Duncan flushed a little as Aliyah tried to give back the tip.  He was already shaking his head.  “No, no.  If you leave that there it will still be there when I leave.”  He laughed a little, actually starting to relax again.  “And let’s just say I am probably one of the luckiest guys in the world.  Good luck, bad luck ... I’ve had it all. If I were a cat, I’d be down a few lives.”  His smile broadened.  “And breakfast is great.  I’m sort of celebrating.  Being alive.”

He glanced back down at the money again, refusing to even touch it.  “And yes, I am one of those guys that has beginner’s luck a lot.  But …. Most of my winning went in the bank.  That was just a little spending money.  Don’t worry, 99% of what I win gets invested.  I’m just killing a little time until I can get a passport, update my ID to 21 and over, get international usage for my smart phone and credit card, stuff like that.

“So … what is there to do around here for fun - away from the Strip - or at least the quieter parts of the strip?  I’d don’t really care for crowds.  That’s one reason I picked this place.  I mean I enjoy eating out at those nice ritzy places, trying all sorts of new stuff.  But I sort of have mild demophobia.  I’m one of those people who hovers at the edge of parties.

“I visited Vegas about 6 years ago.  Can’t say those are fond memories.  But this time is going a lot better.  Last time we were camping at the KOA.  And … well … just bad stuff.”  He shook his head slightly as if to clear bad memories.  “Well, I’ll talk your ear off if you let me and I know you have other customers.  But if you get a break and want to join us, feel free.”  He turned a little red.  Gary did his best not to notice.

He changed the subject and gestured at his laptop.  “Been making this a sort of working vacation.  Trying to 

write a book.  Sci Fi.”

(This looked longer in my editor.  Going to work on it a bit.  Just saw it as a good spot for Aliyah to speak.)

++++++++

Once Aliyah went back to her duties, Gary turned his attention back on Duncan who huffed and tried to concentrate on his food.  The younger man had been trying to impress the girl a little.  He certainly couldn’t blame the kid.  Aliyah was drop dead gorgeous - and around Duncan’s age.  But he could tell that Duncan had a terminal case of shyness.  

“Can’t buy love Duncan,”  Gary spoke quietly.

Duncan flushed.  “I wasn’t trying to.  I did THAT because those people were rude.”

“Uh huh … $2000?  You don’t think that was a bit much?  $200 and she might have gone for it.”

Duncan’s face took on a stubborn set.  “Yeah … well.  It will still be here.”  He poked and prodded at his food.

Gary was careful not to smile.  Oh yeah, the kid had it bad.  Hormones.  Gary could have offered all sorts of advice.  But this wasn’t the right time.  And besides, the girl might be spoken for already.  He suspected not - which was a shame.

++++++++++

Duncan went back to his writing while he ate.  He had been a published author since age 12.  His first book had been a collection of short stories and hadn't done especially well.  His second book was a  novelette trilogy - three novelettes bound into a single book.  Each was a stand alone story, but all connected.  It had done better.  His third book was his first real novel and was completed by age 14-15.  His editor liked the fact that the kid hadn’t given up and persevered.  His fourth book did well enough to convince a judge he could support himself as an emancipated teen.  It was Duncan’s fifth book at age 17-18 that turned out to be a bestseller and vindicated the judge’s decision.  His 6th book was a sequel and did even better.  The successes of his last two books just increases sales on his older material.  Book 7 was going to be something new.