"Yes, score!"
"And what did my hubby dearest score, my lovely?"
"I just scored an invitation to the Queer Ball!"
The grimace at my husband's face was painful to look at, just because it made such a mess of his uber-handsome features. "That corporate shill of an event?" He finally intoned, in mock annoyance. "And what do they know about us queers anyway."
"It's just the great social event of the season. Just that. That, and Adele's going to come and sing! And make jokes because haha the Brits are funny again or something."
"The way you describe it is almost compelling darling, but give me a pass. A hard pass."
"As hard as you got last night?"
"Kyle!" A smile ghosted on my husband's face. "That's what he said."
"L.O.L. husband dear."
***
"You know when you first tell me about this ball, you strategically failed to mention it was a damned costume affair."
"Oops, my bad. Oh come on babe, it's going to be alright. It's going to be fun."
Greg made another face. "So said the one not in tiny briefs."
"They're called speedos, G. I'm having you going in as 'Trophy Husband', because you're so clearly not haha. And I'm going as 'Roman Senator', because I'm Italian. Hence the lavender toga."
My husband giggled. I knew the champagne would work wonders. "Oh, what would I do without you, my social-climbing beloved hubby of the year?" He smiled, that beautiful smile again that made me fell in love with him all those years ago right on the dance floor of D'Zara. Which coincidentally was where we were going. My heart skipped a beat. There was always something about D'Zara that made everything more poignant, more... illicit. More sinful. I wondered what would D'Zara hold for us after all these years.
***
The party was going super. Most of the guests failed to identify Greg, mostly going with 'himbo' or 'gigolo', because why not? He had the physicality for both, that's the least could be said about him. The champagne was flowing freely, the music was heavenly, and after Adele completed her set and skit and left, the club became the haus of dance, bringing out deep thumping bass and percussive lines in the background music. And Lady Gaga, lots of Lady Gaga from the Fame Monster era.