Jere touched my back gently in a silent show of support. He seemed equally as uncomfortable as I was with the crowd but was doing a better job of hiding it.
Miss Scarlet Chiffon, one of Chicago’s top drag performers, got on stage and announced the start of the sexiest man in Chicago contest in which those brave enough to enter—and those who had paid the enrollment fee—strolled onto the stage in tiny thongs that made my mother blush. It was perhaps the first time I’d truly smiled through the night. There were tons of other games and contests to take part in, such as pin the dildo on the dike and a raffle to win gift cards and other fabulous prizes.
Jere handed me a little card with a list of numbers printed on it. He leaned in and said, “It’s to vote for the sexiest man in Chicago.”
“Your name isn’t on here,” I said close to his ear.
His cheeks rose in a coy smile. “If I’d known you wanted to see me in skimpy underwear, I would have entered the contest.”
“You can shake your assets for me at home,” I said to him and circled one of the numbers. “I don’t want all these hungry gays lusting after you.”
“Jealous?” he teased.
He took the paper from me and collected my mother’s vote then weaved through the crowd where he dropped the slips into a giant container with the rest of everyone’s vote. The party droned on, music filling the club, men and women dancing and drinking and laughing. I’d once been a part of this place, just another gay man enjoying life, but now it was as if I was looking in from a window, longing to be a part of the life I’d once known. Jere was back by my side in an instant, and he squeezed my thigh under the table.
I spotted Sean making his way toward me with a man who was vaguely familiar. I banged fists with Sean.
“Enjoying the party?” he shouted over the noise.
“Yeah.” I smiled up at him, wondering if I was fooling anyone.
“I wanted you to meet someone,” Sean said and pulled his friend forward. “This is Gabriel.”
The guy stepped up, holding his hand out, completely enthusiastic to meet me. He was dressed nicely in slacks and a button front as if he’d just gotten out of the office. I accepted his handshake, his smile widening. “Nice to meet you, Danny. Listen, I wanted to offer my services free of charge. I’m a chiropractor and I’d like to set up an appointment with you to help with any aches or pains you might be experiencing.”
I cast an annoyed look to Jere, then to my mother and finally to Sean, wondering which one had blabbed about my sore back. “Thanks, Gabriel, that's kind of you.”
“Don’t mention it,” he said with a wink. “I need to rack up some karma points so please, give me a call. Sean has my card, so he will pass it onto you. I can’t stay, but I wish you good fortune and I hope to hear from you soon. A strong body is supported only by a strong core.”
Sean clapped him on the back. “Thanks, Gabe. I’ll let you know if you win any of the raffles.”
More people came to greet me, some familiar, but most were people I’d never met in my life, and it made me uncomfortable to be the center of everyone’s attention. Stella arrived with some of my kids, their presence making this affair slightly more tolerable. They promptly joined the crowd in dancing, the music progressively turning harder, party-techno beats tearing up the dance floor. Sean invited my mom to dance, and I was shocked when she accepted. Jere snapped my jaw shut with a finger as my mom moved and grinded on the dance floor like she was a teenager again. I had no idea she could dance like that.
“It’s a party, Danny. You’re supposed to have fun.” He got up and offered me his hand. “Come dance with me, your highness.”
“What? Are you kidding?” I blinked at his hand as if it were an alien growth that had sprouted from his body.
He frowned, his lip pouting out. “You don’t want to dance with me?”
“Oh my God, don’t guilt me.” I did my best not to crumble to his pouty lips, the puppy-dog eyes, and his slumped shoulders, but I was a goner.
“Is it working?” he asked, dramatically deepening his frown.
I rolled my eyes, took his hand and he pulled me to my feet in a single yank into his arms, which was totally hot. He led me onto the dance floor, bodies making room for me, everyone passing me glances of welcoming approval. This was not a good idea. I was liable to be bumped by a gyrating body, lose my balance, and bust my nose all over the dance floor, effectively ruining my own damn party. My palm flexed, the absence of my cane throwing me off.
When we were in the middle of the crowd, Jere pulled me against him, his hand cradling my back. I dragged my attention up into his beautiful face, his expression tender as we slowly rocked to the hard beat. I got closer, wrapped my arms around his shoulders and said against his ear, “This isn’t exactly a tune for a slow dance.”
He shrugged with his whole body, sliding his hands up my arms. “Who cares?”
And he was completely right, because sharing this moment with him, the undulating bodies and hard beat melted away until it was just us. I was reminded no matter what happened, Jere would be here for me. I wasn’t alone in this fight for my life and having someone with a mean punch gave me hope that I’d get through this. I was going to have good days, and I was going to have bad days, but I’d have someone to help me through it all.
I no longer cared who might be watching and laid my head against his shoulder as the music ground on and the sea of strangers moved around me. Closing my eyes, we moved together in an out-of-place slow dance, his heat and strength, everything he was soaking into me and renewing my soul.
I was going to be okay.
The music died and Miss Scarlet Chiffon walked up to the microphone. “Okay, settle down you party animals. We have avery specialsurprise for you bear lovers out here tonight. If you haven’t done so yet quickly sashay your fine butts over to the bar and purchase a ribbon. Twenty bucks a pop and it's for a good cause so don’t give me any flack or I’ll have to take you over my knee!” She flipped her hair back, took a deep breath and continued, “It is mypleasureto introduce The Adonis’s namesake, the reason half of you come here—and don’t try to deny it! Some of you naughty boys might have been quite lucky to have been manhandled by this God already, so without further due, I give you, Seaaaaaannnn!”
The music exploded, Joan Jett’s “Loving You” rocking over the speakers. The curtains drew back to reveal Sean, dressed in ripped jeans and a flannel shirt cut off at the shoulders.
