Page 113 of Hunt Me

Oh. It feels interesting to use boyfriend in public like this. But it also feels right. And it makes me miss Archie so much I ache.

Rene’s face brightens. ‘Come inside! It’s about to start, and I think there’s a couple VIP tables left.’

He tugs on my hand, and I glance back at Nico with a grin. He rolls his eyes at me, but he does look excited as we head inside. I can feel the rumble of the crowd just before we walk around the makeshift curtain and I see the crowd.

There are two tables up front, and Rene snags the one for three and forcibly shoves me into the seat before kissing my cheek. ‘When are you back with us?’ he asks.

I bite my lip. ‘I don’t know. Soon.’

He gives me a look, then softens. ‘Good. We’re going on in twenty. Get a peach bellini. You’ll thank me later.’

I’m most definitely not going to get a peach anything. Fake peach tastes like cat piss to me for some reason, and he knows this. I sigh, turning to Nico, but I realize he’s not at the table. He’s several feet away, talking to three men who look like they’ve never been to drag brunch before. He’s smiling andlaughing as he signs, but there’s a line of tension in his body that wasn’t there before.

‘Thank you, thank you,’ he’s signing with both hands at his chin. ‘That’s very nice of you.’

‘I’m a huge fan?—’

‘I recorded all of your videos last year?—’

‘I subscribe and sent a few messages, but you never responded?—’

Oh, shit. I see a flush creeping up his neck, so I jump up and hurry over, wrapping one arm around his waist as I tug him close. I don’t recognize any of these men, so it’s very possible they’re in town for the show.

I offer a tight smile. ‘He’s happy to meet a fan, but we’re here to enjoy ourselves,’ I sign sharply.

The tallest one gives me a look, but when I don’t glance away, they take several steps back. Offering a short nod, I grab Nico and carefully pull him back to our table.

‘We can leave if that was too much.’

He shakes his head. ‘No, it’s fine. It happens. I do a lot of voice-off videos, so I kind of have a niche audience.’ He keeps his signs quiet, hidden in front of his chest so they’re not visible to the entire room.

‘Well, if it gets bad, we can go.’

‘I want to enjoy the show. I think—’ He doesn’t get to finish his sentence.

Someone pulls the third chair away from the table, and I’m about to snap my hands at someone I don’t know when I immediately recognize the dark curls and glasses.

Fayid offers me a small smile as he sits. ‘Do you mind?’

I’m about to say no when I realize that Nico might actually mind. I glance at him, and his gaze is caught on Fayid’s face. His hands are still lifted but hanging by a limp wrist in front of his chest.

‘I can go if you want,’ Fayid adds, directed at Nico.

He swallows heavily, then shakes his head and gestures for him to sit. Fayid does, settling into his seat, and he gives Nico a steady look. This was not how I saw today going.

‘I didn’t expect you to be here,’ Nico says after a beat. ‘Not really a straight-man scene.’

‘Drag is for everyone,’ Fayid insists. He licks his lips slowly, not looking away, almost like it’s a challenge. ‘And when I saw you, I wanted to say sorry.’

My chest unknots, the tension leaving.

‘I just didn’t expect someone like you to be here,’ Fayid adds.

Nope. Never mind. It’s back again.

Nico’s eyes go wide, and he smacks his hand on the table. ‘Someone like me? What is that supposed to mean?’

‘I’m saying this wrong,’ Fayid insists, his hands a little stiff with nerves. ‘I’m not trying to insult you. You’re just…’