Page 32 of Broken Halos
The damn broke and happy tears spilled down my face. “I’d be honored.”
I’D BEEN LEANING OVER HELPINGtighten 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.