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)
“Want some?”
“No. I’d gain fifteen pounds if I ate all that,” he teased.
Ducky only grinned and dumped the rest of the butter on his food. The box of cookies was lodged underneath his arm as he took his seat on the lounger. He sat on the side of the chair, scooting back enough to comfortably prop his feet on the edge of the cooler. The plate lay on his thighs as he dug into his food without any utensils.
“Did I tell you I hired a private chef at home?” Ducky asked, reaching for the napkins on the lounger, handing one to Chad when he took the seat across from Ducky.
Ducky’s words stopped him from digging in, even though he was starving, and this was his kind of meal. They had glossed over Ducky hiring a personal chef while together at the restaurant back home.
“Like a person who comes to your apartment and prepares your food?”
Ducky nodded, lifting the chicken and taking a bite. It took a second for Ducky to answer. “This is good. You can cook.”
“I told you I was good behind a grill,” Chad said, taking his first bite. Ducky’s praise had joy bubbling up inside him. “Tell me about this chef.”
The reality of this moment, sitting casually on the tranquil beach, eating a simple meal as the sun slowly descended toward the horizon was soul-inspiring for Chad. Ducky’s sweet nature and down-to-earth attitude sealed the deal for his heart. The way he plopped down and ate with his fingers, choosing to face Chad instead of the allure of the ocean… He really liked that move. There was no angling or pretense with Ducky. The alcohol they bought hadn’t been touched.
These pockets of raw moments with Ducky left Chad feeling vulnerable in the best of ways. He wanted more. His heart stirred, fueling the connection between them.
“The chef was Greer’s idea. He hired the guy for me to make healthy meals. He’s in culinary school.”
“That’s cool. What did he say when he saw your apartment’s kitchen for the first time?” Chad asked. Every personal chef he’d ever known had a thing about a proper kitchen to work within. He’d never been inside Ducky’s apartment, but the buildings were older. He didn’t see the kitchen being properly outfitted with fully modern equipment.
Ducky laughed, reaching for his water bottle, trying to avoid choking on the bite he’d just taken. “The guy walked in and looked around then asked me for my name again.” The humor of the memory lit Ducky’s handsome face. “I was given a list of things to buy before he could begin, and the guy still ended up preparing most of the food in his kitchen. I don’t think he’s pleased to be there. Greer told me he complains.”
“No way you aren’t throwing down some Big Mac’s at two in the morning,” Chad teased, trying his best to hide his own smile. He took the leap into the side of the transformation he had steered clear of. “What really made you do all this to yourself?”
The hilarity of the previous moment slipped off Ducky as he turned away from Chad to stare out at the ocean. His friend waited so long to answer, Chad thought he’d broached a subject that was meant to be off limits.
“Forget it, you don’t have to answer. You didn’t tell any of us what you were doing. It was really a shock. I’ve decided it was the hair. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen your eyes before.”
The inner struggle that took Ducky’s attention vanished. “I didn’t want to cut my hair, but it seemed like the right thing to do once I started with the new clothes. I don’t know…” Ducky said the puzzling words and took another bite from his plate. He reached for his napkin, running it over his mouth then wiping the greasy butter off his fingertips. “I’m in a weird place. I don’t know who I am anymore. I thought the clothes were going to make me feel different.”
Ducky’s troubled gaze settled on Chad with a look he’d seen several times since they’d had their first face-to-face meeting days ago. An expression that finally had a reason that Chad didn’t fully understand.
“What do you mean?” he asked, reaching for the napkin, completely ignoring the plate of food in his lap.
“Everything’s different now.” Ducky took another bite, chewing without the gusto he’d eaten with before. “You and Kai are the only people in my life that treat me the same as you used to. But I think that’s my fault, not theirs. I’m different. I thought changing my outside appearance would help my inside catch up.” Ducky tapped his temple to indicate the change was in his head. “It didn’t though. What I thought I wanted didn’t fill this void inside like I thought it would.”