Her face twists in disgust, but she plants her feet and crosses her arms, staying right where she is.
Then, out of nowhere, Wingnut appears behind her and snaps hard at the back of her leg with a loud, violent quack.
A huge smile breaks out on my face as I watch Maple jump with a yelp.
“This fucking duck!” She tries to shoo him away with her foot, but Wingnut launches straight for her toes and clamps onto her sock, making her shriek again.
Fan-fucking-tastic.
He lets out one more furious quack before waddling down the steps, then settles in at Cade’s feet and starts picking at the grass. Cade watches him warily, but doesn’t move.
Such a good fucking boy…
“Need help packing?” I ask Maple, pulling my pack of cigarettes from my pocket and slipping one between my lips.
She stomps down the steps until she’s standing eye to eye with me. “Go fuck somewhere else. I’m here to actually look after the place.”
I light my cigarette and exhale smoke straight into her face. She coughs but doesn’t break her stare.
I huff a laugh and place the cigarette between my lips again. This is taking way too fucking long, and she’s killing the mood. So I blow another stream of smoke in her direction with a shrug.
“Alright. But Mom’s going to be real pissed you killed her—” I glance at the pot on the deck, squinting at the withered leaves,“—string beans?” I wave it off as I take another drag. “Since you’re the one looking after it.”
Maple rolls her eyes and turns to storm back up the steps.
“And I’m taking my duck!” I yell after her as she yanks the door open. “Since you’re just letting everything rot around here.”
She shoots me a look over her shoulder before slamming the door behind her, and I let out a dark laugh.
I totally won that one.
I hold the cigarette between my lips, bend down, and pick up Wingnut. Then I hold him out to Cade. “You’ll have to carry him.”
Cade’s eyes widen as Wingnut quacks loudly and stretches his wings out.
“On… the bike?” Cade asks, glancing between me and the duck with confusion written all over his face.
“Yeah,” I say, thrusting Wingnut into his arms. “He’s done it before. Just shove him in your sweater. He’s cool.”
Cade just stares at Wingnut as he holds him at arm’s length, and his wings flap while he quacks in outrage.
I smile. “He likes you. He’d be biting you by now if not.”
“Oh, great…” he mutters, staring down at the duck as I slide Cade’s helmet over his head and fasten the strap beneath his chin.
Then, with a resigned sigh, he unzips his hoodie. And Wingnut immediately slips into it with a loud quack.
“Lucky fucker,” I murmur to the duck as I swing a leg over my bike and motion for Cade to climb on.
As the engine roars to life beneath me, I flick my cigarette butt at Maple’s car. If only the window were down.
Well… Next closest spot is the clubhouse.
“So… he’s been here before?” Cade asks, watching Wingnut waddle towards the clubhouse doors.
“Yup,” I say, pulling the door open for both of them.
Cade watches Wingnut with a furrowed brow as he enters the clubhouse like it’s his palace, then follows him in.
