“I was hoping you’d take care of it for me,” I tell him.
“Ethan, have you gone crazy? All these people are here to see you.”
“These people never came here for me Bud, they came here to be nosey. Get out there and socialize. Just be you.”
“I can’t boss man. What would I talk to people like them about?” Buddy suddenly looks nervous.
“You could tell them about the new owner,” I suggest.
“Yeah, problem with that Eth. Is that I don’t know anything about the new owner.”
“Sure, ya do,” I shrug.
“I don’t. You haven’t told me anything. At least give me something to work with before you send me to the wolves.”
“Okay, Bud,” I sigh in defeat. “You go out there and you tell them that the new owner of this place was born here, that he’s lived here his entire life, and that his best friend’s a real ass for taking shit out on him for the past few months.” I glance sideways and watch Lysa’s face brighten, and Buddy’s eyes fill up with tears.
“You’re still my best friend?” Buddy smiles at me through his tears.
“Always, what happened wasn’t your fault, Buddy.” He drags me into him and hugs me so tight I have to tap his back to remind him to let me up for air.
“Do you really have to leave?” he asks suddenly sounding disappointed.
“Yeah, we’ve got to find a place that’s ours. Wherever it is though, there’ll be room for you to visit.”
“I’m so pleased you guys sorted it out.” He hugs us both at the same time and I feel Lysa’s hand curl itself around mine again.
Buddy finally lets us go, stepping toward the entertainment room.
“Wait.”
He stops, suddenly turning back around.
“Does this mean, I’m the new owner?” I watch the penny drop
“Yeah, Bud.” I nod, smiling, as his eyes double in size.
“So, I get the office?”
“Bud, the house is yours, everything is yours.”
“So, I can get the Great Dane, and the wrestling ring?”
“You can have whatever the hell you like,” I tell him.
“Awesome,” he says, lifting his head proudly, then taking the time to re-adjust his tie before stepping toward the room full of people.
I watch him break through and introduce himself to the couple who run the hotel in town. When I look back to Lysa, she’s already staring at me with a huge grin.
“What?” I ask her.
“You’re kind of amazing, Mr. Shaw,” she says dreamily.
“Come on, let's get out of here.” I quickly tug her outside and into the fresh air.
“I’m driving,” I tell her holding out my hand for the keys.
“My car. I drive,” she says cleverly
