I’D BEEN LEANING OVER HELPING tighten the strap on Whet and Wilde’s satiny, pink platform heel when a shadow fell over me. The shadow was too long to be Ollie’s and I didn’t feel the same crackle in the air that warned me he was near. I was doubly sure it wasn’t Ollie when I felt a hand at the small of my back.
“Some things don’t change,” a deep voice said. “You still have the most beautiful ass in the world.”
“Hey,” several of the queens said at once.
Most of the ladies were happy to see me make a return to the stage, at least in some part, as Lady Bea Trix, but not all. Some of them were worried I’d steal the spotlight from them, as well they should. Lady Bea was still in high demand and tended to steal the show, but I had no interest in taking anything away from them. The queens I cared about knew it, and I couldn’t give a fuck about any of the petty bullshit the others wanted to lob my way. I was, however, more than willing to let either friend or foe take this nuisance off my hands.
I didn’t verbally acknowledge his presence or even jerk away from his touch because it would give too much away. I needed a moment to compose myself after the shock of hearing his voice. Years ago, his admiration would’ve sent thrills up my spine instead of the dread I felt in the pit of my stomach. I waited until Whet’s shoe was perfectly secured before I straightened and slightly shifted away from his touch.
“There you go, honey,” I said. “You’re on in two minutes. Tell Tony that Jim will need to introduce you. I have something I need to address.” Make it someone.
“I can see you do,” she said with a whistle. “Don’t you worry about me, Mother.” Whet was also one of my drag daughters from years past. I could’ve told her it wasn’t like that between me and my visitor, but it would’ve just wasted precious time, and she wouldn’t have believed me. I could tell she recognized him from previous years when I welcomed his presence.
After she walked away, I turned and faced the nuisance. “Ryder.” There was no warmth in my greeting.
“Fuck me,” he said in awe. “You’re even more beautiful than I remember, Archie.” I couldn’t help rolling my eyes over his smarmy voice and hands that reached for me like they had a right to. I avoided his grabby hands and motioned for him to follow me into the prop room, realizing too late it gave him the wrong impression.
“Like old times,” Ryder said hungrily. “What a way to welcome a man back to town.”
I sidestepped him once more. “In town for the weekend and cruising for a good time?” I asked, certain I was right.
“No, I’ve permanently moved back to Cincinnati, and I wanted to see you. In my mind, Archie White is synonymous to the Queen City.”
“You were pretty eager to leave both of us behind eight years ago,” I reminded him. “What changed?” Why did I care? He wasn’t who I wanted anymore.
“I’ve changed, and I’ve grown up, or I’ve at least outgrown my wanderlust.”
“You’re joking, right? That isn’t something a person outgrows, Ryder.” The man dreamed of being the Indiana Jones of the art world. Give me a break. He was apparently in a slump, bored with life, and was looking for me to light up his life until the need to roam overcame him.
“It is when the person doesn’t want to end up old and alone,” Ryder said, a wry smile tugging on his lips.
“And I’m the one you think will prevent your loneliness?” I asked incredulously. “Take a look at me, Ryder. I haven’t changed.” I didn’t need him to know I wasn’t a full-time drag queen any longer. He didn’t need to know how much I’ve grown up since the years we parted. He’d never understood or approved of my relationship with Ryan and wouldn’t be the least bit upset that one of the most important persons in my life was gone. He wouldn’t appreciate my devotion to Ryan’s Place for sure.
“I do think you’re the right person, Archie. I’ve never forgotten you.”
“You just forgot to call or send an email.”
“What good would it have done to stay in touch when our lives were taking us in different direction? The point is,” Ryder said, stepping toward me, “you were with me everywhere I went.” I kept walking backwards as he stalked forward until there was nowhere for me to go unless I wanted to topple the prop shelf on top of him. He was a dick, but he didn’t deserve to be maimed for it.
“Stop,” I firmly said when he went to place his hands on my waist. “You don’t have the right to touch me like this.”
“I don’t?” he asked with a frown. “Does that mean someone else does?”
I thought of Ollie then. My sweet, golden Ollie who lit up a room when he walked in. I recalled the look in his eyes when he woke up and found me watching him sleep. I could almost feel the heat of his hand on my waist as he anchored me in place so he could press his warm, nude body against mine. I shivered then, and I could tell Ryder had mistaken it as a reaction to his nearness. “Stop!” I said again when he began lowering his head for a kiss. “The shiver wasn’t for you, Ryder. It was for my boyfriend.”
Ryder looked over his shoulder mockingly then turned back to face me. “I don’t see him.”
“He may not be in the room with us right now, but he’s in my heart. You need to leave.”
“Come on, Archie.”
I placed my hands on his chest and gave him a hard push. “Go now.”
Ryder didn’t look like he wanted to move, so I pushed past him and left the room. That’s when I saw Ollie walking away with his shoulders hunched. He reminded me of a wounded puppy, and it made me want to shake my fist at the universe and demand it leave me the fuck alone. I could tell by the smirk on Gracie Lou’s face she’d told Ollie I was in the prop room with a man. Had she told him it was my ex?
I called his name, and he kept walking, so I trotted after him. “Ollie, please don’t leave.” He must’ve heard the desperation in my voice because he stopped and turned to face me. The hurt I saw in his eyes shamed and angered me. How could he think I’d just jump on the next cock that came along after what we shared the night before and again the next morning? He humbled me when he apologized for not having more faith, and the gentle kiss he placed on my forehead was the sweetest kiss anyone had ever given me.
We both knew a lengthy conversation needed to follow, but the backstage at QCD wasn’t the place. Then two of our dearest friends, the ones who brought us together, got engaged. I saw the joyous look on Ollie’s face when Andy and Milo spoke privately to him after they were swarmed. Saw the happy tears and suspected they’d asked him to officiate their wedding. I still had an hour or longer of the show before I could go spend time with him. I needed to touch him and breathe in his familiar scent. I needed to know he was going to hear me out and believe me when I said I only wanted him.
“Lady Bea,” Tony said gently, “why don’t you go on out there and be with your friends and your guy. I’ll get one of the other ladies to cover for you.”
“Tony, I—” His dark scowl silenced my protest. It was going to be a weak one anyway because I wanted to talk to Ollie. “Okay.” I kissed his cheek then hustled down the steps and through the door leading to the main floor. The place was packed with dancing and gyrating bodies, so it took me forever to weave my way to Ollie’s table. He looked up before I reached him, and I wanted to think he could feel me enter the room like I could with him.
“You clean up nice, Lady Bea,” Keeton said when I arrived. He stood up and offered the chair next to Ollie’s.
“Thanks, doll,” I said, blowing him a kiss. To Ollie, I said, “I’ve been relieved of my emceeing duties.”
“Misbehaving?” he asked.
“Tony could see my heart wasn’t in it.”
“Oh? Why not?”
I placed my hand on the side of his face and brushed a thumb over his high cheekbone. “I wanted to be with you, especially after the misunderstanding back there.”
Ollie slipped an arm around my waist and scooted my chair closer. “Why don’t we go someplace where we can talk more privately?”
“Sounds perfect, but I won’t be taking you to my mamma’s restaurant. I wouldn’t be able to get a word in edgewise.”
“I think I know a place,” Ollie said. “Let’s go say goodnight to the grooms-to-be.”
Milo hugged me tight after I admired his beautiful band then hugged Andy too. “I can’t wait to hear all about the wedding plans,” I told them before looping my fingers through Ollie’s and tugging him away. “I just need to change my clothes really quick.”
“No, you don’t,” Ollie said. “First of all, I’m guessing taking off all your stuff isn’t quick, and second, I like you just the way you are. So, unless you’re uncomfortable, you can wear what you have on.”
None of the other guys I’d dated had said that to me. They were all too willing to suggest I get changed before we went anywhere, including the ignorant ass who thought he could back me up against the nearest firm structure and fuck me. Like I’d just been waiting around for him to return to me. Asshole.
“Wow, your mind must’ve traveled to an unpleasant place, or you’re afraid I’ll bolt,” Ollie said, breaking through my thoughts.
“Why do you say that?”
Ollie held up our joined hands and saw I had a white-knuckle grip on him. “I’m so sorry,” I said, relaxing my hands. “Yes, it’s been a stressful night. If you’re fine with me wearing this, then I just need to grab my bag with my clothes, wallet, and keys from my locker. Do you want to wait here or come with me?”
“We’ll get into mischief if I go with you, so I’ll just wait right here for you.” I turned to walk away, but he called out my name. “Yes?” I asked, turning to face him.
“I’m driving.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “I’ll be right back, Golden Boy.”
I felt curious eyes on me as I made my way to the locker room, but I didn’t make eye contact. I care about ninety percent of the queens but had no use for the other ten. They were mean, nasty, and looked to cause trouble every chance they got. If things started heating up between me and Ollie, I could think of better ways we could spend our Wednesday evenings together after his chapter meetings.
I grabbed my stuff and returned to where I left Ollie. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest while Gracie Lou chewed his ear off. I’m sure she was filling his ears with wild stories about Ryder and me. Her eyes widened when she saw me approach, but she didn’t bother hiding the calculating sneer on her face.
“Ready?” I asked Ollie.
“Oh yeah,” he replied tightly, reaching for my hand. “See you around, Gracie Lou.”
“I sure hope so, cutie.”
I didn’t bother acknowledging her existence. The only thing I cared about was making sure Ollie knew Ryder had no claims on me or my heart.
“She sure has it in for you,” Ollie said when we stepped out into a cool September evening.
“That obvious, huh?”
“She implied you and the blond guy were in the prop room having sex during our first confrontation, and then she basically told me he was the one guy you never got over. She sounded like she felt sorry for me. Offered a shoulder to cry on later if I needed it.”
“You won’t be needing it,” I said through clenched teeth. “Gracie Lou has hated me since the first time she laid eyes on me, and she’s pissed I dressed in drag tonight because it pulls some of the spotlight away from her.”
“I figured she was,” Ollie said. “Can’t blame her. No one in there compares to your charisma, beauty, and ability to captivate a room.”
“Why, Ollie,” I said coyly, “you sure know how to make a girl blush.”
“I’m parked over here,” Ollie said, tugging me toward the right. “So, I’m taking you to a diner that serves comfort food twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. I’m not very hungry, but I’d love a piece of pumpkin cheesecake.”
“That sounds delicious.”
“It’s pretty quiet this time of night, so we should be able to talk without someone’s adorable mom interrupting us every few minutes.” His comment made me wonder once more about his parents, but it wasn’t the right time to ask.
When we reached Ollie’s car, he opened the passenger door for me. I looked at the door and looked at him like I’d fallen into one of the old movies I adored.
“Too much?” he asked. “I don’t want to be like the other guys.”
“You’re already different than them just being your usual self,” I assured him. “I find this cute all the same.”
“It’s not because you’re wearing a dress either,” he rushed to say. “I don’t think women are so weak they can’t open their own doors.”
“Ollie,” I said, unable to keep from laughing. “Your rambling is even cuter than you opening the door for me.” I fisted my hand in his shirt and hauled him to me for a kiss. When I released his shirt, he stood there blinking at me with lust-fogged eyes. “You don’t look like you’re in any condition to drive, Ollie. Maybe you should give me the keys.”
The remark shook him out of his daydream. “Hell no,” he said, rushing around to the driver’s side of the car like I was about to snatch his keys from him.
“I don’t drive that bad,” I said once Ollie pulled out of his parking spot and merged into traffic.
“You are the worst driver I’ve ever seen.”
“You wound me,” I said dramatically, even though everyone said the same thing about my driving skills.
The diner Ollie took me to was smaller than my mom’s pizza joint, but the smells coming from the kitchen were just as incredible. “I smell biscuits.”
“The best biscuits you’ll ever eat.” I turned and saw a statuesque queen making her way toward us. “You look familiar, sugar,” she said, appraising me, “have we met before?”
“Sandy, this is Lady Bea—”
“Oh my God!” she exclaimed. “I knew I recognized the seductive, graceful glide. I’m so excited to meet you.” She turned to Ollie and mock-whispered, “You never said you knew my idol.”
“I never knew you idolized Trix,” Ollie countered. “Allow me to make formal introductions.”
“Oh my God, my hair is probably a mess, and I probably have lipstick on my teeth,” Sandy said. “Oh! Can I get a selfie of the two of us together? Is it too much to ask?”
“Your hair and lipstick look fine,” I assured her. “A selfie is fine by me if Ollie doesn’t mind.” He held up his hand indicating it was fine with him. Sandy looped her arms around me and held the camera up to snap a picture of us.
“I don’t like the way my eyes look in this one. Can I take one more?”
“Sure.”
She didn’t like her smile in the second one, I had my eyes closed in the third, and she sneezed just as her phone took the fourth picture. On the fifth try, she got the picture she wanted. Only then did she ask if we wanted a booth or a table. I realized we weren’t going to get much more privacy than if we’d gone to Mamma’s pizzeria, so I had to act fast.
“Actually, we only stopped by to get two slices of pumpkin cheesecake to go,” I told her. Ollie didn’t let on if he was surprised. “Will that be a problem?”
“No, but I’m sad I won’t get to spend more time with you.”
“There’s always next time,” I told her. She hummed an agreement as she walked off.
“You’re never coming back, are you?” Ollie whispered.
“Not in drag,” I replied.
“Your beautiful eyes will give you away.”
“I’ll wear colored contacts then.”
“Please don’t,” Ollie said, sounding horrified. “You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.”
Sandy returned with a small paper bag. “Here you go.”
I pulled my wallet out of my messenger bag before Ollie could stop me. I let Sandy keep the change for her trouble and told her I looked forward to seeing her again.
“Where to?” Ollie asked once we were standing on the sidewalk in front of the diner.
“Someplace where we won’t be interrupted by another living soul.”