“You know I believe you can handle the job,” his dad said easily. “It’ll take a lot from you, but I agree with Tristan. You’re ready to find your purpose. I was your age when I started watching Six Degrees and Xanga. If I hadn’t tried to put the two together into a more interactive social site, Secret would have never happened. You have to remember, your strength is also your weakness. You’re young, smart, and motivated. Once you channel all your energy into a career, the world will open for you like never before. I’ve said all this before.”
Chad had to resist the urge to roll his eyes only because, yes, he’d heard all these things his whole life. “Dad, I’ve thought long and hard about this. It’s part of the reason I took some time off to really consider everything.”
“You’re in Hawaii with Ducky?” Dylan asked. “Chloe told me.”
Of course, she did. Always in everyone’s business. “I am. I’ve started cooking again. I’m enjoying it.” That reminded Chad of the chicken on the stove, and he turned to tend the sizzling meat he’d forgotten once he’d texted Tristan. “I have to go. I’m right in the middle of cooking dinner.”
“For you and Ducky?” Dylan asked, his voice betraying nothing beyond that simple question.
Who else would it be for? He even shook his head at the empty room. “Yeah. I’ll call you later. Dinner’s burning. Bye.” Chad pushed end to the call. He tossed his phone on the counter, rolled his eyes as he grabbed the tongs to turn the chicken breasts to the other side. Maybe his next mental health issue to tackle will be his daddy issues. He was a grown ass man who acted like a child every time he spoke to his father.
Anderson .Paak played at high volume from Chad’s open bedroom door. Even though they had completely different tastes in music, Ducky dropped down on the sofa, elbows on his knees with phone in hand, bobbing his head to the addicting beat. Tonight, the party wasn’t happening at their place. Instead, everyone planned to go to a nightclub, one the locals hung out in.
Much like every day of his life, he had no idea what to wear and decided on something between casual and formal, and Greer inspired, darker blue slacks, a violet button down with the shirt sleeves rolled up to right below his elbows, and tan loafers. The way the clothes fit, he might be cutting off circulation to his hands.
The joke made him laugh because there was probably some truth to the thought.
Really none of it mattered more than the glaring fact that his ad campaign had gone live that afternoon. Not just live, but on blast. His images were littered all over the place, both social and online media as well as billboards. As someone who thought Tom from Myspace was brilliant to follow all his members’ pages, Ducky had arranged to do the same on StreamTrainer’s social site. He kept getting dinged over and over each time a picture of a billboard starring his barely clad before and after pictures were posted.
Based on his level ten annoyance factor, he clearly hadn’t gotten over his anger of this campaign being allowed to go live. They shouldn’t have gone around him like they had. Maybe they could have given him a minute to get comfortable with the idea. Partnership sucked.
“Hey, you’re ready,” Chad said, causing Ducky to lift his thumbs from his cell phone and look up. Chad’s steps faltered until he came to a stop, his focused gaze zoomed in on Ducky, his brow furrowed. Ducky’s mouth dropped open. Chad had mimicked his look, pressed pants, dress shirt, all made to fit. Chad wore it so much better. He had an effortless chic that made him captivating. From the perfect sweep of his dark hair to the deep tan and light-colored eyes. He swore to God his cock just went on strike, refusing to settle down ever again. He ended up standing for comfort. “You look hot.”
If only that were true, or maybe better said, if only Chad meant it in a way that Ducky wanted. He started to speak and had to clear his throat and mind to help sound less like a fool.
As he’d done a thousand times already, he wondered why he’d ever thought bringing Chad along was a good idea. He had it so bad that Chad walking in a room caused Ducky’s desire to freak the fuck out. This was Dallas’s fault too. Between his brother’s frustrating strong-arm tactics, his huge lack of sleep that day, and being stunned that Chad was standing in front of him at the office, Ducky pretended like this was the best idea ever. It wasn’t.
Finally, the signals connected in his head. Ducky didn’t say anything he truly wanted to, instead he murmured, “You don’t think I’m overdressed?”
He concentrated on turning off his phone and pushing a hand inside his front pocket. Eyes focused on the center of Chad’s chest.
“We’re dressed exactly the same,” Chad said and looked down the length of his clothes.
His eyes had a mind of their own and followed Chad’s lead, mapping the hard body. Where Ducky’s cock was firm and solid, Chad’s was flaccid, the big downer to the otherwise slowly tanking mood.
He blew out a breath and patted his back pockets to ensure his wallet was there. He cut his gaze away. With the hours he’d spent on the beach, staring at the ocean, meditating heavily over his current life choices, thoughts of Chad played like a chanting anthem, derailing all his effort to pull his life together.
He liked Chad, even more now that he saw what a genuinely caring guy he was. His down-to-earth decency created a burden of its own. Somehow, this trip had added new layers of complication for him.
Today had been a turning point. He’d made decisions while sitting alone in the sand. First, and most important, he would become a person worthy of someone like Chad. He did want a good relationship like Dallas and Greer had. Someone to love him and accept his love in return. He wanted to be with a man. Honestly, women had never felt right. He’d only dated women because his father had been such a dick to Dallas over his sexuality. But his unrelenting sexual dreams held blue eyes, a nice covering of beard, and a hard cock.
“What’s the look for?” Chad asked.
Ducky shook his thoughts clear and made it to the front door. He pulled the door open and looked back over his shoulder, refusing to make eye contact with Chad.
“Are we leaving?” Ducky asked. He’d gotten lost in his head again and needed to stay present. “The Uber’s here.”
Chad’s response was a low chuckle as he dropped his shoes on the floor, edging them onto his bare feet. “All right.” He clapped his hands and moved to an unheard beat, dancing out the door ahead of Ducky. “We’re going out. Let’s get this party started.”
Ducky nearly groaned at the sensual grind of those hips with each step Chad took. The motion threatened to throw Ducky right back into that fantasy world, imagining possibilities.
.
CHAPTER 15
At home, Ducky would have never voluntarily picked a nightclub like this to hang out in. Man, he’d been wrong not to try one before now. He had no idea the name of the band, but he liked the way the sexy remix made him feel. The music played like an anthem to the dancers on the dance floor gyrating around him. Hell, he’d never even heard the hypnotic sounds before, but it didn’t matter, he’d still shake his ass around the lighted dance floor.
Drinks flowed as if cash didn’t matter. Even after pacing himself, Ducky’s head swam. He’d long past gotten over the embarrassment of the advertising campaign releasing today, literally every single patron of the bar had seen him on the Secret mobile app.
