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Lucas holds Carter’s hand on top of the table, and it’s the most natural thing, no hiding who they are, who they’re with. I wish I could do the same with Brendan, but he’s not there yet. Behind closed doors, he can’t stop finding ways to touch me, but here, in public. In front of his family. It’s different.
After dinner, Lucas and Brendan need to use the restroom, leaving Carter and me alone for the first time.
“So how is my little Duckie actually doing with this baseball thing?”
“He’s amazing. Honestly. You would think he was one of the players, he’s that good.”
Carter laughs.
“What?”
“He played all through junior year. We figured he might stick with it, too, but parties and girls… other things drew his attention away.”
“So he didn’t always want to be a sportswriter?”
“He took journalism so he would have something to do when his career was over if he made it to the big time. When he was dropped from the team, it became the focus.”
“Why was he dropped?”
Carter glances over his shoulder like he’s checking to make sure Brendan isn’t going to overhear him answer.
“It’s not really my place to say.”
I don’t push, one because, it’s really none of my business what happened, and two, because I really, really want Carter to like me. The way they hugged back at the hotel, I can tell how much they mean to each other.
“What about the duck thing?”
The waiter returns Carter’s card with the receipt for the cheque and he slips it back into his wallet and stands.
“Duckie’s a nickname he picked up as a kid. It stuck, and he, well, he decided to make it his own. How are you enjoying the hunt?”
I stand, too, and we start to make our way out to the front of the restaurant to wait for them.
“I’ve found about thirty so far. He doesn’t know I have that many, though.”
“He has plenty more. I guess now you lot know it’s him, you can help him hide them. We did it on a cruise a while back. Was actually pretty fun finding hiding places and watching people discover them.”
“I know he told you about the club.”
“He did.”
“And you don’t want to punch my face in?”
“I did, but that wouldn’t help Duckie. He might not know what this is yet, and you might not want to wait for him to figure his shit out, but all I can tell you is what I told him. Talk. Be honest with each other, and the rest will come.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem. Oh, one last thing,” Carter says, his hand gripping my shoulder. “If you hurt my brother, I have to hurt you.”
Despite his size, he doesn’t give off murderous older brother vibes, but the undertone in his voice still sends a shiver through me.
“I have no intention of hurting him.”
“Good, let’s keep it that way.”
Lucas and Brendan join us out the front.
“What are we talking about?” Lucas asks, wrapping an arm around Carter’s waist. Carter practically melts into him, all bravado gone. He’s like a giant teddy bear.
