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Cherry Topping was a voluptuous queen who stuck to slower ballads. But after her performance, the featured queen stepped into center stage.
Sassy Solo aka Kevin Rhodes, a Granville native, who’d blown up in the drag scene. He traveled the country with his trucker boyfriend, doing shows regularly in Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Seattle, among other places.
Sassy wore a black tutu over dark purple tights that shimmered under the lights, and an off-the-shoulder leotard-style top. Her hair—a wig, I assumed—was pulled into adorable pigtails, giving her a playful air, and her makeup matched that vibe, with bright blush done in circles on her cheeks, thick mascara, and lipstick which made me think of a doll.
When the song came on, it all made sense. I didn’t know it, but lyrics about how dolls can kill fit with the overall vibe of Sassy’s look. It was upbeat and cheerful, despite its somewhat sinister lyrics, and Sassy drew the crowd into it with her doll-like dance moves.
She glared out at the crowd, warning us that dolls weren’t really made of sugar and spice.
“I love this song,” Dakota said with a laugh.
“Feminist manifesto for the win,” Allison agreed.
“Sometimes, I’m really glad I’m gay,” Emory joked.
“Nobody’s killing that adorable face,” Allison teased. “Besides, Gray would avenge you.”
He snickered. “I probably shouldn’t find that so sexy, huh?”
“Please, we all like it, even if we pretend to be too civilized for it,” Shiloh said. “Am I right?”
Bailey laughed. “Well, the first time I kissed Flynn, he’d just rescued me from a fistfight and thrown the guy who punched me onto his ass, so…possibly you’re onto something there.”
“Oh, please,” Allison said. “Everyone knows you were hot for Flynn way before then.”
Dakota leaned over into my space. “They’re all pretty close, huh? But you don’t seem as close to them?”
Busted. I smiled sheepishly. “Aiden and I are tight. I know you wanted a bigger group, though, so he invited the others.”
She pinched my cheek. “So you were just doing Dakota Amends 101.”
“No!” I said quickly. “I don’t have a lot of friends either, Dakota. This was for me as much as it was for you.”
“Your friends vanished on you too, huh?”
“Going to prison will do that,” I said dryly. “Besides, they’re not the right fit for me anymore.”
She considered me. “I can see that.”
“You’re not really mad that you got to meet Allison and get all your girlie bonding in, are you?”
She grinned. “No. Allison is amazing. I always knew she was a good person. Her foundation does great work, and we’ve exchanged a couple of emails regarding grants and whatnot. But I didn’t know she’d be so warm and lovely. So, thank you. Even if this was amends for you, you did good.”
I soaked in her praise, unable to hide the smile that spread.
“We’re going to be very good friends, Joey,” she said.
I shook my head, lowering my voice so only she could hear me. “You’re going too easy on me. How can you just forgive?”
She shrugged. “Because I don’t want to hate you. You’re too cute, for one thing. No wonder my brother is gone for you.”
I rolled my eyes, heat crawling up my neck. “He’s not gone for me.”
“Who’s gone for Joey?” Allison asked, leaning in.
“Nobody,” I said quickly, sending Dakota a warning look. I wasn’t sure Kit would be okay with other people finding out.
Dakota smiled and pantomimed zipping her lips.
