Page 66 of Level Up

We settled back in and gave Ryan a rundown on what we’d been talking about, coming up to the current roadblock: what could we do on the beach that would draw in the views?

Ryan sat back, the sun slashing a golden beam of light across his handsome face. Without missing a beat, he said, “What about a drag show? I thought about it after we saw the one at Passions, forgot to mention it.”

And just like that, our problems were solved. It was as if the few clouds floating above us all jerked to the side, dropping a beam of sunlight on our circular table.

Maddy put a hand to her chest. “Oh. My. Madonna. How did I not think of that? Drag queens are always getting views online. And they are the definition of activism.”

Ryan continued, smiling like he was proud as hell. “I think we can pull off a really solid drag show on the beach. We can have it all themed around protecting the environment and film it so the queens and kings are performing with their backs to the oil drill site. Or we can put up a backdrop showing the ocean drenched in oil behind them. Something powerful.”

“Oh shit, I have an aunt that has an events company with portable stages. Maybe she can set something up.”

Maddy cocked her head in surprise. “How many hookups do you have in the entertainment business? Next, you’re going to tell me you have a grandfather who owns a studio in Hollywood.”

Colton’s smirk turned sly. “Actually…”

“Oh, shut up,” Maddy said, giggling. “I also know a bunch of local drag queens. We can have them perform individual numbers, so there doesn’t need to be any big rehearsals or anything. Oh! And I’ve been chatting with Blaise. He’s super cool. His schedule’s pretty packed but he said he’d move things around for a good cause.”

“Can he do that in three weeks?” Colton asked.

“Yeah, as long as we keep it to four or five queens. Maybe they can do two numbers each?”

“I think that’ll work really well.” I squeezed Ryan’s hand and leaned over to kiss him. “A drag show. Genius. So fucking smart.”

"Ryan’s always had great ideas," Colton said, clearly proud of his best friend. Another check in the “Ryan’s a great guy” column.

Ryan turned to me, grabbing both my hands in his. His gaze radiated something that I could only describe as “home.” “And I don’t want you feeling any pressure to have to attend or any guilt for not attending, either. We can set up another one that’s a little more inland after we draw all eyes to us with the ocean show. How’s that sound?”

I nearly started to cry but somehow held it all back, building an invisible dam. “That sounds so fucking perfect.”

To have someone who so profoundly understood me, understood my fears and how to handle them, it meant the world.

This “great guy” column was soon running out of space.

We spent the rest of the day tossing around different drag queens and kings we wanted to reach out to. It was fun, the time flying back, the four of us creating a bond that felt concrete. I was excited. Scared that it would be a lot to pull off, with a fuck-ton riding on it, but excited.

And looking over at a smiling, joking, handsome-as-fuck Ryan only made that excitement bloom even brighter. Not only for the protest, either, but for the future.

My entire body became filled with sunlight and butterflies and big ol’ gay rainbows. My ribs were grassy knolls, and my lungs were meadow-covered fields, and my heart was the bright, beating sun, with Ryan and me lying down together, Twilight-style.

My Edward, his Bella…except much less clumsy and awkward.

Huh.

Guess this is what love feels like.

Being at my mom’s house always felt like a warm, art-filled hug.

She lived in a gated community further inland, where the San Luco rich rubbed elbows with the middle class. Her neighborhood was very eclectic which matched my mom’s vibe perfectly. There were massive modern mansions mixed with one-story Spanish style homes. The hills made a picturesque backdrop against her backyard, where I currently sat and watched her paint.

“Need more tea, honey?”

“Nah, I’m ok. Thanks.” I leaned against the pillow on my side and looked out to her garden. “The tulips look great. And those orchids are slaying.”

“They are thriving aren’t they? I’m thinking of finding some rare succulents and putting them by the koi pond.”

“Oh, that would look really good.”

“Want to go find some with me later?”

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