He ate half the cupcake then took the remainder into the kitchen and wrapped it in cellophane. I looked down at his phone so I could see the date. March first, five years ago. He never told me when his birthday was, but I’d also never asked. We were both swept up in desperation for a few months. I’d needed to secure him as a kuu mate before anyone else got a whiff of what he was, and he needed someone to feed him and help him through this tough phase of his new life.
The room exploded in fast beats and lights, drunk gay men singing off-key into the microphone while everyone else eitherdanced or talked over the music. Cody zoomed from table-to-table, taking orders while dropping off food and drinks. He did a bang-up job keeping up with everything, but every five minutes, he’d step into the back and shake off some anxiety.
“Cody?” A full-figured drag queen stepped into the back. He was wearin’ a comically huge blonde wig in the shape of a bouffant, a pair of white gloves, red kitten heels, and a tight red dress with sequins. I couldn’t tell how old he was under all that makeup, but he looked on the younger side. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
“Had too much caffeine.”
“I’ve told you to go easier on those energy drinks.”
“I’ve gotta get through the night without passing out,” Cody replied, looking over the guy’s outfit. “That looks good on you.”
“Of course it does. I make all my clothes custom to fit every lump, nook and cranny.”
“When you’re up on stage, how do you stay so relaxed and fun?”
“A little booze, and a lot of not giving a fuck what people think.” He brushed a lock of stray hair from Cody’s face with his manicured fingers. “I was young and shy like you, but one day I put on a dress and some makeup and pretended to be someone else for one night. I did it for a while, and I could be anyone I wanted. But then one day I realized I wasn’t being someone else, I was just being me without all the guard rails. All those friends I made as the classy Lanja Ray were the same friends who liked me whenever I was Robert.”
“So, all I have to do is get drunk and put on a dress.”
“Well, since you’re not twenty-one yet, you’ll just have to settle for the dress.”
“I’ll settle for these embarrassing daisy dukes for now.” Cody gave Rob a sideways glance. “None of the other people working here have to wear thisuniform.Why do I?”
“You’re the only one that actually wore it.” Rob let out a laugh. “I just give these out to my hottest employees. You’re the only one that’s actually come to work dressed like this.”
“Oh my God.”
“Hey, you keep ‘em coming back. Speaking of…” He cracked open the door while pointing to a handsome man in a leisure suit. “That guy was asking about you.”
“Thatguy? You’re joking.”
“Not your type?”
“Not in his league,” Cody said, grabbing the door to close it.
“You’re single, you’re young, you’re hot, and you’re hung. You’re in everyone’s league. Go talk to him.”
“How do you know—”
“Honey, everyone knows.” I grinned as Rob pointed to the bulge in Cody’s shorts. “Why do you think you get so many good tips?”
“I can’t do this while I’m working.”
“Then get his number.” Rob reached for a pen and his order pad before shoving them into Cody’s chest. “Do it, or else.”
“Or else what?”
“I have a show in thirty minutes.” He leaned in. “And Lanja Ray needs a new assistant.”
“This is harassment!”
“Take it up with HR,” he said, tossing a tiny red handbag over his shoulder. “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto. Stop acting like you’re still in the closet.”
“All right, I’ll get his number.”
“I’ll be watching.” Rob tripped over his feet as he stumbled through the door. “These damn heels.”
“Yeah. The heels,” Cody muttered. “The jello shots had nothing to do with it.”
