Cairo nods, smiling as he walks backwards to face us. “Like Tate I like that aspect too, but I also love the artistry of it. A lot of time and effort goes into creating those looks. For some of them, it’s a completely different persona they embody.”
Gen’s face lights up. “I did it once. I had a friend who performed in a show. One day, he dressed me up and did my makeup, and I was Isis for the night. It felt like being a superhero.” He smiles with nostalgia in his eyes. “I don’t know how to describe it, but it was like this feeling of strength and like I could do anything and no one could hurt me.”
Cairo studies his friend. “Would you do it again?”
Gen nods. “For fun I would. It’s not who I am to perform, but I would do it every now and then just to feel that way again.”
Cairo grabs Gen’s hand, and they walk in front of us.
I turn to Briar. “Do you have thoughts on it?”
He nods. “I like drag for all the reasons the guys already said, but also, I think it’s bigger than drag. It’s so embedded in gay culture. People accepting drag queens, like on RuPaul’s Drag Race as part of the norm, makes it better for everyone, you know?”
“Every time a gay person is represented positively in media that happens,” Tate says. “We’re not the sidekick or the punchline of a joke. We’re people. We have feelings and a vibrant culture created in spite of people trying to keep us down.”
Briar nods unusually animated. “Right. Shows like Queer Eye and Schitt’s Creek change the narrative. The characters endear themselves to us. We want to be their friends. Then the person who loves that show meets a gay person and they become a friend, an ally. Then they vote in ways that help us. What can seem like simple entertainment to some people, can be the ripple that starts the wave.”
Smiling, I grip Briar’s hand as he leans into me. “Thank you for explaining that to me. I personally like it when I see LGBTQ people represented on TV or in movies or whatever because to me that’s my real life. I’ve always grown up in diverse communities. It never felt right to me when I’d see people who live in places like New York or LA or other huge cities but never interact with people who are different from them, except as you pointed out, sometimes in a negative way.”
“We’ve come a long way,” Tate says. “But we still have a long way to go.”
“You’ve got an ally in me.”
Tate smiles. “That’s obvious, boo.”
We get to the restaurant and quickly order. While we’re eating, Gen nudges my arm with his elbow.
“How’s the practice going?”
“Um. It’s okay I guess.”
“What are your pet names?”
“Huh?”
“You know, snooky, kitten, lover. Pet names.”
“Kitten?”
Gen grins. “I may or may not have been called kitten in a past life.”
I snicker, shoving some fries into my mouth. “I haven’t come up with one yet.”
“Me neither, before you ask,” Briar says, sipping his soda.
“Come on, guys, that’s like boyfriend 101. That’s your goal for this weekend.”
“Aye, aye, captain,” Briar says laughing. He’s so drunk it’s hilarious.
“Report on Monday.”
Briar mimics him by making a face which makes me crack up.
“Okay, babe, we need pet names.”
“Babe?” Briar pretends to gag. “No. Just no.”
“Agreed,” Tate says. “Too basic. My last boyfriend called me Sass.”
“We already know why,” Briar heckles. This is a completely new side of him.
“Mine called me Twinky,” Gen says, adding a wink. He winks a lot, and I get the feeling it’s his trademark.
I turn to Cairo. “You?”
“Last boyfriend called me BB so he could say it in polite company.”
“What does that stand for?”
“Bossy bottom.” He grins, eating a French fry. “Maybe you could call Briar that too.”
“Shut up,” Briar mumbles with his mouth full of burger.
“You okay, babe?”
Briar shoots me a dirty look. “Stahp.”
“Babe it is.”
“Gag,” Briar says with pure amusement in his tone.
I poke Briar’s arm. “I think someone’s cranky and ready for bed.”
“Ooh, digging those low-key daddy vibes, TT,” Gen teases.
“TT?” I raise an eyebrow. “Should I even ask?”
“He’ll tell you anyway,” Cairo says, waving his hand in that direction.
“Tempting Top, of course,” Gen answers, laughing.
With that, Briar snorts. “TT. Good one, Gen.”
Gen curtsies. “Thanks, boo.”
I smile. “Oh, I can just call you boo.”
All the guys look at me at the same time.
“No,” they say in unison.
Briar
Standing in the kitchen waiting for the coffee pot to finish, I stare at a chip in the laminate counter. I’m not even sure how I got home last night, let alone undressed and into my bed. The last thing I clearly remember was eating at the burger place, but the rest is a blur.
I feel hands on my shoulders and twist to see Jude. My eyes dart over his nearly naked body to his boxers. Dammit. My inhibitions are still down.
“Morning,” he says, his eyes following mine.
I feel my cheeks turning pink, and some muffled voice in my head yells at me to stop staring at his junk, but fuck if I can drag my eyes away.
“You feeling okay?”
I snap out of my lust-soaked haze and meet Jude’s questioning eyes. “Yeah. It’s just kind of blurry.”
“You were wasted. No worries though. Nothing embarrassing happened.”
“I’ll have to believe you. I don’t even remember getting into bed.”
“I helped you. I took off your clothes, got you into bed, and made sure you weren’t gonna throw up.”
My brow furrows. “Weren’t you drunk?”
“Not as much.”
“Thank god.”
Jude smiles, running his fingers through his hair, his ab muscles flexing with the movement. “You were funny. It was a whole new side to you.”
I chuckle. “I guess I’m still capable of letting loose sometimes.”
“I liked it. Are we brunching today?”
“I’d rather lie around and order in. You?”
“Yeah.” He hooks an arm around my waist and pulls me into him, surprising me.
“What are you doing, Jude?”
“Practicing. The guys said we needed to touch more.” He releases me, gazing into my eyes. “So I was touching you. Is that okay?”
Fuck. Yes. “Yeah, it’s cool. I was just surprised.”
“I wasn’t sure if I should ask first. I wouldn’t if I were dating you. I would just…touch you when I wanted to.”
“You officially have permission to touch without asking.”
Jude laughs. “Same.”
“You sure? I might grab your ass.”