Page 40 of Wrong Car, Wright Guy
“Once we get back to my place and get rid of this dress,thenwe’ll consider the matter resolved.”
“Yes,boss.” She rakes her teeth over her lips then gives me a little shimmy and I laugh.
“Finally! Get over here.” Theo, her twin brother, calls out to us, waving his arm frantically from a table right up front.
We do a round of quick re-introductions as I shake hands with Theo in a different mindset this time and say hi to Tahlia—who isn’t scrunching her eyes in embarrassment this time. Then I’m introduced to a few other friends of Darren’s and Theo’s before Tahlia introduces both Ruby and me to her date, Nick.
“Hey. I’m a big fan of your show,” he says, leaning across the table and shaking hands with both of us.
“Try not to hold that against us,” I say, feeling a little odd because despite the attention I’ve gotten in the media over the years, it’s not often I have people recognize me in person. I always assumed it was because I kept a low profile outside of work.
“Oh, no way,” he says. “The way you guys handle controversy is brilliant. We should all be so good at our jobs.”
“Thank you,” Ruby says, taking the seat I hold out for her.
“OK, guys. Fanboy later,” Theo cuts in, shushing us. “Coco’s about to come out.”
I note the way Theo’s legs bounce with nerves as the lights dim and a stunning drag queen steps out with a long pink wig on, dramatic makeup, and a sparkling fuchsia dress. The moment the music starts, and Coco starts lip-syncing to Rihanna’sDiamonds, Theo whistles and claps the loudest out of everyone in the room.
“That’s love for you, huh?” Tahlia, who’s seated next to me, says, nodding toward Theo.
“They’re obviously very devoted to each other,” I say.
“They are. And if you ever hurt my friend bynotbeing as devoted to her as that, I’ll cut you, Theo will crush you, and Coco will scratch your eyes out. We’re all very protective of our girl.”
I turn and give her a lengthy look. “I assure you, Tahlia, I am one hundred percent devoted to Ruby.”
She narrows her eyes in scrutiny before she sits back and smiles. “OK. I just had to get that part out. You can enjoy the show now.”
I chuckle, kind of enjoying how tight-knit this group is. “Thank you.”
And as she suggested, I did enjoy the show. It was filled with lots of comedy and dance mixed with lip syncing from several drag queens, all of it tied together with the humorous styling of one Coco Monroe. Theo is obviously very proud by the end of it, and rushes off to meet her backstage, telling us all they’ll catch up with us later.
We all move to a bar on 75th, crowding into a booth where the conversation and drinks flow freely. I abstain from more than one since I'm driving, and I can't help but notice that Ruby doesn't drink a lot either. "I want to be sober for the over and over and over again part,” she says when I question her about it, causing me to smile and be glad that I have a table covering the tent in my pants. I can't wait to get her home. And claim her as mine.
"How long do you think we have to stay and be social?" I ask near her ear, giving it a quick nip and a lick before I pull away.
"We at least have to stay until after Theo and Darren get here. They haven't had a chance to talk to you yet."
"Ah, yes. The big brother, what-are-your-intentions talk, huh?"
"I'm guessing so." She smiles and loops her arm inside mine, leaning in nice and close, her chin resting against my shoulder. "Maybe don't tell him what your intentions for tonight are. That might make things awkward."
I slide my hand along the inside of her thigh. "Can I tell you what my intentions for tonight are?"
"If you want me making a spectacle of myself right here in the bar, yes. Tell me everything." She lifts her head and giggles. I give her thigh a squeeze and growl in her ear.
“Look who's here!" Tahlia calls out with a squeal. "The greatest queen in all of Manhattan!" She stands and holds out her arms, embracing the man I'm guessing is Darren. He's out of his drag costume and is instead sporting a close-cropped hairdo with glitter eyeshadow, black sequined blouse, leather pants and heels so high I don't even think a stripper could dance in them. Darren, however, manages to walk as easily as I would in trainers.
We all follow suit, standing and congratulating Darren on an amazing show. Seems that tonight is the first night Coco Monroe was the venue's MC, and he’d almost backed out at the last minute from nerves. “I swear, I was breaking out in hives,” he says, addressing us all. “Just ask Theo, he had to powder me down I was so itchy. Stress does not make Coco a happy girl. I can tell you that much. But I got through it. Thank you all so much for being there to cheer me on. And what's even better, in the dressing room after the show, I got asked to do it again. I'm MC once a month for the next six and I'm so freaking excited about it."
"Next stop," Theo says, his hand around Darren's waist as he smiles proudly. "A tour, we’ll take Coco around the entire country."
"Let's conquer New York first, baby," Darren says, his hand against Theo's chest as he laughs happily. “Then we'll tackle the world."
"I think we should all drink to that," I say. "What can I get you?"
Darren’s sparkling eyes land on mine, then he takes a moment to slowly look me up and down, his lips pursed in scrutiny. "You, sir, will escort me to the bar so I can take a peek at the cocktail menu. And while we’re there, we’re going to have a little talk man to man since you seem to have inserted yourself into the life of someone I consider to be my family. Not to mention, using my man as your stand-in for a billboard ad for your bigot show.… You and me, our business is all mixed up together right now."
