Page 94 of See My Words

“I do, and that’s why it’s even more important he go,” Scott said, catching the incredulous look that flitted across Minh’s face out of the corner of his eye. “It’s not his job to be my white knight, Minh, to save me from myself. I need to learn how to do that, not rely on him to make it better.” He firmed his lips. “I don’t want to be his emotional burden… I want to be his partner.”

Scott slipped his arm around Minh’s shoulders before Minh could say anything else. “How’re you holding up?”

Minh shrugged. “Well, I gave that man a few more Saturdays than I intended, didn’t I? Dunno what’s wrong with me, lettin’ him hang around so long.”

Scott wasn’t fooled by the words, and kissed the top of Minh’s head. After a moment, Minh said softly, “He needs to prove somethin’ to himself, Scotty, and tryin’ to hold him here just ain’t an option.”

“Yeah.” Scott rested his cheek on Minh’s hair. “So we let them go and hope we’re enough to bring them back.”

“Exactly. Thank fuck I don’t gotta go through this alone.”

“Never.” Scott held him close for a moment. “I’m going to quit Spectrum, though, Minh, after they—after they leave. I have to.”

Minh nodded. “It’s time, baby. You outgrew this place a long time ago. What’re you gonna do?”

“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? I don’t have a fuckin’ clue.”

“You’ll figure it out.” Minh patted his cheek and turned away. “Oh, hey. I—” He hesitated. “We’re throwing Rylan and Chris a going-away party on Saturday night. The girls are gonna set up a show, and I—I think you should come.”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Good.” With a wave, Minh headed off in the direction of the dressing room, and Scott made his way to the employee entrance, intending to hit the gym for a long, therapeutic workout. Before he could push through the door, he heard his name being called and turned to see Corey hurrying down the hallway toward him. Scott braced himself, expecting to summarily be handed his pink slip.

Instead Corey said, a little out of breath, “Scotty, you just got a request for a VIP gig Friday night.” He sounded surprised, as if he couldn’t believe anyone would want him, a feeling Scott had to admit he shared.

“Well, sure,” he said slowly. “Who is it?”

When Corey said the name, Scott felt shock move through him, followed by a cautious sense of excitement as the ideas suddenly started flowing.

Maybe this was the million-dollar answer.

* * *

“Uh, you know I’ll have to charge you for whatever you’re drinking tonight, Scotty. Corey said—”

Scott gave Danny a reassuring smile. “Of course, man. No worries.”

Danny’s face softened with relief as he asked, “What can I get you, then?”

Scott ordered a club soda with lime, and as Danny pushed it over to him, he whispered, “Hell, I ain’t gonna charge you for a fuckin’ fizzy water, babe. You want a splash of a little somethin’-somethin’ in it?”

Scott slipped a five-dollar bill into Danny’s tip jar. “This’ll do me. Thanks, dude.” They bumped knuckles before Danny moved off to serve his other customers. Scott swiveled around on his stool and sipped his drink, watching the stage as Rylan and Chris were thoroughly roasted by a bevy of sexy drag queens. Double entendres about “long, hard lenses” and “shooting” were thick in the air, and they’d both been treated to lap dances, playful groping and lots of serenading. The affection behind it was almost palpable, though, and Scott couldn’t help but smile.

He glanced around the crowded room, at the excited and chattering party crowd, but nobody was paying any attention whatsoever to him. Instead of making him feel anxious and invisible like it had before, Scott was grateful for it. Apparently the rumor mill hadn’t started churning over a certain little tidbit yet—that Scott had resigned from the club earlier that morning—so at least he didn’t have to worry about stealing Rylan and Chris’s spotlight tonight.

Up on stage, the show was ending, each drag queen sashaying up to plant exaggerated kisses of good-bye on both men’s cheeks, lipstick prints of varying shades soon covering their faces. The DJ announced the next set would be a playlist of the guests of honors’ favorite songs, and he launched into it, the strobe lights flashing and the music pounding. Teena, looking gorgeous in a black sparkly minidress, pink wig, and sky-high heels, dragged Chris onto the dance floor. Rylan disappeared in the direction of the restrooms, emerging after a few minutes to lean with one shoulder against a pillar, arms crossed over his chest.

Scott traced his eyes over him…tall and lean, wearing soft faded jeans and a torso-hugging black Henley, the sleeves pushed to his elbows. He had a couple of leather bracelets on one wrist, his watch on the other, diamond earrings winking in the light. His thick brown hair was mussed, his full lips quirked in a half smile.

God, you’re so beautiful, baby.

He couldn’t help but drift in Rylan’s direction, just needing to be near him. As he drew closer, he noticed with tender amusement that although Rylan had gone into the bathroom to scrub his face clean of drag queen kisses, a garish purple lip print still lurked high on his jawline.

“You missed one,” Scott murmured, coming up behind him. Rylan glanced over his shoulder at him.

“Really? I could have sworn I got them all.”

“Nope. Here.” Scott reached out and gently rubbed the greasy lipstick off, letting his thumb linger for a moment, feeling the slight rasp of Rylan’s stubble along the sensitive pad. Unable to resist, he bent and trailed his lips over the spot, the subtle smell of the aftershave Rylan favored tickling his nose.