Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“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 disgruntled humph from 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.