Patrick smirked.
The gentleman to my side turned toward me, his glass lifted in the air. “Darling.” Wait. He knew— Oh. My. God. “This is what fairy godmothers are for.”
“Mabel?” I had never seen him out of drag. Without the sequins, accentuated cheekbones, and lashes long enough to create a windstorm, I hadn’t recognized him.
“Always.”
He…they… could have been the cover model forRugged Weekly. My mind applied the makeup, the wig, the dangerously long fingernails. How could I have not seen it? Gender didn’t matter to Mabel. Either way, they were a stunning human.
“Are you done having a meltdown?”
“I just— I’ve never?—”
“Being fabulous is a curse,” they said. They sipped their whisky, eyes closed as they savored the amber liquid. “What is this I hear about a carnival?”
I filled them in on the details. They nodded along, taking sips as I explained the dilemma. Of course, Patrick added in the details about the fine piece of beef we had allseen at the bar. That’s when Mabel leaned in, taking interest in all the juicy—and naked—details.
“That’s all? Child, please.”
Mabel set the empty glass on the counter, giving it a little shake. Patrick rolled his eyes before adding two fingers of whisky. “Uh huh, dear. Keep pouring. This dilemma is going to require a little extra bite.” They snapped their teeth in my direction. I loved Mabel’s tenacity.
“If this were a fairy tale, you’d be a damsel in distress. Your fairy godmother would swoop and sing a little ditty.” They held up a finger, taking another swig of alcohol. “The woodland creatures would come together and solve all the poor princesses’s problems.”
“Life isn’t a fairy?—”
Mabel pushed a finger pushed against my lips. “Neither of you fine gentlemen could handle Mabel breaking out her magic wand.” Was that a euphemism? “Deary, you best be thankful I’m feeling downright energized right now.”
“Also known as intoxication,” Patrick said.
“Hush, nay-sayer. Your negative vibes aren’t welcome in the queen’s court.”
Mabel set down the drink and reached into their pocket. When the cell phone came out, a single click was made, and they held it to their ear. I’m pretty sure I witnessed a hairless hair flip. You might take Mabel out of the drag, but never the drag out of Mabel.
“We have an emergency.” They eyed me. “A tragic emergency.”
Patrick snickered. Without another word, Mabel set the phone on the table. They returned to sipping their drink, ignoring both me and Patrick. After a minute, I wasn’t sure what was supposed to happen.
“Am I missing something?”
“Shh. You can’t expect miracles without giving them time to tuck.”
Tuck?
The tapping started in the back of the bar by the stage. For a moment, I thought the DJ equipment had turned on. It turned into clicking, loud enough to fill Spectrum, but it was the vibration that stood out. Within seconds, I watched the liquid in my drink rippling as if a dinosaur were about to jump out.
“Situations like this require more than one fairy godmother.”
From the door leading to the back of the bar, I spotted a man striking a pose. As he approached, I spotted the stiletto heels. He…theywere part of Mabel’s entourage. One turned into two, and then a half-dozen drag queens without makeup or wigs sat at the bar.
“Glitterati Guild, up for a little charity work?”
“Only if this one’s name is charity.” The person on my other side hooked a finger under my chin. I blushed at the compliment. Mabel was sweet, but six drag queens wouldn’t be enough to fill all the volunteer slots. Though, the thought of Mabel and their sisters manning the volunteer table left me smiling. Firefly barely knew what to dowith Mabel… six queens in carnival outfits? Their heads would explode.
“I appreciate it, Mabel. I do. But you’re just?—”
“Just what?” Mabel’s tone didn’t leave room for objects. “Ladies, our adorable man-cub needs a little fairy godmother magic for his carnival. Think we can raise an army?” Mabel took a sip of their drink, giving a quick eyebrow waggle.
“Activate the Glitterati.”
