Page 27 of Perfect Blend

“Jesus Christ,” Dave mumbled. “I’m so sorry, Mikey. That had to be devastating.”

“It was. I felt betrayed that he’d let me get my hopes up for so long. I felt guilty like I’d pushed him into something he didn’t want. And I was thankful he’d said something before we went too far.”

“I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been to sort through all that. I don’t understand why the hell people let things go that far. I have a friend whose ex did something similar. It makes me so angry. Withholding something as serious and life-changing as that is cruel.”

His anger surprised me. Then again, Dave seemed to understand me on a level I hadn’t fully comprehended yet.

“Travis and I both wanted to start a family. I still do someday. If he had changed his mind while we were close to making it a reality, I don’t know how I would have reacted.”

My silly heart flipped hearing that Dave wanted kids. “Exes are the worst.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Dave said. “Here’s to hoping there are no more exes and we find the right person.”

I looked into his eyes and fell a little harder for my old friend.Here’s hoping it might be you.

CHAPTER9

DAVE

JavaJackOfAllTrades: It’s been a hell of a week.

Bricker: [grimace emoji] What’s going on?

JavaJackOfAllTrades: I did a cannonball into the deep end of the feelings pool. What the fuck is happening to me?

Bricker: MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER. JESUS.

JavaJackOfAllTrades: You too?!

Bricker: I’m so fucked, Jack.

JavaJackOfAllTrades: Same.

JavaJackOfAllTrades: Shit, it’s later than I thought. Gotta run. Talk soon? Sounds like we could both use a good chat.

- - -

I turnedoff my phone’s screen. Before I put it back in my bag, I saw a Discord notification pop up, but I didn’t have time to read it. There were too many last-minute things to do before the drag show began in a few hours. At least I had a list of small fires to douse that would distract me from being sad over it being Mikey’s last night in town. I wished I’d asked him to join me at The Lucky Tongue to help set up, but he had enough going on gathering more information for his article. I couldn’t wait to read it and experience Dahlia Springs from his perspective.

After setting up card tables and folding chairs in the bar’s back room for the drag performers to do their makeup, I unpacked my giant rolling suitcase. It was filled with my drag stuff and backup items in case something broke, tore, or was left at home.

“Knock knock.”

The voice sent butterflies soaring through my stomach.

Mikey grinned at me with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. My heart fluttered at his eager smile, as though it had been months since I’d seen him instead of hours.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as it did each year in the hours leading up to the show, but it was amplified this year since I got to share it with Mikey. I was thrilled he’d come back into my life and hopeful about where it might go. I wanted to show him I wasn’t the same shy high school kid terrified of having everyone’s attention on me.

“You don’t have to be here for another two hours.”

He shrugged and then set his bag down. “When you mentioned you were getting here early, I thought I’d help. It’s the least I can do since you’re saving my ass by doing my makeup. Even if I’d spent the past two days practicing, it would look like a three-year-old did it. I watched some YouTube videos the other night of drag queens painting their faces, and I’m in awe.”

Mikey acted like I was doing him a favor when the entire reason he was even in the situation was to bail me out. He was such a good man. A man I wanted to get to know better, to grow closer to, to kiss. I stood and closed the distance between us.

Mikey’s lips parted. He didn’t take his eyes off me.

I cupped his cheek, giving him a moment to stop me. He hooked his arm around my waist and pulled me to him as his lips crashed into mine.

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