Crowd Pleaser

by Marie James

  “I treated you like shit last night,” he confesses, the sadness returning to his eyes. “The least I can do is wash my cum from your hair.”

  “How chivalrous,” I mutter and slide away from him, annoyed that he’d even bring it up again.

  “Randi.” I stop when he clutches my arm. His touch isn’t forceful, just a wordless pleading to hear him out. “I’ll never treat you like that again.”

  Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. The sentiment is familiar, much like the high school boyfriend who slapped my face in a drunken argument one night. What that asshole and the one standing so close to me doesn’t understand is that apologies shouldn’t even be necessary because it never should’ve happened to begin with.

  Act first and ask forgiveness later doesn’t really work with me.

  “I’m going to go show—”

  Banging on the front door interrupts us.

  “Shit. What time is it?”

  “Early afternoon,” he answers as he steps to the side so I can go answer the door.

  “Damn it,” I hiss and fly out of the room.

  “Aren’t you going to put some clothes on,” he asks as I tug open the front door.

  “I’m so sorry!” I turn away from Jas and Ellis.

  “We’ve been calling all day,” Jas says, a minor annoyance in his tone.

  “Twice,” Ellis corrects as he slides past his boyfriend into my condo. “We knew when you didn’t answer the first time that you wouldn’t be ready. The second time we called was from the coffee shop to see if you wanted something to eat.”

  He hands me the familiar green and white cup.

  “But from the look of it, you already had breakfast this morning.”

  I notice his eyes are focused over my shoulder. Jake is standing in the hallway with arms crossed over his chest glaring at me.

  “Clothes, Randi?”

  “I like her half-naked,” Jas says walking up to me and wrapping his arms around my stomach before purring, “so soft,” over my shoulder.

  Jake gets the same look in his eyes he had last night when he walked in to find that guy’s mouth wrapped around my tit. The growl that bubbles up from his throat isn’t surprising, neither is the chuckle that comes from Ellis who’s leaning his ass against the arm of my couch.

  “Would you quit?” I slap at Jas’ arms before turning back to face him. “Do I have time for a shower?”

  “Are your supplies ready?” I shake my head, already knowing the answer to my own question. “Sorry, beautiful. We’re at DEFCON One on time right now.”

  “Fuck.” And this is why I don’t drink; nothing good ever comes out of it but bad decisions that lead to other displacements in my life.

  “What are you late for?” Jake asks, finally stepping fully into the room and joining the conversation.

  “A show,” I answer absentmindedly, the headache coming back full force.

  “A very important show,” Jas adds. “Have you forgotten who’s going to be there?”

  “I haven’t.” Reaching up, I try to run my fingers through my tangled hair.

  Jas gives me a pitiful look. “You grab a quick shower. I’ll feed and walk Havoc. Your boy toy here and Ellis will pack your cases.”

  Although I have a million things I could be doing right now, I just stand overwhelmed staring at him.

  “Shoo,” he urges.

  My eyes shoot over to Jake.

  “We won’t bite him,” Ellis assures me before grabbing my shoulders and turning me in the direction of the bathroom. “Hurry. You only have ten minutes.”

  “Eight,” I hear Jas say before I close myself in the bathroom.

  Chapter 22

  Jake

  “What was that tension filling the condo when we came in?”

  “Huh?” Distracted, I turn to Ellis, pulling my eyes from the endless rows of cosmetics in Randi’s spare bedroom.

  “Lover’s quarrel?”

  “I don’t even know, man.”

  Watching as he shuffles about the room packing various things, I cross my arms over my chest. I had a beautiful mom and several female cousins, so I can easily recognize the vast expense of all the things in this room. In one corner, the setup looks like something out of a science lab. Ellis interrupts before I can walk over there.

  “You do know, but you don’t want to talk about it.” He pushes a black case into my hands. “Zip that up.”

  “Last night was rough,” I confess as I work the zipper making sure not to jostle the contents.

  “I know just how rough last night was. It took two blowjobs and thirty minutes of fucking before I had Jas calmed down enough not to hunt you down last night.”

  Wincing, I avoid eye contact and set the case down near the door.

  “I fucked up,” I mutter.

  “Big time,” he adds handing me another case.

  “What kind of show requires this much makeup? If a woman requires this much junk, there’s probably no point in putting any on to begin with.”

  Ellis chuckles as I set aside another case.

  “Men,” he says with his hands on his hips as he looks around the room to see if he’s missed anything.

  “Men?”

  “More specifically drag queens,” he says.

  “No shit?” A huge smile spreads my face.

  “Why the shit-eating grin?” Gasping playfully, he covers his mouth with his hand. “Jake, do you have a thing for trannies?”

  Narrowing my eyes, I glare at him. “Not all drag queens are trannies.”

  A perfect eyebrow arches. “Color me shocked that you’d even know that.”

  “I’m going with you guys.”

  Where the hell did that come from?

  “Are you?” Head tilted to the side, he smiles again.

  “And I’m inviting a friend.” I shove the last case he handed me back into his arms and pull out my phone.

  “I don’t have a thing for drag queens, but my best friend is going to love this.”

  ***

  “I had no idea this was even a thing in Dallas!” I yell over the music blaring through the speakers controlled by a gorgeous woman in the DJ booth.

  Hunter pulls his eyes from the crowd and glares at me. “Seriously? Dallas has some of the most amazing shows. The city has hosted the Miss Gay America pageant a dozen damn times. How do you not know any of this?”

  All I can do is laugh at him. “Not really my scene.”

  “You seem to like the looks of the DJ,” he teases.

  My eyes glance up again. “I can admire beauty.” It’s not like Randi and I are in a relationship, but I have no desire to do more than look at anyone but her these days. “She’s gorgeous.”

  “He,” he clarifies.

  “Fuck me,” I mutter, opting to stare at my beer instead of looking around the bar.

  Hunter grunts a laugh before taking a long pull on his beer.

  “Tricky bastards. I had no idea.”

  “That’s the whole point.” He grins again, slapping my back lightheartedly.

  “I knew you’d enjoy yourself, but I didn’t think this crowd was your cup of tea.”

  “Have you ever been to a drag show?”

  I tilt my head giving him a look that says ‘Are you fucking kidding me? Of course, I haven’t.’

  “It’s one of the most entertaining things you’ll ever see.” Looking around the room, a light I haven’t seen in a while fills his eyes. “I’m not sexually attracted to men in drag. I’m into manly men, but I can enjoy the art of it.”

  Looking around, I take the scene in around me with a brand new perspective. The perfect makeup, the clothes altered to fit a different physique than they were intended. It’s all a lot of work and endless dedication.

  “Plus,” Hunter says knocking my shoulder with his. “It’s absolutely hilarious.”

  I follow his gaze to the stage just as Promiscuous by Nelly Furtado begins to fill the room.

  A stacked blonde with hair h
igher than gravity should allow bounds from between the curtains. Cheers fill the room as the queen dips, bobs, and spins around on the stage. I don’t know if she’s actually singing, but the tiny headset peeks out near her mouth every once in a while. Long dress, split almost indecently up her thigh shimmers under the stage lights causing prisms of color to bounce off the walls.

  “Wow,” I say more to myself than anyone else. “How the fuck is she doing that on heels.”

  “Like I said, it’s an art,” Hunter reminds me.

  “Yeah, it is,” I agree never taking my eyes off the stage.

  “Give it up for Misus LaQueer!” Comes through the sound system.

  Before I can stop myself, I’m on my feet cheering like I have a personal stake in the woman strutting around the stage. She winks in my direction, and my face heats at the attention.

  “Look who has plans after the show,” Hunter teases before we sit back down to watch the next act come out on the stage.

  “Shut the fuck up,” I hiss around the mouth of my beer, but my smile never fades.

  “It’s great right?”

  “Amazing,” I agree.

  The show goes on, over a dozen acts performing, each with their own flare. I watched each and every one enthralled as if I’ve never been allowed out of the house before.

  When the DJ announces the show is over and the winner will be announced in half an hour, Hunter and I head to the bar for another beer.

  “I’ve never heard so much Gaga and Donna Summer before in my life.”

  Hunter hands me a beer. “I question your sexuality for even knowing Donna Summer’s name.”

  “My mom liked that shit.” I don’t tell him that I liked it, too. It’s all upbeat, and as a kid, that’s all it took to keep me interested.

  “Look out, lover boy,” Hunter whispers as much as he can in the loud room. “Misus LaQueer has you in her sights.”

  I freeze when a warm hand runs up my spine before settling on my shoulder.

  “I saw you eyeing me.” The voice is sultry, albeit more masculine than you’d expect to come from someone with such pretty fingernails.

  My eyes widen, but Hunter just stares at me, a smile spreading the width of his face. I beg him with my eyes, pleading with him to act like my boyfriend and shoo this person away. I’m not a homophobe by any measure, but I question what she will think if I shrug her off like I would a person I was certain had a pussy between her legs. Seems I’m uncomfortable with even appearing offensive.

  “Please,” I finally mouth to Hunter when one of the perfect fingernails begins tracing circles on the side of my neck.

  “Really?” My eyes damn near pop out of my fucking head at the sound of Randi’s voice. “I can’t leave you alone for a fucking hour.”

  “It’s not—” I spin in her direction, catching Misus LaQueer around her middle when I nearly knock her over. “Fuck, you’re more solid than you look.”

  “You know it, baby.”

  I nearly let him fall to the damn ground when I look into her familiar, bright blue eyes.

  “Fucking, Ellis.”

  A masculine chuckle rushes past his painted lips. I resist the urge to run my finger over the flawless skin of his face just to make sure he isn’t wearing a mask.

  “You look fucking incredible. I hardly recognized you.”

  “Well thank you, sugar.” Ellis stands, moving from my embrace. “It’s all Randi. She’s the miracle worker.”

  Jas chooses then to walk up. The huge grin on his face tells me he saw the entire encounter. “She does have a flawless canvas to work with.”

  I look from Ellis to Randi and back again, before settling my eyes on her. She’s flustered, cheeks red, looking exhausted.

  “You do amazing work,” I commend.

  “She did over half of the performers,” Ellis adds with pride in his voice.

  “Hello?” I hear Hunter say. “Fifth wheel over here.”

  “Fuck,” I say and turn in his direction.

  “Jas and Ellis, this is Hunter Cochran.”

  “Cock?” Jas teases with a smile as they shake hands.

  “Seems my name chose my destiny,” Hunter says, not for the first time in his life.

  Jas’ eyes turn back in my direction as Ellis shakes his hand. “You really do have a gay best friend?”

  “Only best friends until I can convince him to switch sides.” Also something he’s said too many times to count. Hunter looks at Ellis. “You were fucking amazing.”

  I turn to Randi when Ellis, Jas, and Hunter delve into a convo about other drag shows and a mutual friend.

  I push a lock of stray hair behind her ear. “You look exhausted.”

  “I am,” she confesses.

  “Can I take you home?”

  “I have to wait for them to announce the winners, but I’m starving,” she answers.

  “Announcements, dinner, then home.”

  I smile into her hair when I pull her into my arms, and she doesn’t push me away.

  Chapter 23

  Randi

  “If you fall asleep in your soup, the red stains will be hard to explain.” I smile around the delicious spoonful of tomato soup as Jake’s mouth matches mine. “I can’t believe you’re eating soup. It’s like a million degrees outside.”

  He takes a huge bite of his club sandwich, washing it down with a long drink from his glass of soda.

  “Comfort food,” I say after swallowing. I pick up my grilled cheese. “But I’ll be running this sandwich off tomorrow. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.”

  Truth is, I could sleep for three weeks right about now.

  “I think it’s great that Ellis won second place.”

  “He’ll be questioning every move he made on stage, wondering what slip up cost him first place.”

  “The other chick’s performance was good, but it was nowhere near as amazing as his. He couldn’t have been any better,” he assures me before taking another bite of his sandwich.

  “I know that. He also knows that Rea Publican’s a crowd favorite. Her following is almost cultish. No one beats her.”

  “What kinda damn name is that?”

  I chuckle. “I have no clue. A slap in the face of politics?”

  “I don’t even know her, but I kinda hate her already.”

  I roll my lips between my teeth to keep from cracking up. Leaning in closer, I whisper. “Don’t worry, we all do.”

  “What did Jas mean earlier when he asked you if you had forgotten who was going to be there?”

  “Do you know anything about the Miss Gay America pageant?”

  He shakes his head. “Hunter mentioned it earlier, but I’m not personally familiar with any aspect of it.”

  “They have a show here in town in July. Reps from the organization were in the crowd tonight.” My heart clenches at how he’s hanging on my every word as if he’s actually interested in things that interest me in life. “They are switching things up and hiring a team of makeup artists. I’m trying to land a spot on that team.”

  “That’s amazing!” He beams, nothing but sincerity in his eyes.

  “The best thing is they have shows all over the US. The team that’s selected will travel and work every show.”

  His face falls slightly before he can school his reaction.

  Before I can ask him about the disappointment on his face, both of our phones chime at the same time. The synchrony of the alerts means it has to be SCP business. I pull my phone from my clutch, realizing it’s the notification from my bank that my payment from last night’s video has hit. I need the money, but the memories of last night could disappear forever, and I wouldn’t be the slightest bit upset.

  When I look up seeing him on his own phone, I go into my mortgage app and apply the entire payment to the balance of my condo.

  “And just like that it’s all gone,” I mutter before putting my phone down.

  “Really?” He looks up from his phone. “What in th
e world costs that much money?”

  “My condo payment,” I answer. “What do you spend yours on?”

  He shrugs, like the thousands of dollars that just hit his bank account means nothing to him. “I haven’t touched it.”

  “Spoken like a true rich boy,” I murmur before looking down at my now cold soup.

  “If you spend every penny on the condo, what the hell do you live off of?” he asks ignoring my jab.

  “The drag shows. I don’t do that shit for free. Makeup is expensive as hell, especially the stuff required to hide Adam’s apples and beard stubble. I also make a little on the yoga classes I teach.” He nods in understanding. “I live a pretty simple life.”

  I don’t give him the details about the makeup. I don’t need another person calling me a dreamer, and I know hearing Jake tell me I’ll fail won’t be something I can survive.

  “Still,” he says putting his phone back down on the table. “That condo is nice as hell. Must owe a ton on it.”

  “I hawked all the jewelry from my past life. Sold a lot of designer shit I only used once. It made for a pretty hefty down payment. I could’ve found something cheaper, but Stoneridge was the safest place I could find.”

  “Safety is important,” he agrees.

  “I only have to do like ten more videos before it’s paid off. If I get the job with MGA, I’ll have to make the decision to keep or sell it. I won’t really need a permanent place if I’m traveling all the time. Jas and Ellis have offered to let me stay with them when I’m not traveling.”

  “Ten,” he mutters as if he hasn’t heard a damn thing I said after that. “You can have my money if you need to pay it off sooner.”

  “No, Jake.” I reject the offer immediately. “If you don’t need the money why are you even doing it to begin with?”

  “You, Randi. I make the fucking videos to be with you.”

  It’s then that I realize why he’s so focused on the ten videos left. No matter whose count we’re going by, our contract will end long before those ten videos are recorded. He’s done the math and knows that to pay off my condo, I’ll be fucking at least another handful of guys, guys that aren’t him.