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Nothing lasts forever, but I’m gonna need at least another fifty or sixty years with this guy.

And even then, I can’t imagine feeling like it’ll ever be enough.

CHAPTER 40

GOLDIE

Thirty-Six Weeks:

Baby is approximately the size of a head of romaine lettuce.

I should’ve known better.

I really should’ve.

“I blame myself for everything,” I say, and Ellie chokes on her drink beside me.

Life has mostly gone back to normal since Ruth scared the shit out of all of us. Sumner’s back at work, I’m back at Bombshell, and now that everyone can finally unclench, we decided to celebrate by hitting up drag brunch with the crew.

Cherry’s belting out “Circus” by Britney Spears, and halfway through, she shimmies her hips and struts her way off the stage and into the crowd. Her attention is laser-focused on Colston.

You’d think he’d have some shame, but now that I think about it, that’s not Colston at all.

Our favorite six-foot-something queen makes her way toward him, bright cherry-red hair swinging around her shoulders, and perches on his lap when he pats his thigh, finishing up her song. Sumner cracks up and pulls out his phone to get video.

Scout laughs so hard she nearly falls out of her chair, and Trace groans. Because yeah, Colston’s eating this up.

Cherry slides her manicured hand over Colston’s shoulder and fixes her gaze on Trace. “Why so broody, handsome?”

Colston cracks up. “He’s jealous because he’s the number two best friend.”

Trace scowls. “Shut up, Dickface.”

Cherry laughs. “Two of my favorite things, one more than the other.” She winks.

Colston loses it.

Trace points at him. “Fuck you.”

Andie snorts a laugh into her drink across from me.

I just lean back against the booth, resting my hands on top of my stomach, while Sumner pans his phone from Colston losing his shit to Trace looking like he wants to murder him, and honestly, this might be the best Sunday of my life.

“This is exactly why I wanted them to come,” I say, leaning closer to Sumner so he can hear me over the music.

He hits stop on his video and sets his phone on the table. “To watch Colston get hit on by drag queens?”

I scoff. “As if he isn’t loving this. But no.” I shake my head. “For the entertainment.”

Right on cue, as “Born This Way” starts playing, Cherry gets off his lap and catches his hand.

Colston’s already laughing when she pulls him to his feet, and he goes with her without a second of hesitation.

She leads him back toward the stage, still singing, and by the time they get up there, she’s got him sharing the microphone with her through the chorus while he grins his ass off.

Scout starts singing along as Trace drops his head into his hands.

Sumner just laughs, shaking his head, and reaches for his coffee.