Chapter Three: Ice Cold Reality Pt 3 - Gabriella

“That vile little primate. I can’t believe he spends a year leeching off you, all the while he’s got his uncut dick ploughing into your neighbour and trash-talking you and lying about owning the place,” says Derrick in disbelief while I refill our wine glasses.

I snuggle back into the corner of my grey L-shaped sectional and take a sip of my wine. “I’m not even mad about the cheating or the lying. It’s the fact that I’ve been wanting to break up with him for a year and kept putting it off.”

Derrick nearly chokes on his wine, eager to respond. He swallows and puts the glass down on the coffee table, “My thoughts exactly! You’ve been bitching about this guy for a year, and I kept telling you to just dump him and be done with it. It’s 2026, you don’t need a man to fulfil you.”

I wrinkle my nose at the implication, “I have NEVER needed a man and I’m not starting now, I just felt bad for him. He was jobless and he had no money. I didn’t want to be the woman who dumped her boyfriend at his lowest. I was going to wait until he found a job and then kick him out. I didn’t realise he had no intention of finding work and was more than happy to keep mooching off me while screwing my neighbour, who I am stuck living in the same building with,” I say disdainfully as I take a sip of wine.

“We should put itching powder in her mailbox or something,” he says sneakily.

“I'm pretty sure that’s a federal crime.”

He pouts, “There should be a law against cheaters. How does a boring, ugly, uncut moron like him get a woman anyway?” He says in confusion. I just stare at him. Has he already forgotten I was dating him for two years? He notices me staring at him and quickly waves a dismissive hand. “You don’t count, you’re the sweetest person on Earth, you don’t care about superficial stuff. Though I still don’t know what you saw in that guy.”

I shrug, “I don’t know. And what is with you and uncut dicks?”

“Are you serious? Girl, they look like a Shar Pei,” he shudders in disgust.

I throw my head back and laugh, “That is so stupid! So are you saying you’d have dumped Wyatt if you found out he wasn’t circumcised?” I ask in amusement.

He contemplates my question hard, and then takes a thoughtful breath as he crosses his legs, “It would have given me a lot to think about.”

“You’re so extra sometimes, I can’t,” I chuckle into my glass, taking another sip.

When my parents passed away, I had no living relatives, and I was going to end up in foster care until I turned eighteen. It was Derrick and his family who took me in, treated me like family, and helped me get through the worst moment of my life. Derrick and his parents were there for me when I needed them, which is no surprise because Derrick and I have been friends since we were 12.

Derrick Allan is 26, just like me. He’s a decent 5’8” with tanned skin that he has spent many years working on. He’s very lean, with broad shoulders, and a long neck that leads up to his money-maker. Derrick has the most chiselled face I’ve ever seen and looks perfectly sculpted from clay making it the perfect canvas. He has a sharp jawline, a goatee with some light five o’clock shadow, cheekbones so high they touch the heavens and piercing sapphire blue eyes. He has warm chocolate brown hair that is quaffed at the top and shaved at the sides. Derrick is also the manager/lead entertainer at the gay bar we both work at called the Glitter Hole here in San Francisco and since he just came from work, that would explain why he is in a rainbow suit jacket, rainbow slacks with a white business shirt and burgundy tie. He likes to make a statement.

Derrick and I both got jobs at the Glitter Hole right out of high school even though we were under 21. We both worked odd jobs and Derrick quickly fell in love with the art of drag. He worked his way up to manager as well, whereas I am a bartender and also do the occasional live performance at the club. It’s a great atmosphere, the patrons are amazing, and the tips are incredible.

“We should go out and celebrate,” announces Derrick.

“I still have a head on me. Can’t we just enjoy some wine and trashing my ex?”

“Of course, but you have been stuck with this lump of wood for a year and you didn’t even have feelings for him anymore. You deserve your freedom, and you know what they say, no better way to get over someone than to get under someone else,” he says charismatically.

“I am already over him, so I don’t need to get under anyone,” I argue.

“Okay, but how long has it been since someone pounded your pussy like they were tenderising meat? I mean, when was the last time a man went treasure hunting in your Cave of Wonders?” He asks animatedly, making me cover my mouth to stop from spitting up my wine.

I put the wine down and quickly swallow so I don’t choke and then finally allow myself to laugh, “Stop trying to kill me with laughter.”

He gasps and clutches his chest while pressing his fingers to his lips while making a sad face. “Oh my God, it’s been so long your gag reflex has come back,” he says with dramatic hysteria.

I roll my eyes, “Fuck off,” I say, shoving him, “Look, just because things have been lacking in that department for a while, doesn’t mean I need to go and spread my legs for the next guy to show me attention.”

“Why not? Mitchell went dumpster diving into the first woman who spread her legs for him.”

I snort with laughter, “That’s hilarious.”

“But seriously, tomorrow night is Mystery Sinner’s night at the club. Instead of working, come as a guest. It’s going to be a great night of masquerades and sinning. Wyatt and I are attending,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

“What for? You’re monogamous.”

“Yeah, but we enjoy the thrill of public seduction, and I know you do too. That dickhead was snuffing out your fun and your light, my young diva. Show him he hasn’t broken you. Go out there and have fun. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, but just go and let your hair out and have some fun. You deserve it. You’ve spent so much time taking care of him and everyone else around you, even me. You deserve a little indulgence,” he says, reaching over and squeezing my knee.

I look at the kind and supportive face of my friend who has been there beside me through everything as I have been for him. He’s right. I stopped having fun because I was working my ass off to support me and Mitchell. I miss the fun Gabriella. I don’t want the times I’m performing at the club to be the only time I feel alive. I want to have fun again, and I’m not saying I’ll go looking, but God I’ve missed good sex.

“Alright, you’ve broken me down. I’ll go the Mystery Sinners night,” I announce in surrender.

“YAS! That’s my girl!” He cheers, high-fiving me.

“Now I just need to figure out what to wear.”

He gasps, “It’s like you’ve forgotten who your best friend is.”

Derrick gets up, grabs his glass of wine, and makes his way up the stairs, “Time to dust off the sluttiest thing you own.”

I chuckle and shake my head but smile as I watch Derrick up on the landing going through my outfits like he’s judging a fashion show. I don’t know what I’d do without him. But he’s right, I need a night of unashamed, switched off debauchery, and Mystery Sinner’s night is just what the doctor ordered.