“C’mon, Lee, wouldn’t you rather they thought you were already taken? It might spare you from getting hit on so much.”

Lee feigned a look of horror. “Perish the thought! Can you imagine what not getting hit on at a gay club would do to my self-esteem? If I can’t have flocks of women swooning over me, then I have to get my validation elsewhere.”

Zack shook his head. “Straight people are weird.”

“Yeah, we are, but sometimes we can be useful.” Lee reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a flask.

“Oh, praise Jesus,” Zack said. “I’ve been dying for a drink.”

“Long day?”

“Eh, it’s over now, so who cares.”

Lee handed over the flask, and Zack took a discreet drink. Sweet, smoky whiskey burned his throat as he swallowed.

“Thanks, man,” he said, handing the flask back.

Lee drank a mouthful as well before screwing the lid on and stashing it in his glove box.

“So,” Lee said, “who’s coming out tonight? Besides Alexa, of course.”

“Kira will be here, and maybe like one other person. By the way, I might enlist your help later. I want to Parent Trap our two leading ladies.”

Lee groaned. “In other words, I officially have no chance with Alexa.”

“Sorry, buddy. Them’s the breaks. If you want, you can live vicariously through my conquests.”

Lee glanced at Zack’s outfit and grinned. “Ooh, you’re wearing your ‘getting some’ clothes. Trying to get lucky tonight?”

“Try not. Do or do not. There is no try,” Zack said with mock gravity.

Lee sniffed. “Hmm, maybe I won’t feel so bad about losing out on Alexa if I spend all night watching you strike out.”

Zack had just opened his mouth to retort when a voice asked, “What about Alexa?”

Lee stared over Zack’s shoulder and turned bright red. Zack slowly pivoted. Alexa was standing not three feet from them, a sly look on her face.

“Uh,” Lee squeaked, “I didn’t say anything.”

“Yeah,” Zack agreed. “We were just waiting for you to get here. How are you, darling? You look amazing.”

“Don’t you flatter me,” Alexa scolded. “Although you’re right. I do look hot.” In place of her usual hoodie and skirt, Alexa had on a formfitting, strapless black dress and shiny blue heels. She’d pinned her lilac hair up into a pompadour and slapped on some thick, winged eyeliner. She looked like a pastel version of Ruby Rose with a dash of Tilda Swinton.

“Yup,” Zack concurred. “Definitely hot.”

Lee grumbled, “Too hot. Hot enough to score with Kira. Hot enough to obliterate all my hopes and dreams.”

A wicked grin flickered across Alexa’s face. “One can only hope. Where is Kira anyway? The clubs close in a few hours, and I want to get my dance on.”

Zack checked his messages. “She says she’ll be here soon and to go in without her.” He pocketed his phone. “Sounds good to me. Daddy needs a Scotch.”

The three of them approached the club, and—after flashing their IDs to a sour-faced bouncer—made their way inside. The Library was pretty standard as far as gay bars went. There were strobe lights, a stage in the back for drag shows, framed pictures of men wearing nothing but cowboy boots, and—most importantly—lots and lots of alcohol.