Flare by Posy Roberts

“There’s just… so much stuff.”
    “I know. That’s why I told you last year that I needed a lot of storage space if I was going to move in with you.”
    “And here I was stupidly thinking you needed a spot to put some boxes,” Kevin said with a chuckle. “I always suspected this was what was in this room, but wow! It’s just so much more than I expected.”
    Hugo gave Kevin a kiss as he walked past him on his way to the kitchen table, the place in his apartment that had the best lighting for his elaborate makeup routine. He set down his load, taking care not to tip over any bottles. “Not having second thoughts, are you?” he asked as he stepped back into the room to gather more supplies. “I promise not to turn you into a drag husband, making you haul all my stuff everywhere.”
    “No. No second thoughts.”
    “Good,” Hugo said as he sat down at the table and then reached for his foundation so he could start camouflaging his beard area. Kevin sat across the table from him for a few minutes and watched as Hugo started to transform himself, but as the process continued, Kevin stood and started to pack the rest of Hugo’s things into boxes.
    “I said I’d be helpful, not just sit there and stare at you.”
    “Thanks. If you’d like, you could start hanging some of my gowns in the wardrobe boxes. They’re in my bedroom,” Hugo directed.
    “Okay. I’m not going to mess them up, am I?”
    “No, but if you’re worried, I’ll do it when I get back from the parade. That’s not a problem.”
    The door to the apartment opened and Summer backed in with her hands full, dropping her keys in the process. “Sorry I’m late. I stopped for doughnuts and coffee for my diva.” She turned and stopped in her tracks. “Oh hi, Kevin. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
    “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