“I hate that I tell you things.”
“Actually,” he said, drawing out each syllable.
Iris smirked. “Don’t you know that no white cis dude should ever speak that word?”
He laughed, taking out his phone and tapping on the screen. “Actually, after you told me what Fiona said, I did some digging. Becausehonestly, I could use a creative distraction myself.” He presented his phone, and she took it, scanning the screen.
“A play?” she asked.
“Aqueerplay,” he said. “A gender-bent version ofMuch Ado About Nothing. It’s at that queer community theater in Portland, the Empress.”
She scrolled through the page, eyes skimming over information about open call auditions happening this coming week, how the play would open at the end of August for a fall run. “I’ve heard of this place.”
“I went to one of their plays a while back,” Simon said. “I want to say it was another Shakespeare. MaybeTaming of the Shrew? Anyway, it was amazing. The lead was a trans guy playing opposite a gay man, the whole cast was queer, and I’m pretty sure I cried at the end.”
“You would,” she said.
“Look who’s talking,” he said, wiping a bit of mascara off her cheek.
She sighed and handed his phone back to him. “It looks fun. You should do it.”
He grinned. “I think you meanweshould do it.”
She pressed a hand to her chest. “I’m sorry, did you actually just include me in the elusive, all-powerfulwe?”
He rolled his eyes but kept smiling. “I did. What do you think?”
“I think you’re high.”
“I didn’t even drink. Champagne tastes like carbonated puke.”
“I thought I told you never to bring up puke again.”
He nudged her shoulder. “Come on.”
“Are you serious?” she asked. “You want me to do a community play with you?”
“I do.”
“Hell no.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t act.”
He scoffed.
Literallyscoffed.
She lifted her brows at him. “And what, pray tell, good sir, was that for?”
He circled a finger at her face. “You can’t even tell me off without being dramatic about it.”
She grabbed his finger and twisted it. Softly, but enough to make him yelp.
“You’re sort of making my point here,” he said.
She stopped twisting but kept a hold on his finger.
