Flare (11 page)

“Hi,” Kevin said, quickly crossing the room to pick up her keys and take the load from her hands. “Good to see you.”

“You too,” she said. Hugo waved from the kitchen table. “Let’s get you ready, shall we?”

“Sure. I was thinking about wearing the purple dress with the plunge back,” Hugo said. He noticed Kevin’s eyes had widened, and he was looking between Summer and Hugo as they started talking back and forth, discussing what Hugo was going to wear and what he planned on doing with his makeup.

“Purple or rainbow feather lashes?”

“I figured rainbow.”

“I like the plumes on the purple better and we can get the rest of the rainbow in on your lids. Fingers too.”

It probably sounded like a foreign language to Kevin. When Summer disappeared into his closet, Hugo turned toward him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“You don’t need to be here for this if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“It doesn’t make me uncomfortable, I just… I don’t know what to do. Pack, I suppose.” Kevin disappeared into Hugo’s bedroom to find another empty box to fill.

As the minutes ticked by, Hugo couldn’t help but notice how Kevin would stop and watch every so often before pulling his head back into packing up the remainder of Hugo’s belongings. Hugo didn’t know what to make of it, but didn’t have enough time to deal with it right then.

Kevin’s phone rang and he answered. “Hi. Oh. Sure. I’ll be right down.” He hung up. “Gotta go meet Rowan and the kids.”

“Okay,” Hugo said with a smile as he reached for his lip liner.

“Do you need me to carry lipstick or anything else for you?” Kevin asked.

“No, I’ve got it all taken care of.”

“Can I kiss you before I go?”

“Sure.”

Kevin leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Hugo’s dry lips. “See you soon.”

“Text me.”

As soon as Kevin was out the door, Summer said, “He was acting weird.”

“That’s what I thought. He’s never seen my drag closet before. Kinda freaked him out, I think.”

“Oh well, let’s get your makeup finished so I can do something amazing to your wig,” she said.

Hugo’s hope of having his dark hair long enough to tumble over his shoulders this Pride to avoid a wig was one of the easiest dreams to give up when Erin had started to lose her hair. Being bald had been strange. So were the bristles that had started off prickly, softening to velvet as they got longer. Hugo had loved that stage on Kevin, rubbing his palms over golden-blond strands that tickled his palms. Now Hugo’s hair was short enough that wearing a wig was easy compared to the prep he’d had to do when his hair was longer, and he liked his hair now, short in the back and long enough on top that he could mess with a few styles.

It had all been worth it.

S
UMMER
DROVE
Cherrie to where she was to line up for the start of the parade and made a promise to look for her after she was done. She easily found Ginger and Fanta Sea along with several other queens she knew from Thor’s Hammer. They all got talking, catching up on each other’s lives and finding out who had dumped whom and who decided to get married. The longer they were together, the more relaxed and familiar they all got, even reading each other. That always took Cherrie more time to find, that ability to point out flaws in other people with a humorous bent. But she was a drag queen and Cherrie could certainly read, even if the shade she threw wasn’t nearly as dark as some of the girls’. They had teased her about that for years, and she didn’t mind.

It was oddly reminiscent, in a good way, but it made her a little sad for not working as Cherrie nearly as often as she had in the past. Hugo’s life had gotten so busy over the last year that The Soda Pop Girls just had to be put on his back burner. But that was okay too. Cherrie could always do more, even if she was one of the oldest queens there. She only had a few more years in her. She’d need to talk to Ginger about working again.

Being in the parade was always fun. Cherrie could come to life and be totally over-the-top, pulling all of Hugo’s femme energy to the surface, so when the parade was over, she was on a high. Cherrie started roaming closer and closer to Loring Park where the main Pride Festival was held. Ginger walked along handing out flyers for the girls’ next show. The shoes hurt, but Cherrie refused to take them off, choosing to text Summer instead to see if they could meet up. That would also give Kevin and the kids some more time together. Summer was only a block away, and as Cherrie made her way closer, she was excited to see Russell too. Cherrie gave them both a hug and an air kiss so makeup wouldn’t be transferred and then started to talk to them as they walked around the vendors at the festival.

“I noticed you still have most of your drag closet to pack, but not much else,” Summer said. “Do you need help?”

“Just with the kitchen. Otherwise Kevin and I can manage. Would you mind taking the table and chairs in the truck?”

“No. That would be fine,” Russell said. “I’ll bring the truck over as soon as I can escape.”

“Great.”

“How long are you staying here?” Summer asked.

“Not long. Where did you park?”

Summer looked at Russell and waited. He pressed his lips together as he thought. “I’d say at least a ten or a fifteen minute walk.”

“Can you carry me?” Cherrie asked Russell, who then laughed. She knew there was no way in hell she’d be able to walk that far in her heels after being on her feet for as long as she already had. “Oh well, figured I’d ask. Anyway, the bus ride home is all of six minutes. And I can probably sit the whole time.”

“Hey, love,” Kevin’s deep voice sounded in Cherrie’s ear. She turned to see not only Kevin, but also Rowan and the kids standing a few feet away. They all wore the same printed T-shirt but in a different color.

Only Kevin seemed to recognize Cherrie as Hugo. She kept her voice high, making sure to use falsetto. “I thought you were going to the family picnic?”

“No. We marched with the Family Equality Council.”

“You did?” She looked at the kids as she smiled. They looked at her funny, obviously not realizing she was Hugo. Cherrie gave Finn a little wave and then winked at Brooke, but didn’t try to engage them any further. Rowan seemed to sense Hugo’s concern and moved them a little farther away so the kids couldn’t hear every word of their conversation. This wasn’t something they needed to know about yet. Maybe never, if Hugo really decided to retire the wigs and the fake boobs in a few years.

“It was fun. The kids had a blast,” Kevin said. “So much energy, and they met quite a few kids who have two dads too.”

“Wow. Now I’m the one who’s speechless. It was you this morning, but now it’s me.”

“We’re both just full of surprises today,” Kevin said with a chuckle.

“I’d love to stick around and play, but I really do have to turn my key in to the landlord before eleven tonight. I should get out of all of this too.”

“Come on,” Cherrie heard Russell say as he lifted Finn onto his shoulders and followed Summer and Brooke over to a vendor selling snow cones.

“Go have a snow cone with your kids,” Cherrie said.

“How are you getting home? I can drive you. The car is parked somewhere down here.”

“No. I’m just gonna take the bus. It’ll be quickest.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, Kev. You saw the traffic. Besides, I need to clean up and that takes time. Stay and have some fun with the kids before Rowan takes over. Then come help me.”

“Okay.” Kevin dug into a canvas bag near his feet. “Here,” he said, pulling out a pair of Hugo’s most comfortable shoes. “Do you want to wear these home?”

Cherrie couldn’t help the deep rumble of a laugh that left her painted lips. “Yes. Thank you. Ever the prepared father, aren’t you?”

Kevin chuckled. “Only because you taught me so well. I have a snack in here too, if you want it.” Cherrie shook her head and giggled. “I’ll see you at your place in… an hour or so?”

“Sure.”

Kevin carefully leaned in and stole a kiss. Cherrie wiped away the berry-colored lipstick that had easily transferred to his mouth. She couldn’t help a smile from spreading across her lips.

Never in Hugo’s entire life did he think he’d have a boyfriend who would be totally okay with Cherrie, let alone a boyfriend who would readily kiss him when Hugo was in full makeup. In public. Add on top of that, this was Kevin Magnus. The world suddenly seemed very surreal.

Cherrie made her way to the bus, but didn’t change into the comfy shoes until she was seated and the bus was driving away.

It wasn’t until Hugo had wiped away nearly all of his makeup and the shower was filling the bathroom with steam that he realized he was still smiling.

H
UGO
HAD
helped haul the kitchen table, chairs, and some boxes to Russell’s truck and had at least half his drag closet packed by the time Kevin arrived at the apartment to help him finish up. They packed the cargo space in Kevin’s Lexus with as many boxes as they could, dropped them off in Edina, went back to load some more, and then cleaned so Hugo could hopefully get most of his deposit back. They were about ready to turn in the key when Kevin whispered against Hugo’s neck, “We should fuck in every room first.” That made Hugo laugh until Kevin slipped his hand down the front of Hugo’s loose shorts.

Kevin stroked Hugo through his underwear first but then found his way inside the cotton briefs. “I’m gonna miss this place,” Kevin breathed into Hugo’s ear before licking a wet path down his neck. They made quick work of pushing clothes off each other before Kevin stopped and took the time to kiss each and every fingertip; Hugo’s nails were still painted the colors of the rainbow. When the last finger was kissed, Kevin winked at Hugo and then slipped into the bathroom where he’d apparently stashed some lube. He urged Hugo to lie down on the bare living room floor and pressed his slicked-up cock into Hugo’s ass, starting slow but then quickly building before he suddenly pulled out, leaving Hugo wanting more.

They did fuck in every room, edging each other to the point that they were both a frenzied mess. The barren apartment with its wooden floors bounced sound everywhere as they moved from room to room feeling like debauched teens rather than grown, responsible men. As Hugo finally allowed himself to come closer to his release, having staved off his orgasm for ages, he was leaning against the wrought-iron railing of his balcony with Kevin behind him fucking into him so violently that his voice carried down to the alley below, drawing attention to their actions. Luckily, the attached bamboo privacy screen covered most of their bodies, but there were people down below who were in the mood to party. They knew exactly what was going on up above, even if they couldn’t see it, and they started cheering Kevin and Hugo on. Hugo came with a chuckle cut off by a cry of pleasure as he collapsed on the metal railing and smiled when he finally felt Kevin’s stuttering movements as he found his release.

“What the heck’s going on?” Kevin asked as he stepped closer, leaning over Hugo’s shoulder to look beyond the balcony edge. There were several people still cheering from down in the alleyway, waving up to them. To say Kevin was shocked was an understatement. It was written all over his face. “What the…?” He waved down at the people in an automatic way and looked at Hugo with disbelieving eyes. “What kind of a place is this?” he asked, and then he laughed.

“It’s a fun place, is what it is. This is one of the reasons I held on to this apartment so tight. Granted, I’ve never fucked on my balcony before, but I guess even that’s accepted here. At least this time it was,” Hugo said with a smile, giving Kevin a quick kiss before heading back inside to clean up and get dressed.

As Hugo looked around the apartment for the last time, Kevin carried the cleaning supplies downstairs to give him a few minutes alone. Hugo remembered all the good times he’d had there and a few of the bad ones. Mostly he remembered the good times he had with Summer and how the apartment had felt like a vacation getaway with Kevin during Erin’s illness.

A tear fell on Hugo’s hand when he blinked.

It was time to start fresh. He wanted to be with Kevin. He wanted to build a more permanent life with him.

Hugo took one last look out from the balcony, seeing only the windowless building next door but knowing if he walked out there and peeked around the corner, he’d see Lake Calhoun. He wasn’t that far away from the lake. He was only moving to Edina. The move wasn’t that big of a deal. He could always come back and play around Calhoun.

So why was he still crying when he locked the door for the last time?

CHAPTER EIGHT

Making Friends. Making Amends.

K
EVIN
WANTED
to help Hugo put down deeper roots in Edina now that he had finally moved in. It was also time for Kevin to start reconnecting with friends in his community so he could help create a comfortable nest for Hugo and himself. They needed more than just the passing acquaintances they greeted when dropping kids off or the familiar faces they saw while getting coffee. There were some really supportive people already in their lives, like Josie, Serena’s mom, and Val, Charlie’s mom, who had helped time and time again when Erin was sick and after, but for some reason, they’d never really clicked as friends with Kevin or Hugo.

Kevin scoffed and shook his head, trying to bring his attention back to the highway. He’d just dropped Hugo off at the airport again. The drive was happening so often, Kevin wondered if he could do it in his sleep. Probably could.

He was positive this sense of foreboding loneliness that tended to happen on this drive had brought on a lot of these nesting sentiments, because life was different when Hugo wasn’t around. It was less joyful.

Hugo made the kids laugh and somehow made those “I’m bored” moments actually enjoyable rather than dreaded. He always had some new and exciting thing to grab the kids’ attention. His irreverent sense of humor that popped out, especially when Summer was in the same room, was contagious. Kevin had always been fairly reserved, but when Hugo and Summer got around each other and got sassy, Kevin was able to loosen his grip on the reins his father’s training had cinched so tightly. Yet the effect of Peder’s emotional abuse was still there.