by Pixie Chica
“Something on your mind?” He asks reading right through me.
Clearing my throat, I nervously ask him out. He sits there staring at me for what feels like forever. The way his eyes bore into me, is almost like he’s going to find all my secrets, and dissect them one by one. The sad part is I would let him for just a chance at forever with him. Forever? Do I really want forever? Yes.
“You’re going to make this hard on me. I can tell.”
“Make what hard on you?”
“You don’t want to know how many things.” I watch his Adam’s apple move up and down as he swallows hard. The words meaning so much more, and the sexual tension between us is thick in the air.
“You still didn’t answer my question.”
“I know.”
The moment is lost when someone knocks on the door, both of us cursing when it happens. I almost had him agreeing to being with me, and the super of the building was on my shit list. After getting some things settled with Kent he leaves, and there’s no way of going back to that magical moment we had just shared.
Coming towards me he extends his hand out helping me up. I take it, dusting the dirt from the floor off myself, which isn’t much.
“So… I better get going. Your hotel isn’t too far from my apartment. I can give you a tour of the town before we finish packing, if you’d like. Crystal texted me saying where you were staying. So I can go by and pick you up. ”
Not about to look a gift horse in the mouth I accept the tour. Anytime I get to spend with him, is a plus in my direction. Stepping outside he locks the door, and he goes in for a shake, but I of course, misread and go in for a hug. We do this weird shake hug combo, and I want to bang my head against the wall. The only good thing is that it makes him smile, and for the first time ever, I’m happy I am a bit awkward.
After finding an outfit at the nearest clothes store that looked as casual as I could pull off, I head to my hotel to try and get some sleep, only it doesn’t come. I’m too excited about our tour tomorrow that I can’t sleep. I start pacing the room, then head outside to go for a walk. By the time I make it back to my hotel it’s five in the morning, so I jump in the shower.
Looking at my phone I see I have a message from Crystal, and the woman is a life saver. She tells me where her spare key is and that I’m more than welcome to go there whenever. With renewed energy I head towards the apartment. What’s the worst that could happen? I kind of like this living on the edge stuff.
Chapter Three
Kent
It's nice waking up in a place that has no one else. That hasn’t happened in a while. I loved living with Crystal, but there’s something about knowing I could walk around my house naked while singing off key, and not having anyone judging me, that felt liberating. Sitting up in bed I glance at the clock and realize it is too fucking early to be awake, but I know I have to go back to packing. Yesterday we finished most of it and we would be finishing ahead of schedule. Not to mention, I was supposed to play tour guide for John Alexander, and that was going to prove to be hard as fuck to do. Especially since he broke through my defenses, and I was so close to agreeing on going on a date with him. The easy banter and conversation between us felt so natural. Then his small half smiles, and hearty laughter had me wanting to jump his bones.
Since we got interrupted, I went home, then late last night Crystal had called me in an effort to calm her nerves, and make sure I was still coming. I could tell she was having a hard time assimilating to everything, and she wanted someone to hear her out. She was especially nervous about Joe going solo around the world, having big shoes to fill, and that was scary enough. But like me, she too was leaving everything behind for a world that we only thought existed in books and little kids’ imaginations.
Deciding it’s best to get a head start and have some coffee before dealing with man I was developing an unhealthy crush on within hours of meeting, I hit the alarm before it sounds. Taking my new found freedom, and self-indulgent attitude in full swing, I let it all hang out. After doing my morning hygiene routine, I head in the direction of the kitchen to grab my protein shake. I hate that shit, but it was a habit Crystal had gotten me into. According to her, I needed to live forever. After gulping it down, I grimace, and head in front of my tv for my daily meditating.
“Ok self, it’s time to get a head start on New Year's resolutions. Let’s get these stretches in. Alexa play instrumental playlist.” Heading to the empty space I lay out my exercise mattress, and let the music drown all my emotions. I sit Indian style and start my affirmations for the day. “I will be awesome today. I will own this day, and claim it as Kent’s day. No one will cause me to get distracted. I especially will not be tempted by the hot Christmas elf in the suit.” Feeling on top of the world, and pretty good about getting my head on straight with my affirmations.… I hear a clearing of the throat. Getting on my feet faster than I ever have in my life I come face to face with none other than John.
I can feel the blush creep up my cheeks, and he is straight staring at me trying hard to hide the smile that is creeping at the sides. “So is it safe to say I’m the Christmas elf?” He asks, this time he does smile, and it is not the half smile from the day before. No, this is a full-on toothy smile, and fuck, it makes his handsome face that much more attractive.
“Ok, I’ll skip that question. Crystal gave me her key so I let myself in, I figured you’d like some company and some strong coffee. Are you a nudist? I don’t think we’ve had one of those before, but as long as you do it inside your home, you’ll be fine.”
“What? Nudist, jeez no. I was just…” It’s then I realize I’ve been naked this whole time, too distracted to notice ”never mind what I was doing. What are you doing at my house at 6 a.m.?” I yell grabbing the throw pillow off my sofa to cover my junk. I'm appalled and try to walk sideways to my room to get a pair of pants on.
“This is late for me, I’m always up at 4 a.m. but I couldn’t sleep last night. Nice package by the way!”
Nice package? This guy has to be mental.
Emerging a few minutes later from my room, fully dressed and with extra layers on, I am ready to take on this man. He’s leaning against the wall looking at his phone, giving me a minute to take him in. Damn is today going to be torture. He’s changed his suit into jeans and a Christmas shirt that is tight against his arms and chest. The man is more fit than I had assumed yesterday. My wandering eyes dare go lower at the front of his pants, and I aim right at his tented pants. Oh! Averting my eyes the second I do it, I look up and know I’ve been caught.
“Just so you know...I don’t mind being your Christmas Elf.” He says pushing off the wall.
“How about that tour?” I say trying to change the subject, but he doesn’t let me.
“How distracted do I make you?”
“You heard all of it, didn’t you?”
“Yup, and I can’t say I’m mad about it. But I guess we can go on that tour; I’d love to get to know you better before you go out to dinner with me.”
“That’s a little presumptuous don’t you think? I never said yes yesterday, why would I now?”
“Because you were about to say yes yesterday. You said it yourself, I’m a distraction, why not see if that’s all I am. Then you can move on to the year of Kent, or not...I rather not.”
“Fine, John Alexander Jones, I’ll take you up on that dinner, just so I can find your flaws and run.”
“We’ll see what happens. I have no clue why Crystal picked me, but I’m thanking my lucky stars she did. I got plans for you and me.” He winks at me and I scoff at him.
“What plans?” I reply.
“You’ll see.”
“Whatever, let’s get this tour on the way.”
“And dinner. Let’s not forget that.” He puts his arm around my shoulders, while heading out the door, and I let him. I don’t have a clue why but I do, and I hope I don’t live to regret it.
When something is too good to be true, t
rust your instincts. Mr. Perfect had a huge flaw. One I had seen coming, although he had denied it through and through. We had been having a swell time when his job called in the middle of an early dinner, which we had planned to follow with a movie. I had told him it was fine, but one phone call turned into 20, and the next thing I knew he set up a mini office in my apartment. Laptop, mini printer, the whole works, and all the while the man didn’t even acknowledge I was in the room. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t pissed at there being an emergency. I understood things happened, but he went from damage control to full on control freak, drilling everyone in his company. I knew what it was to work all the time, hell I worked three different jobs, but I also know when to quit. In lieu of sitting there watching him turn into the boss from hell, I took an extra shift at Sashay Queens, and came back only to find him hours later in the same spot. He looked tense and stressed, and a part of me hurt for him.
The next morning, determined to not judge him by one day’s actions, I walk out ready to invite him to the brunch show I DJ on Sunday, then we could finish the last bit of packing. Only he was still sitting in the same spot phone in hand, and that was definitely yesterday’s clothes. Not even bothering to say goodbye, I walk out, leaving a note on the door for whenever he came out of zombie mode. I knew his kind and I wanted nothing to do with it, he’d blown his chance. Yet, that realization had me so upset, I was a mess heading into work.
My own father was a workaholic, and he had driven my mother into alcoholism, where she drank her way into oblivion every night. I’m sure she still did, how she was still alive was a miracle. Or maybe she finally let the bottle take what was left of her. I had left home years ago determined to not keep seeing that in action. When I got ready to leave, I begged her to come with me, and she told me to leave. She even went as far to banish me, asking that I never come back. She was too blind to see what my father drove her to. She was stupidly in love with a cold bastard. All those cold, lonely nights, and indifference. Yeah no thank you.
Pushing the man, who yesterday had given me more emotions in a matter of hours than any of my few exes put together, out of my head. I concentrate on my set. Deciding I needed a cleanse, I play my favorites getting lost in the music. I barely register seeing Tim in the booth with me. He reaches over and grabs something, and he gets a little too close but I move to the side. When he leaves, I find it odd that he is even here, when he knows how much I hate it when he comes anywhere near me.
We went on one date when he wouldn’t stop insisting, and I ran the other way. He was as fake as they came. I honestly was not trying to date a guy who walked around looking like a Cheeto thanks to tanning. Since then I have kept him as far as possible.
At the end of one of my sets, I come down to take a break from DJing when Olivia Lightening Fuck, one of the headliner Drag Queens in the club, comes over my way. There’s a funny smile on her face, and I cock an eyebrow at her.
“You naughty, naughty Kent. No wonder you never let anyone hit on you. If I had a man like that at home, I’d be keeping all the idiots at bay, too. Can’t believe how well you kept that a secret.”
Not quite sure what she is talking about, I ask her to clarify. When she points me in the direction of one of the tables, my heart stops. There in a corner booth is John, and he’s back in his business suit minus the jacket. But his shirt is unbuttoned and his sleeves rolled up, and fuck if he doesn’t look good.
“Your boyfriend requested three times that I please call you down when you were done. What did you do? Leave home without giving him his morning biscuit, because that man looks like he’s about to lose it waiting for you.”
“Shut up. He’s not my boyfriend.” I reply.
“No you’re right… the way he worded it was he was your man. So um...you better get on that.” She says winking and laughing as she walks away. My man, what the fuck?
Chapter Four
John
I fucked up...I knew it, and when I heard the front door close with a bit of a slam it knocked me right on my dumb ass. My controlling self had gone to work and stayed up all night over something that would have worked itself out. I had promised Kent dinner and a movie, and afterwards I would finish the packing. What did I do? Barely make it through dinner. I answered, what should have been a quick phone call and turned it into me becoming work obsessed.
But no more, I was ruining the small chance he had given me. Taking the note he left for me, being extra thankful he wasn’t mad enough to not tell me where he would be. I get ready to head out the door. Until I look down and see I’m still in yesterday's clothes. Yeah, you’re an idiot. I make quick work of a shower and put on all I have left, another suit. Great John, let’s head there with the damn outfit he hated.
I could already hear him venting with Crystal about the stiff she sent over. Half of me wanted to find something else to wear so I could have one less thing against me, but that would mean wasting more time. I couldn’t afford more time, I needed to get to him. So instead I opted for making it look a bit more casual by rolling up my sleeves and unbuttoning a few buttons.
Making it there rather quickly, I realize he works at a drag show. Walking in I realize how little I know about him, something I’m going to have to change quickly. I get seated by a very tall queen and her top says, Jessica Rabbit, and it fits. A post-apocalyptic version of the popular cartoon taking her character seriously she limps over, head cocked to the side in true zombie fashion.
As soon as I tell them who I’m looking for she perks up and the act falls momentarily looking surprised. Thankfully she doesn’t say much just sitting me at a corner booth and hands me a menu. When she points me in the direction of where Kent is, he looks better than yesterday. He’s in the DJ booth in cargo shorts, and a tight tank that shows all his muscles. It’s clear that people come here for the show, but there’s plenty looking at him, like he’s the next snack. But fuck that, if he’s going to be anyone’s snack, he’s going to be mine.
Clenching my fist, I see this over tanned idiot come to my table blocking my view. “You sure this is the place for you. You didn’t get lost on the way in, or are you one of those men that come here thinking they can get a quickie then go back to their straight life?”
“Neither asshole, I am waiting on my man, do you mind?” I say pointing to the DJ booth.
“Kent? You want me to believe that Kent is dating you?” He doesn’t make any effort to show his disgust motioning my person with his hand.
“Not fucking dating, he’s about to be my fiancé.”
The idiot who’s name tag says Tim, gets infuriated at my comment, and I can almost see the steam emanating from his skull.
“That’s fucking impossible. You’re just some rebound, and that’s all you’re going to be. I dumped him and I can have him back any time I want.”
“Bullshit.”
Ready to go off on this idiot who thinks he can claim what is now mine, I get up to show him a lesson. A different drag queen comes over to figure out what is going on, and before I can explain, Tim lies saying everything is fine before walking away. Not sure what he is up to but I can see the intention in his eyes, this fucker is about to cause problems. Well I’m ready. I politely tell the new Queen, Olivia about needing to see Kent, and she gives me the same amused look as Jessica.
Could it be that he really did have some relationship with Tim, and I was a rebound? Too bad I was going to rebound myself into marrying him that was for sure. Tapping my foot incessantly, I ask Olivia twice more for her to make sure Kent gets the message. Not being able to do anything until he is finished, I sit and stare at him.
The man is magnificent, he is so talented, and he talks with such enthusiasm about everything. I can see he does everything with passion, even this DJing. He is also a great sport for anything, and I can see our life is definitely going to be fun. It doesn’t hurt that the man is sexy as all hell, and let’s just say he’s packing. I’m mid fantasy of him on my bed, when I watch Cheeto head walk u
p the steps and into the booth. I almost get up out of my chair and ran sack that idiot when he gets super close to my Kent, but I’m stopped by Olivia. She shakes her head and promises to bring him down in a few minutes. By the time I hear Kent announcing his break I’m about ready to pull him with me and go straight home.
“What the hell are you doing here, I thought you were working. And what is this bit about you calling yourself my man?” He says pissed off. He is going to have to get used to it.
“I came to apologize, and tell you I was an ass, but come to find out I’m just some rebound. Too bad that’s not going to happen.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Look, you can leave, I can get the rest of my packing done. I got the number from Crystal to get the movers you all use, they can put my shit in the truck. ” He says putting his hands in his shorts and turning to walk away. His leaving propels me into action grabbing his arm and pulling him back towards me.
“Where do you think you’re going? You lead me on making me think there can be something between us and now you’re just okay bye?”
“Look, leave me alone, John. I got the message loud and clear last night. I think you’re cool and all but I know your type. You’re married to your job, and always will be. I can’t live that life. What else do you fucking want from me?”
Needing him to stop running from me I close the distance between us. The club has all stopped looking at the show, instead they are fully engrossed in our conversation. Even the drag queen performing stopped mid lip sync. I’ve never been comfortable having eyes on me, but for him I’ll face all my issues.
“I want you to admit that I’m not a rebound. That you feel something for me because I’m gone for you. I never felt this way, and shit I know it’s fast, but I can’t help it. I need to know, is Tim just some guy you dated? Or was he the love of your life and I just found you too late.”