Page 51 of Afternoon Delight
“You looked like one of those illustrations on an old map, where tall ships are being attacked by a giant squid.”
“Bye, Zak.”
The door jangled behind him.
If I wasn’t careful, I was going to be head over heels for that man.
Chapter 28
Meg
That night, we went to see the Pretty Please show for Mom’s birthday. Negasi had told me they didn’t allow young children because crying babies and free-range toddlers ruined dinner theatre, but the risqué humor was fine for the average teenager.
Roddie liked music, theatre, and free meals, so there were no complaints from him, not even when I asked him to dress up. He put on clean black jeans, a white button-down shirt, and one of my dad’s wide-ass paisley ties in green and pink. He wore one of Dad’s blazers from the eighties, too. It was mint green, and the oversized fit actually kind of worked after he rolled up the sleeves. Mom’s only comment was a mutter about double-Windsor knots right before she fixed his tie.
The dinner was a riot. The show was loosely based on Little Women, where all the campy dialogue served as setup for someone to burst into songs by Lady Gaga, Adele, Rihanna, and Taylor Swift. There were big, colorful wigs and sparkly outfits, lively choreography in platform shoes, and lots of bawdy jokes with winks to the audience.
It was such a delight we wouldn’t have cared if the food had been terrible, but it was delicious. When they brought out Mom’s dessert, there was a sparkler in it, and the performers gathered around her to sing a couple verses of Rod Stewart’s Forever Young.
“Thank you.” I caught at Negasi’s hand as they started to disperse.
“No problem. Is this your son?”
“Roddie, yes.” I introduced them.
“I thought it was going to be lip-sync, but you’re all really good,” Roddie said.
“We are, aren’t we?” Negasi flashed a smile.
“Can I ask you something? I took one of these from the bathroom.” Roddie showed Negasi a card he drew from his pocket. “Do you know if it’s legit?”
“It is. Cinnamon Buns runs it. I’ll introduce you after the show. I have to get back onstage for our final act. Enjoy your cake.” He patted Roddie’s shoulder and hurried away.
I leaned toward Roddie and he showed me the card for an LGBTQIA+ club for teens.
I gave it a nod, aiming for mild interest, trying not to go overboard with my support.
When he first came out, I had tried to sign him up for every group I could find. That had been my guilt over being absent from his life so often, but I was starting to realize that coming out was a journey and he was still on it. It had been huge for him to admit to me that he liked Tyson, and it ended so painfully I wouldn’t have blamed him for going back in the closet while he was here. Instead, he had told Zak and that card was another sign he didn’t need me to help him figure out what he needed.
I wanted to hug him, but decided to ambush him in the parking lot with one “for no reason.” Otherwise, he’d accuse me of being extra. I’d leave that label for Mom. She finished reading the card and took off her glasses and tapped the card with them.
“I know where that is. The thrift store’s a few blocks over. You can come into the store on your way. I can introduce you to everyone.”
So extra.
Chapter 29
Meg
I turned the page of the book I was reading and followed the randy maid and the regency duke up the stairs of his London home and into his bedchamber…
“Close the door and take off your gown.” His tone of command made her skin tighten.
She obeyed quickly. He stripped down to his breeches, his suspenders hanging loose. Then he pulled a long, flat box from under the bed and placed it on the bench at its foot. Opening it, he revealed several items—many shaped like erect cocks—but also padded rings with chains, which she guessed were for restraint.
“Does any of this intrigue you?”
All of it. “I’m not sure,” she said hesitantly.
