said some pretty bad things about you on Secret.”
Chad nodded solemnly, as if taking her threat seriously. “I think I became the most hated man in the world for a minute there.”
“Oh yeah,” another customer piped in from a table behind them. Ducky glanced over his shoulder, lifting his chin at another familiar face. “He needs to explain himself before we all sit in here like nothing happened.”
Ducky opened his mouth to respond, not liking how they put Chad on blast, but Chad laughed and lifted a hand to Ducky, indicating he’d take care of this. He turned in his seat toward the entire bar as if braving a firing squad. “Okay. Okay. Let me plead my case. This is what really happened…”
