River knew exactly where to look: the front right pocket of his suitcase.

He’d been setting aside his cash for the last five weeks—just twenty bucks a week. For about that long, too, he’d been planning this casino day and night for their night off between shows. He was ridiculously excited, even for him.

Logically, he knew he didn’t have a statistically great chance of winning big. The house always won.

That didn’t stop the thrill of possibility from tickling his thoughts. River also knew that was the exact seduction that made people go over their limits, but he was good at sticking to a hard limit. Bringing along exactly the amount of cash he intended to gamble with was one surefire way to stop when he was out of money.

But if he did happen to win big, there was a pro makeup kit he’d had his eye on for several months now. With his new work discount, it was just about in reach if he came out even a couple hundred bucks ahead. Otherwise, he’d work at saving up all over again and get the kit the slow but sure way.

He perched on the bathroom counter as he dabbed foundation onto his nose and cheeks almost without thought. The routine was easy as anything. He wasn’t going for a full drag look tonight—the theatrical highlights looked good from a distance but not up close.

A simpler evening look like he usually put on after a show would flatter him but not look garish to anyone with an unbiased eye.

Zeph had already insisted on coming along, not that it was a chore to have his hunky arm candy around. River knew it was also for protective reasons, and he couldn’t lie… he kind of felt hot about that, too. And touched.

“You make that look easy,” Zeph commented as he approached the bathroom doorway.

River was in the final stages, choosing his lip shade. He paused and raised an eyebrow, glancing at him in the mirror. “It is easy, once you learn your face.”

“I know my face.”

“Do you know where to contour?”

“Uh.” Zeph shrugged. “Wherever’s not bruised?”

River cracked a smile. “Good point.” He chose a nice dark red with a hint of purple undertones and swiped a cotton Q-tip across it to build up some product, then started applying it to his lips without liner. He leaned into the mirror to see the line more clearly.

Zeph leaned there and watched, his head tilted as he looked at the array of what had to look like mysterious tools still lined up on the counter.

When River was done with his lips, he blotted them on tissue and double-checked that he hadn’t smudged anything, then smiled. “You wanna try some?”

“Me?” Zeph exclaimed. It was like River had suggested he try whipping up a six-course gourmet meal.

“I’ll do it for you, duh.”

Zeph stared at him for a moment, then looked at himself. “I dunno. I’d be pretty ugly.”

“Oh, shut up,” River snorted. Everyone thought that until they’d had his hands on their face. Makeup could do wonders for not just appearance, but self-confidence. It could highlight or deemphasize features, even change a person’s whole demeanor and behavior.

That was the part most guys didn’t get—just like most women, River didn’t put it on for their benefit. It was his own creativity, a blend of art and science, a skill he’d honed over years through trial and error.

For some guys, that first time with a simple coat of foundation to cover their spots or lipstick to draw eyes was transformational.

And Zeph wasn’t femmephobic, thank God, or River would ditch him here and now. He didn’t recoil at the suggestion of makeup with a sneer or disbelief. It was more surprise in his expression.

“I… You can put on a little. Enough other people can’t tell.”

That was the single most common request of anyone just trying makeup for the first time, especially men. Doubly especially big, strong guys like Zeph. River had fully expected it, so he smiled and nodded without missing a beat. “All natural,” he promised.

Zeph eyed him but came to sit on the closed lid of the toilet, folding his arms. “What do I do?”

“Sit there and try not to flinch when I approach your eyes with sharp instruments.”

The worry that creased his brow for a moment made River laugh.

“I promise I’ve only stabbed a few eyeballs—”

Zeph suspiciously glared. “A few.”

“And they deserved it,” River told him.

“Uh huh. Was it with your dick?”

River cracked up and nearly dropped his concealer. “No laughing, either. Or smiling. Keep your face neutral.”

“Hmph.” Zeph let his expression soften to neutral and closed his eyes.

Perfect. River got a chance to stand back and examine him for a few moments. Zeph’s face was angular like his own, but filled out in different spots. His jaw was wider, his nose less angular, and his eyebrows were thicker.

The least noticeable kind of makeup would probably be to even his skin tone with some foundation and concealer, and maybe add a shade of lipstick that would tint his lips slightly, but not dramatically. If Zeph approved, he could add a hint of eyeliner—or guyliner, he thought with a quiet snort—and contour just a bit.

“Given up on me?” Zeph smirked.

“I’m thinking. Hush.” River patted his cheek, then pulled back. “All right.”

It didn’t take long to find his foundation shade, and concealer was easy—luckily, his skin fell within the range of the supplies River carried for everyone else. That much alone made a drastic difference for a lot of people, especially when he cheated and added just a bit of bronzer before Zeph could notice.

Then he went on to the lips, getting them buffed with some lip scrub and a tissue before he applied a foundation and pale shade that didn’t contrast his natural lip tone too much.

“Eyeliner?”

Zeph cracked an eye open. “Really?”

“Think My Chemical Romance.”

Zeph snorted with laughter and closed his eyes again. “If you must.” As everyone did, he flinched the first few times River approached with his eye pencil, but then he settled down and let River draw a subtle, light gray line.

Oh, God, yes.

When he pulled back to admire his handiwork, River’s eyes widened.

Jesus, he looked like an eight or a nine when he rolled out of bed, but all of a sudden, Zeph looked like… well, a model.

“Done?” Zeph asked, and River realized he’d just been staring speechlessly. Speaking of thirsty, Jesus.

“Oh. Yeah. Yeah, you’re done.” River patted his shoulder and stood back, watching as Zeph rose to his feet and tentatively approached the bathroom mirror.

For a moment, he stared—and then he smiled. It was an instinctive reaction, too quick to be calculated. His cheeks rounded, his eyes crinkled, and he grinned into the mirror. “I…”

He likes it. River nearly bounced on his toes, but tried to contain his excitement as he clasped his hands. “Hm?”

“I actually like it.”

“No need to sound surprised,” River teased. He couldn’t keep his gaze off Zeph’s face, too, though.

Damn, the eyeliner was the perfect touch. Subtle enough that if you weren’t looking for it, it wouldn’t pop, but bold enough to make him look confident and twice as handsome. Zeph looked hot enough to make River briefly consider skipping the casino… but that makeup kit was calling to him.

“Come on, let’s go, or we’ll never make it,” River grinned.

Zeph raised his brows and laughed. “You like it that much?”

River didn’t answer, just winked before he flicked off the bathroom light and sauntered for the front door of the motel room.

They were right on time to meet the other queens in front of Glam and Tina’s room, and then they set off to walk to the casino not more than a quarter mile away. Some were in drag, some not. River was the only one who’d outright call himself nonbinary, so going out like this was the norm for him.

It was one of those afternoons where everything just seemed to fall into place. Everyone included Zeph by now in their jokes and anecdotes, and he laughed along with the rest of them.

Time seemed immaterial; for this afternoon, none of them had a care except enjoying life and each other’s company.

The penny slots were their first stop to blow twenty bucks each, and once that was gone, they split up into three groups—for now, some headed for the video arcade, others for blackjack, and the third group to play roulette.

Zeph, River, and Tina all headed for the video roulette tables, since they were cheaper to buy into than the physical tables right now. Plus, with this section to themselves, they could make all the dirty jokes they wanted about the ball, and covering the board with their claims.

“I can’t believe you said that,” Zeph groaned at Tina.

“You don’t know me half as well as you think, then,” Tina teased. “That’s all right. You can get to know me.” But she gave a quick sideways glance at River as she said it, as if to make sure it was okay.

Oh, boy. They all think I’m with Zeph.

But as the roulette wheel spun and his eyes were drawn to the board again, River tried to hold back his smile.

It felt a bit like his life right now.

Two to one says it doesn’t work out, but I’m having a hell of a good time while I can.