I’m floating on a cloud when I return to bed. I couldn’t have asked for anything more from this date, and in the comfort of Hank’s home and his embrace, I sleep a deep, dreamless sleep.
My alarm wakes me the next morning at seven, and I turn to see Hank already out of bed. I pull on my underwear and wander into the condo, finding him in the middle of the kitchen in hispajama pants, eating a small bowl of yogurt as he looks at the house plants.
“I woke up and noticed you weren’t there.” He turns, smiles, and takes me in a morning kiss, casually intimate in a way that feels natural. “Nice that I can walk down the hall to find you instead of wandering a cold island and yelling your name into the wind.”
Hank chuckles. “It’s the little pleasures in life. You’re up earlier than I expected.”
“I’m planning to get an early start today. I’m headed straight home.”
“Right. Would you like some coffee, tea? Breakfast?”
I step forward and kiss him again, grateful for everything to feel normal for five minutes. Easy.
“Maybe just a little toast?”
“Coming right up,” he says happily.
I lean back against the wall. “I want you to see my place, too. We’re going to be busy getting ready for the rally up until Monday, but the day after, we’re celebrating with a tea party game night. You should come!”
“What’s a tea party game night?”
“Everyone brings a tea, and then we play games while we try each other’s teas out of small purple tea cups that Taylor found in a free box two years ago. At the end, whoever brought the best tea is declared winner of all the games we played.”
Hank nods as he pops some bread in the toaster. “That does sound fun. My family has always played games.”
“Invite Angie, too,” I suggest. “It will just be me and the roomies otherwise, low-key.”
“Sure. I will.” Hank crosses his arms over his chest. “What are you expecting from this rally? Is it going to get out of hand?”
“Drag queens, out of hand? Never. Seriously, though. I’m just excited to be there to support my friend and a good cause. I’ll hang back and wear a proper disguise.”
The toast pops. “Let me know how it goes,” he says. “I’ll be thinking of you.”
“And I’ll be thinking of you at your first day back to work. Hope my dad behaves.”
“There will be plenty of audits to keep me occupied, luckily.”
Five minutes later, Hank calls me a car, and I’m out the door with a to-go cup of coffee. Back home, I hear Taylor’s favorite Frank Ocean album playing as I step onto the porch, and when I walk in, both she and Marko are busy at work. Glittery fabrics and craft supplies spill off the coffee table, and Marko is in his boxers and heels, practicing his footwork.
Taylor looks up from her laptop. “Wow. I think I’ve only seen you up this early when you’re actually up this late.”
I kick off my shoes. “I’ve got a full day.”
“And sex hair,” Marko says as he twirls.
I rub my hand through my hair. “Sex in the shower hair, even. It’s from last night.”
“Review?” Taylor asks.
“A perfect first date. And exactly what I needed. Now I’ll crank out a couple new editions of ogres blowing bubbles, and then I’ll be free to hit the thrift stores and assemble needed accessories for the rally before a long stretch of drawing tonight. Everything on track.”
“I’ve got an update,” Marko tells me. “The Britney Spears drag queens got together. They’re trying to bring out a thousand Britneys for a green future.”
“I’m editing the transition music to reflect that,” Taylor says as she clicks something. “The lineup is packed.” She looks up to me and blinks. “Hold on. You need to rest after you finish your work this morning.”
“Yeah,” Marko agrees. “I’ve got two friends from the late shift at the Rowdy Unicorn who would be more than happy to spend the afternoon treasure-hunting gaudy accessories.”
I sit on the couch and immediately pick up my drawing tablet. “It’s totally fine,” I insist through a yawn. “I can come up with new horny ogres all day and not break a sweat.”
