Page 33 of Kiss-Fist (Deaf Hearts #1)

I’m only half paying attention, and I think Fayid knows this. I’ve got one eye on Thom, and I think it’ll be that way for the rest of the night.

I’m pleased to see that Rhett and Mellie are being so kind to him. I get that having a hearing person who is learning ASL in our space can be tedious. We don’t want to have to teach someone when we’re just trying to let go and socialize.

But I brought him here. This is important to me, and Mellie and Rhett seem to understand that. Fayid does too.

Rome is the one I’m struggling with at the moment.

Honestly, I’d like for him to find another table to sit at.

Thankfully, the house lights suddenly dim, and people turn their gazes to the flashing stage lights that are moving in a rapid pattern. The music begins to thud heavier, and the curtains come apart. I’ve been to these shows a few times.

He tends to keep this quiet, but Denver is one of the performers, though I didn’t see his name on the sign, so I’m not sure if he’s around tonight. But a few of the professors—mostly the Deaf and sign-fluent ones—have attended to see him do his show.

The flashing lights match the patterns of the bass I can feel under my feet, and I sneak a glance at Thom, who’s grinning like crazy. He’s got his earplugs in, the bright lime green nestled in his ear canals, but he’s swaying back and forth and looking like he loves it.

Like Rome is forgotten.

Suddenly, I get a vision of him up there in heels and fishnets, and shit…my dick perks up a little. I breathe through it. It’s not time to be betrayed by my libido. The guys are giving me a hard enough time as it is.

Thom nudges me as the emcee walks out on stage. She’s in a very tight, revealing white dress with matching go-go boots and a Dolly Parton wig. Her name on stage is Posey, which matches the flower tucked behind her ear.

Her incredibly long nails glint in the light as she waves at everyone, moving to the beat she can feel all around her.

‘Good evening,’ she signs after her short number. ‘Amazing crowd. Look at all of you! Champ!’

I sneak another glance at Thom. There’s so much he’s going to learn if he’s paying attention. But he seems like he already is. He’s riveted. Then I feel a kick under the table, and I start, turning my head. Rome purses his lips and blows a kiss at me.

Before I can even think about hoping this went unnoticed, Thom drinks the rest of his drink and slides an arm around me, tugging me close. Well, this is new. I don’t hate possessive Thom, even if I hate the way Rome keeps antagonizing him.

‘Later,’ Rome signs.

Thom leans over me and flips him off. Then signs no.

My dick gets a little harder at the caveman theatrics.

‘Stop it. Pay attention,’ I order them both.

Rome holds up his hands in surrender, laughing and shaking his head as he turns his attention back to the stage. I glance up at Thom, who’s watching Posey again, but his lips are turned down in a frown. Yeah, he might be possessive, but he’s not happy about this game Rome is playing.

Rhett taps him on the shoulder and says something, and Thom shakes his head.

‘What’s wrong?’ I ask Rhett since Thom isn’t looking at me.

Rhett jerks his chin toward Rome, and my chest constricts. I don’t know why I bothered to ask. I knew what it was about.

I lean into Thom, but his muscles are tense. His hand remains around the middle of my back, but it’s not the tender Thom I’ve gotten used to. I wonder if circumstances were different, would he have gone home by now?

Fuck, I hate that I care so much. I hate that I want this to be better for him. I miss the old Robbie. The zero fucks, hooks up with someone when he gets the itch, Robbie. The Robbie who was totally fine with dying surrounded by two cats and a fish.

‘…and before we welcome the Fruit Basket onstage,’ Posey’s signing, ‘let’s give a warm welcome to our headliner, Glimmer Dear!’

So he is here. Denver, in all his glory.

Some of the drag queens’ names are rooted solely in ASL, Denver’s specifically. And I guess I’m not surprised to see him here. I just wonder if Thom is going to recognize him. And if he does…

Will it get weird?

Thom starts to clap before realizing everyone’s got their hands in the air, and he quickly changes course. He still looks unsettled, but he’s loosened up a bit. Posey steps off to the side a minute later, and I feel the change in the beat of the music.

The lights turn brightly colored, and then three queens step out, all wearing some variation of a Carmen Miranda costume.

Apple, Peach, and Pear—otherwise known as the Fruit Basket.

They shake their hips as they start their first number, and out of the corner of my eye, I can see Thom’s shoulders shifting down a little more.

They’re signing a song, so Thom doesn’t need anything interpreted, and he’s bouncing along to the lyrics, Rhett matching his motions.

Mellie’s grinning. Fayid’s sneaking looks at me with his obnoxious little smirk because yeah, Thom is hot wiggling around like that.

And whether or not he’s aware of it, he seems to show off every chance he gets.

His biceps are flexing as he thrusts his hips along with the beat, his dick bouncing. Okay, but really, this is getting a little too ridiculous.

I palm my cock and try to convince it to chill out until we’re back home, but it only works a little.

Oh, who am I kidding? It doesn’t work at all.